I’ve mentioned on social media a few times that I have Reegan and Julia to listen to audiobooks throughout the week. Pre-Covid, our girls were used to being in a classroom for several hours at a time, and when the shutdown started, I was grasping for ways to keep up the speed they were used to.
What entered our home as a pinch hitter ended up becoming a staple. As I looked into options, I learned more and more about the incredible value of audiobooks playing in our home.
Why is it Important to Listen to Stories?
Audiobooks are a hidden gem for pre or early readers. They are the secret sauce to confidence and comprehension in early and pre-readers. Comprehension and confidence are key when learning to read.
Listening to stories helps children imagine images and scenes in their minds. Think of audiobooks as imagination building blocks. Your children are stretching that mental muscle as they tune in and out to their audiobook. Focus, listening, and story comprehension takes practice. The less they know they are practicing, the better.
I love reading to the girls. We read 3-4 books each night before bed and a few books throughout the day. Below I give options to fill in the gap, as well as a genius way to keep your voice near them even when you are busy or far away.
Key Benefits of Audiobooks for Kids
- Improving listening skills: Listening to audio books can help children develop their listening skills, including their ability to focus and comprehend what they hear.
- Enhancing vocabulary: Audio books can introduce children to new words and concepts, expanding their vocabulary and helping them develop language skills.
- Encouraging imagination: Audio books can spark children’s imagination and creativity by taking them on exciting adventures and introducing them to new ideas.
- Developing critical thinking: Audio books can encourage children to think critically and engage with the story by asking questions and making connections.
- Promoting independence: Audio books allow children to listen and engage with stories independently, giving them a sense of autonomy and self-reliance.
- Improving reading skills: Audio books can complement traditional reading by improving reading fluency and comprehension.
- Fostering a love of learning: Audio books can make learning fun and enjoyable for children, fostering a lifelong love of reading and learning.
What do we Use to Listen to Audiobooks?
I regularly use 3 different platforms to access audiobooks for the kids. There are also options such as Libby, giving you access to local libraries, and ABC mouse, which has read aloud options within their 2-5 age range.
Audible
Audible has incredible deals on children’s books; making it easy to grab a title for a dollar or two! I use Audible via our kitchen Alexa. When lunchtime feels a little crazy, I ask Alexa to play a children’s book. It usually gets them to settle. Longer audibles are great for bedtime. I list our go to’s below.
**DO NOT use your Audible credits to pay for children’s books! Your Audible credits can be used on pricey books. Children’s books are best purchased through Amazon.com with Buy Now. You pay $14.95 for an audible credit and for example Princess Cora and the Crocodile is $1.71
YouTube
YouTube has been heavily used in school this year and has introduced us to several wonderful story tellers. There are endless free options.
Tonie Boxes
The girls received Tonies from my sister this Christmas and they are AMAZING. Each box has Tonie topper options and each of those figurines comes with stories and songs that are read/sung to your child for 90 minutes. They can tap forward or back to hear what they want too!
But beyond that, the Tonie box comes with a Creative Tonie. This Tonie connects to an app on your phone and you or a family member (military, grandparents, all of the above) can record stories on the app for your child to listen to. These recordings can be labeled as chapters within your app to avoid confusion. Meaning your child can fall asleep at night to Grandma reading Dr. Suess, Daddy reading Pete the Cat, and you reading The Magic School Bus. Brillant.
You can update these stories over time, or leave them. You can even grab extra Creative Tonies to keep the list building.
Use This Link for $10 Off Your Toniebox!
How Do I Get My Kids to Listen to Audio Books?
First, remember that audiobooks are meant to be fun. I think of them as the radio. It’s a helpful background noise behind playing or eating. My girls are 2.5 and almost 5, so they aren’t always going to sit still and soak up every detail. That’s ok! Start with short books during playtime, and build up to longer books at bedtime. Regardless they are learning story structure, playing with their imaginations, and building confidence.
Here are a few times that I offer/throw on an audio book:
- Eating Lunch
- Playing with blocks
- Playing with Playdoh
- When I’m Cooking Dinner
- Car Rides
- Bedtime after we have done or 3-4 books together
Our Favorite Audiobook Resources:
YouTube Channels for Early Readers:
Audible Titles:
Long (over 30 Minutes):
Dragons and Marshmallows – Zoey and Sassafras
Princess Cora and the Crocodile
Short (Under 30 Minutes):
The Magic School Bus: In the Time of Dinosaurs