Radio appeals to children's senses
Helen Gilbert
Wednesday, April 24, 2002
Anew radio project wants to encourage young children to 'see' with their ears. The 'Let's Make Radio' project promotes radio as an essential tool in the development of listening and speaking skills in early years children. The scheme, developed in partnership with Abracadabra!, the children's radio service, encourages childcarers and teachers to embrace the opportunities radio can bring.
The 'Let's Make Radio' project promotes radio as an essential tool in the development of listening and speaking skills in early years children. The scheme, developed in partnership with Abracadabra!, the children's radio service, encourages childcarers and teachers to embrace the opportunities radio can bring.
Susan Stranks, director of Abracadabra! and the charity Children 2000, explained the thinking behind the project. She said, 'Radio is a distinctly different medium to television. It's more active than passive.
'Children must learn to listen and speak before they can learn to read and write. Radio adds so much fun to the process and draws out the shyest children. It has a crucial place in helping early years children listen and respond. With radio you can listen, move, dance and read along with it.'
Earlier this month children aged from four took part in 'Let's Make Radio'
sessions at Hammersmith Library in London led by former BBC producer Jeff Link. The children were encouraged to 'see' with their ears as they listened to the sound effects of waves and seagulls evoking the seaside.
Hammersmith's library development manager, Amanda Stirrup, said, 'It was a real eye-opener to see children learning that stories can be visualised without the aid of pictures.'
Ms Stranks, who has campaigned for the development of children's radio for more than 12 years, is calling for the Government to fund research into the value of radio in early years learning. She said parents were intrigued by the children's response to the programme. 'The four-to seven-year-olds sat engaged for a full hour. It really is an exciting medium for them.'
Trials of Abracadabra's 'singalong' mix of novelty songs, nursery rhymes, stories and poems are currently being broadcast on DRg's multiplex which can be accessed in the London area via a digital audio broadcasting receiver. Abracadabra! is also developing listening programmes for parents with children under the age of three to be used in Sure Start centres.
For more information visit the website www.uk-dab.info/abracadabra.
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