Smories - Kids Read to Kids Online
The Joy of Reading Aloud to Children
Children derive significant enjoyment from being read to, as evidenced by resources like StoryLine Online. Being read to during childhood fosters imagination and cultivates a genuine love for reading.
Interestingly, children often exhibit a preference for being read to by their peers. Experiences like reading to kindergarten classes in elementary school demonstrate this phenomenon; children seem particularly engaged when other children share stories with them.
Introducing Smories.com: A Safe Online Storytelling Platform
The founders of Smories.com identified a need for a secure online environment where children could enjoy stories read by other children. They sought to replicate the positive experience of peer-to-peer reading, while mitigating the risks associated with platforms like YouTube.
Smories.com connects story writers, young readers, and children who appreciate being read to. The platform provides a carefully curated selection of stories, read by children, offering a safe alternative to general video-sharing sites.
Visitors can immediately access the available videos on the Smories.com homepage. Thumbnails provide a visual preview of each story, and hovering over them reveals key details, including age-appropriateness labels.
Accessing and Viewing Stories
Selecting a thumbnail directs users to the dedicated video page for that story. The platform is designed for easy navigation and immediate access to content.
Currently, the majority of readers featured on Smories.com have British accents, reflecting the site’s origins in the UK. However, the inclusion of American readers is planned for the near future.
The videos maintain a deliberately informal aesthetic, often recorded using simpler video cameras. This approach aims to preserve the authentic feel of a child reading to another child in a home setting.
Contributing to Smories.com: Authors and Story Submissions
Smories.com also offers opportunities for authors to share their work. While previous contests with cash prizes have been discontinued, the platform provides valuable exposure for writers.
Authors benefit from detailed biography pages, enhancing their online presence and visibility. This allows them to promote their work and connect with a wider audience.
Copyright remains with the author; Smories.com only requests permission to narrate, record, and publish the audio-visual rendition of submitted stories. Further details can be found on the FAQ page, the Submit a Story page, and the Tips for Writers page.
Finding Young Readers
The process by which Smories.com recruits its child readers remains undisclosed.
A Valuable Resource for Children and Authors
Smories.com presents a secure and engaging online space for children to experience the joy of storytelling. It also serves as a novel platform for authors to showcase unpublished works and gain recognition. Furthermore, the site offers an iPhone version for convenient access.
