Listen and Learn: Immersion Reading and 3 Ways it Helps Kids

A Multi-sensory Reading Experience

Have you ever heard of immersion reading, the multi-sensory reading experience? The time has come and it can really benefit your child, as well as become a new way to read for your entire family!

Recently, I was invited to test-drive immersion reading through Audible, Inc., a subsidiary of Amazon, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), using their Whispersync for Voice technology.  I jumped at the chance because here at the Kidlutions Headquarters, reading is a really big deal. It always has been. We were super excited about this new approach to reading that takes the concept of “books on tape” and supercharges it! You’re going to be pleasantly surprised at how this encourages emerging, reluctant or struggling readers.

Immersion Reading Defined

According to Audible, immersion reading combines e-books with audiobooks, allowing the user to read and listen simultaneously. It immerses you in a story by narrating and highlighting the text as you read. This allows you to read and listen concurrently with real-time highlighting that syncs with the narration. It’s sheer genius. And it’s going to revolutionize how kids learn to read and is a promising way to improve outcomes for emerging, reluctant or struggling readers.

The 3 Benefits of Immersion Reading

Immersion reading assists in three ways:

1.    Engagement  

It can boost a child’s interest and attention span, 

keeping the focus on the book and on 

learning the crucial life-long skill of reading.

2.    Comprehension 

Reading while listening improves comprehension 76%.

Students can listen and comprehend 

two grade levels above their reading level.

3.    Retention 

85% of what we learn we learn by listening.

It’s as Easy as 1-2-3

In three simple steps, you can have your child exploring new worlds, imagining bigger and dreaming more wistfully. It’s as easy as this:

1.       Select a Kindle Book
2.           Add Narration through Whispersync for Voice
3.       Read and Listen Simultaneously

Read all about it on Amazon’s site.

With more than 64,000 titles from which to choose, there is something for everyone. Have you visited Amazon or Audible lately to see how many titles are available in Whispersync for Voice? If you've never been, now is the time to take a look. If it's been awhile, you'll be pleasantly surprised at the options.

Now is the Time to Try It!

You’ll find thousands of read-along and listen books, some just for kids! We tried a childhood classic: The Ugly Duckling and it worked like a charm. You can easily switch between reading and listening or doing both. It’s almost guaranteed to become a fond memory in the making for your kids!

The time to try is now because Audible is offering about 200 childhood titles with heavily discounted audio narration for a limited time! Not only that, you can try Audible free for 30 days!

More Exciting Ways to Use Whispersync for Voice from Audible

“Just One More Story, Mom!”

Kids love stories and they love having parents and caregivers read to them. So go ahead and read your child a story a two, but when bedtime rolls around, why not allow them to be lulled to sleep by a narration of a favorite story? Why not find a book that has peaceful theme? This can become a very soothing, relaxing ritual that becomes part of the normal bedtime routine.

Travel Time

Sneak in some extra learning time while traveling, by loading up a few new Kindle books and Audible narration. Long before this technology was available, I used books on tape with my kids while traveling. This takes it to a whole new level.

The Daily Commute

If you do a lot of driving, you’ve ample time to listen and learn or be entertained while enroute to your destination. Make getting there half the fun. Indulge yourself in a book about faraway, exotic places, or work on improving your thinking, management skills or sense of humor…it’s all available on Amazon & Audible!

Hearing Impaired/Deaf Parents

Using Kindle books with Audible narration allows parents who experience hearing impairments or deafness, be able to spend some wonderful cuddle time with their young children, exploring books. While the books are narrated by Audible, the parent and child can interact by pointing at pictures and sharing smiles and excitement as the story unfolds.

It’s Going to Be a Game-changer

In closing, I’d like to share one final benefit that is compelling me. As someone who provides psychotherapeutic services to children in a school setting, I know the toll that reading difficulties can take on self-esteem. This will be a game-changer for kids who experience reading struggles. I can’t wait to share about Audible and Whispersync for Voice with these children, their families and the numerous educators with whom I consult!

How will you use Audible and Whispersync for Voice? We’d love to hear!

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This post was sponsored by Audible. All thoughts are 100% my own and are based on my experiences with Audible/Whispersync. To learn more about working with Kidlutions, read our Media Kit. 

This is a sponsored conversation written by me 

on behalf of Audible. The opinions and text are all mine.