‘Does that even count as Reading at all?’
Thus might one speak, when talking about Audiobooks! Especially when it comes to getting our children to cultivate the practice of reading, that seems all but lost in today’s day and age.
Yes we love the smell of pages in books and there’s nothing quite like walking into a bookstore to find a precious gem or two, but that does not deter the charm of listening to audiobooks, for even the most seasoned readers!
Truth be told, the answer to the above question lies in what one’s own definition of ‘reading’ might be. However, as far as one garners an understanding of the ‘story’ that is being told, audiobooks certainly hit the nail on the mark! While audiobooks can never replace a ‘real’ book, they certainly help children to cultivate a love for stories.
In this article from the EuroKids stable, we have curated a list of benefits of listening to audiobooks for kids. We will begin with a closer look at what is an audio book, and close with a glimpse at the best audiobooks for your child to read.
For now, put on your ‘reading glasses’, not ‘earphones’, and get started with a look at what is an audiobook!
Table of Contents
- Audio Books for KIds: Understanding What is an Audiobook
- The Benefits of Listening to Audiobooks for Kids
- The Best Audiobooks for Kids
Audiobooks for Kids: Understanding What is an Audiobook
Audiobooks, simply put, are nothing short of being ‘audio files’ that are the corresponding ‘word-to-word’ versions of their ‘regular’ book counterparts.
If the above description might somehow take all the ‘magic’ out of reading, think again. They can be played on a wide variety of devices, which means you can read them just about anywhere. Not only that, there’s just ‘something’ about listening to a story being narrated, that makes the cut in a way quite unlike ‘ordinary reading’.
Ready to explore the wonderful benefits of listening to audiobooks for your children? Hop on to the next section, to discover the sweet joy of introducing your child to audiobooks!
The Benefits of Listening to Audiobooks for Kids
Before you get to choosing the best audiobooks for your child to listen to, you want to be apprised of their many wonderful benefits.
Presenting the benefits of listening to audiobooks, with a key focus on enhancing the Love of Reading in all children.
- Helps them develop Fluent Reading Skills
- You can listen to them on a whole host of Devices!
- Excellent Tools for Children with Reading Disabilities
- They promote a Love for Storytelling
- Introducing them to a vast array of books
- A Sharp Improvement in Vocabulary
Of course we would love to see our kids articulate their thoughts succinctly!
Cool Fact: When kids listen to audiobooks, they are exposed to ‘fluent reading’, which is really, words that are spoken ‘with expression’, and ‘at a reasonable pace.’ The more they listen, the more they are likely to develop that ‘reading fluency’.
Whether it’s on the car radio or on devices like ‘Yoto’ that are specially designed for children, you can ensure that they will always be able to listen to their favorite audiobook, even when they are on the go.
Cool Fact: This is a great way to get children to cope with long journeys in cars or buses, that ordinarily make for the most uncomfortable experiences for them.
There are several children out there, who find it extremely difficult to concentrate, on account of their reading disabilities.
Cool Fact: If your child has ‘attention deficit disorder’ or perhaps ‘dyslexia’, it will be far easier for them to focus on audiobooks, than those distracting ‘words on pages’.
Remember the time you were a child, and you would hearken to your grandmother for a story or two?
Cool Fact: Listening to audiobooks helps foster a love of storytelling in kids, like no other. There’s just ‘something else’, about listening to a story that is narrated to them, rather than having to read it from a physical book.
Bonus Fact: Listening to audiobooks at night, is a great way for kids to wind down at the end of a long day.
Oftentimes, children don’t read simply because they can’t find a book that’s interesting enough!
Cool Fact: The great thing about audiobooks, is that there’s a truly vast selection of them online.
Bonus Fact: Children can even cross over into other ‘genres’ with audiobooks, thereby broadening their reading experience.
Believe it or not, audiobooks can improve your child’s vocabulary in a way unlike any other.
Cool Fact: When kids listen to audiobooks, they come to understand how ‘letter patterns’ and ‘letter sounds’ lead to word formation. This in turn helps them improve their vocabulary, and to better recognize words in text.
The Best Audiobooks for Kids
Looking for an engrossing audiobook or two to introduce your child to?
Presenting a list of the top 5 best audiobooks for kids that every child must listen to, when embarking on their reading journey.
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Book 1
- Percy Thief Jackson and the Lightning
- The Mystwick School of Musicraft
- Peppa Pig: Storytime with Peppa
- The Vedas and Upanishads for Children
Written by: J.K. Rowling
Narrated by: Stephen Fry
Available on: Audible India
Written by: Rick Riordan
Narrated by: Jesse Bernstein
Available on: Audible India
Written by: Jessica Khoury
Narrated by: Suzy Jackson
Available on: Amazon India
Written by: Ladybird
Narrated by: John Sparkles
Available on: Amazon India
Written by: Roopa Pai
Narrated by: Sharanya Gopinath
Available on: Audible India
We at EuroKids give a big thumb to audiobooks, especially when it comes to fostering a love for reading in children in a unique and exciting manner. Get an audiobook for your child today, and see them hooked onto the ‘written’ – rather ‘spoken’, word, in no time!
