A new report has found that sending text messages can help a child's reading ability and learning, rather than hindering it as previously thought.
The use of "textism" abbreviations such as LOL (laughing out loud), plz (please) and xxx (kisses) by children can indicate successful development of reading and writing ability, a study has revealed.Researchers found that children who use textisms are unlikely to have trouble learning to spell or read, and a child's use of abbreviated terms can be used to predict the progression of their reading ability.
Experts have previously expressed concerns that using text abbreviations will shorten children's attentions spans and erode literacy.
The study, carried out on a group of 8-12 year-olds over an academic year, found that older children used more textisms, which could mean that some abbreviations require more sophisticated literary skills. Full story >>
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