Five Ways Young Readers Benefit From Interactive Storytelling (Deb Mercier)
“Reading is good for kids” is like saying “broccoli is nutritious.”
We know the benefits of reading: Improved concentration, expanded vocabulary,
higher levels of creativity and imagination, better communication skills… the
list goes on.
But what if you don’t like broccoli? What if, when presented
with a steamy plate of goodness, you make that face and nibble at the edges
just enough to appear as if you’re ingesting the stuff? What if (like my
husband) you cover the rest with a napkin so others can’t see how much wasn’t
eaten?
Maybe there’s another way. Maybe, along with the broccoli,
arranged on the table are several different choices of toppings; now it’s up to
you to mix and match and dress it up to your liking. Suddenly, broccoli’s not
so boring. Suddenly, it’s fun.
Reading isn’t so different (I mean, besides not being a nubby
green vegetable). It’s possible to reach even the most reluctant of readers by
adding an element of interactivity—literally dropping kids into a story and
having them decide where it goes. Suddenly, reading’s fun.
For me, interactive storytelling is about appealing to all
kids—from those at the top of their reading game to those who would rather do
anything but pick up a book.
Here’s how it works. By starting down the path of an interactive story, kids get to:
Taking control
Interactive stories put kids in the driver’s
seat. They literally get to steer through the story and determine how it goes.
When you’re a kid, that sense of control is a draw because, let’s face it, you
don’t have much of it. You’re told when to get up, what you’re going to eat
(broccoli anyone?) what you’re going to learn, who you’re going to partner with
for the science fair, and yes, you will be taking piano lessons. To pick up a
book and suddenly be in charge of major decisions offers a different perspective.
Instead of “this is how the story goes” it’s “how do you think the story should
continue?” By handing over that control, numbers 2-5 sneak right in.
Practicing reasoning
In an interactive story, kids are asked to
make choices that can either propel the action forward or unleash a legion of
mutant bats from the hidden door at the back of the closet, thereby bringing
the story to an untimely end. To avoid opening that door, kids are asked to
make logical decisions—to use evidence from the text to support their choice.
That’s deductive reasoning.
Understanding empathy
Reading in second person, “you” are quite
literally the character in the story. You get to walk (or run from the mutant
bats) in that character’s shoes, feel what they’re feeling, and experience the
world through their eyes. The “you” in the story, though they may have a
different background, different responsibilities, and other ways of looking at
situations, really isn’t so foreign anymore; after all, they’re you.
Accepting responsibility
Sometimes in life, we make poor choices.
It’s just how it works. At some point, those mutant bats will be unleashed and
it will be our fault. In an interactive story, actions equal consequences. It’s
all there in black and white, and there’s no gray area about who made the
decision. You’re the character making the choices, so, yep. It’s all on you.
However, an interactive story has one-up: by flipping back the pages, you get a
do-over. You can literally take back your choice and go down a more responsible
path.
Having fun
Navigating through the pages of an
interactive story adds an exhilarating element of surprise that keeps kids
engaged through action. It’s like learning about rain while jumping in puddles.
Sure—you’re improving your concentration, expanding your vocabulary, gaining
higher levels of creativity and imagination, and acquiring better communication
skills—but you’re too busy letting those mutant bats out of the closet (and
having fun) to notice.
~
Deb Mercier lives in greater Minnesota with her husband, dogs and outdoor critter friends. She is an award-winning journalist, author of 11 books for young readers, a former newspaper editor and a technical writer. Her newest Choose Your Path titles include The Ghost of Old Central School and The Empty Cabin (Detective: You). When Deb's not dreaming up new stories, you can find her wandering the trails on bike and on foot, saving turtles from roadways and playing flute in the Central Lakes Symphony Orchestra.
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