As we head into summer, many parents breathe a sigh of relief, and then quickly begin to worry: will my child lose the progress they made this year?

More often than not, it is a time when families seek out book lists, set reading goals and develop strategies to prevent the “summer slide”.

A common question is, “Are kids even reading any more?” But at the Bermuda Centre for Creative Learning, we see reading happening all around us — in quiet classroom corners, in animated group discussions and, increasingly, through earbuds. Whether it’s a child listening to Percy Jackson during a “brain break” or a student engaging with “Doodle” English through audio, one thing is clear: they’re not just listening; they’re reading.

This “summer slide” is a real concern, especially for parents who have a child with a learning difference such as dyslexia, ADHD or auditory processing disorder. But here’s a simple, joyful way to keep their minds engaged without pressure: audiobooks.

Listening to or following along with audiobooks is not “cheating”; it is reading in a different form. In fact, for children who struggle to decode words or follow along with print, audiobooks can open the door to stories, vocabulary and comprehension they might otherwise miss out on.

It is interesting to note that the audiobook industry is booming. In Britain, revenue grew by 31 per cent between 2023 and 2024, reaching a record £268 million. Among children, usage is on the rise, too — past studies show that listening among kids has jumped by 138 per cent, with more than one third tuning in for 15 minutes or more each week.

Whether you are flying overseas, road-tripping across the United States or relaxing at home, listening to audiobooks is a powerful way to build language skills and a love of storytelling. Children can absorb complex plots, new words and expressive language. If they choose to just listen to stories, they can do so while doing a puzzle, drawing or just resting.

For students with learning differences, audiobooks can reduce their frustration and fatigue, and allow them to access age-appropriate content even if their reading level is lower. They can also improve students’ listening comprehension and verbal vocabulary, model fluent reading and expression and help to build confidence in their ability to understand and enjoy books. In addition, audiobooks can make reading fun again, something that can be lost in the classroom when every page feels like a struggle.

Parents can support summer audiobook reading by listening to audiobooks together as a family, encouraging their child to close their eyes and picture the story, asking open-ended questions such as, “What do you think will happen next?” or “Which character do you like best?” and let them choose stories that reflect their interests — mystery, fantasy, animals, comedy or nonfiction.

There are many wonderful websites offering free access to children’s audiobooks, which means parents do not have to spend additional money on these resources:

• Storynory — https://www.storynory.com/

• Loyal Books — https://www.loyalbooks.com/

• Lit2Go — https://etc.usf.edu/lit2go/

• Spotify Children’s — https://www.spotify.com/uk/kids/

• Audible Free Children’s Books — https://stories.audible.com/discovery

This summer can be a time when your child grows in confidence, curiosity and imagination — just by pressing “play”. Whether your child is reading with their eyes or their ears, what matters most is that they are connecting with stories and strengthening their literacy skills.

• Cindy Corday is Head of School at the Bermuda Centre for Creative Learning