AUTISM SOLUTIONS
information and a synopsis of the story before re-
ading, sharing personal stories on the topic, and
asking for their interpretations can create a much
more positive experience.
Once you have found a connection, it is wise to try
and share other books on the same topic or theme,
which will build the children’s overall enjoyment for
reading. This is why we have created a series of five
Jungle Jam books, and we are currently developing a
digital platform that will offer a more comprehensive
learning experience for all children.
Why is it important to mix music with
reading?
It is a well-proven fact that music is the universal lan-
guage across a range of emotional and developmen-
tal areas, from raising a personal happy memory to
assisting in the learning of language and speech.
SEN children do not differ from this theory, and it has
been evidenced in numerous studies that those on
the spectrum react the same way psychologically.
This could be because the way we react to music is at
a level independent of emotional understanding or
imagination, two of the areas those on the spectrum
struggle to deal with. Instead, music takes us out of
these boundaries and connects with us on a much
deeper level which transcends any special educatio-
nal needs. As a result, it quickly becomes apparent
how music can play a key role in the development of
children with ASD.
Therefore, it makes total sense, especially within the
SEN tactics, to integrate music with learning, more
specifically reading, as much as possible.
Can books and music replace real-world
experience?
There is no doubt that music aligned with reading
enhances life skills for children with autism. Rese-
arch evidence by the Autism Network in 2016 de-
scribed the effective outcomes of combined reading
and musical therapy, including social development,
cognitive development, and increased communica-
tion. Most importantly, these skills, when developed
through childhood, progressed into adulthood, and
those that had invested in the researched program
were more comfortable and integrated with society
as a whole.
58 | Autism Parenting Magazine | Issue 71
Like our first book, the second in the series Jungle
Jam in Brazil, aimed at young children, follows the
friendly group of jungle animals on their next adven-
ture, this time in Brazil, where Gina the Giraffe takes
center stage as she overcomes her fears regarding
leaving home and trying new things.
We ensure that our books provide a stimulating,
thought-provoking story, delivered through clear,
simple messages that the whole family can enjoy,
and that contribute towards positive learning.
It is critical to engage your child in reading and music
from an early age. Although often frowned upon, TV
can be steadily integrated as a form of reading and
communication, demonstrating visual stories told
by bright, bouncy characters energetically boun-
ding around the screen with a variety of musical in-
terludes and sing-along moments. You can find lots
of examples on YouTube and our website, where we
offer free Jungle Jam songs that can be downloaded
to complement the books.
We ensure that all our books include SEN readers, not
only throughout the simple yet important storylines
and visuals but also in our accompanying activities,
such as our activity sections at the end of our books
with prompts and “spot the” fun tasks that help to
engage children into the storylines!
To summarize, it is important to remember that at
first an anxious child on the spectrum may not im-
mediately be excited to engage with books. Music
draws out communication from nonverbal children
in other ways; for example, they may instead begin
to express themselves through their bodies, gestu-
ring towards their favorite instruments or dancing
along to the beats—this is all positive in your route
to building their skills for the future.
Louise and Noam Lederman are the authors of chil-
dren’s book series Jungle Jam which aims to help all
children develop through sound. They have spent
many years with the National Autistic Society in the
UK while Noam has sold over a million copies of his
academic music books. Together they decided to
create a book series that their kids, as well as chil-
dren across the world, would love.
Website: http://jungle-jam.com/