Audiobooks are NOT cheating 19

 in Books / Gift Guides  tagged audio books / books / reading by

Although I agree that nothing can replace the wonder of reading aloud to your children.  I have been a fan of audiobooks since my boys were small.

Audio books are not cheating

I have mentioned before that I have one reluctant reader and one advanced reader and they have pretty much been like this since they were small.   Both boys have always loved being read to and we went through the stages that most parents do.

The same book read 1500 times and being able to recite the words without even looking at them.
The one more book before bedtime  and another and another and another!
The downright refusal to read.
The another chapter plllllllllllllllleaaaasssssssssssssseeeeeeeeeee.

So I have been using audio books for a long time and they are not cheating.  I have heard it all.  Audio books are lazy, kids miss out if they don’t read the words and audio books are way too expensive.  I think there really is a place for audiobooks in a child’s life and in my family.

The benefits of audiobooks for kids

Audio books are not cheating

  1. Audiobooks help with listening and concentration skills.  We started with short stories and then build up to chapter books.  It really did improve Mini’s focus.
  2. Audiobooks are a great way of introducing new vocabulary in to your child’s life.   Your child will benefit from the introduction to new and varied vocabulary without the frustration of not yet being able to read it himself.
  3. The storyteller can really bring the story to life with their voice inflections, humor,and varied cadence.  Every narrator brings something a little bit different to the telling of a story providing an example to kids of how to read aloud with flair and confidence.
  4. You can enjoy a book with others.  Audiobooks can make reading a social experience.  I love that it makes them a shared adventure.  Audiobooks are great for long car journeys.
  5. Being read to is really soothing.  There is a reason that we read to our kids at bedtime.  Audio books can extend that reading period.  Mini goes to sleep every night with an Audio Book, sometimes he follows along in a print book, sometimes he just listens.
  6. Audio books can make journeys pass quicker.  Maxi is travel sick so can not read in the car, but he can listen to an audio book.
  7. Audiobooks help make stories accessible to kids of all different reading levels. New and emergent readers, fluent readers, reluctant readers and struggling readers can enjoy the stories.  They level the playing field.

Over the summer we have been working with Puffin and their Puffin Summer Audio Book Club via Mumsnet and trying out some of their Audio Books.   They gifted us Danger is Everywhere by David O’Doherty ready by David O’Doherty, George’s Secret Key to the Universe by Lucy & Stephen Hawking ready by James Goode and Going Solo by Roald Dahl ready by Dan Stevens to top up our already large and varied audio book library!

40+ audio books for kids

Our favorite Audiobooks for kids

Picture books and short stories for younger children

Chapter books for 7 ish

Chapter books for 9ish

audio books for kids

I also have a free 30 day trial of Audible available too here


19 thoughts on “Audiobooks are NOT cheating”

  • Mummy VS Daddy

    We’ve never really considered audio books for our kids. To be honest neither of us have ever used one either – but I can see where you’re coming from here in terms of the benefits 🙂 Maybe it’s time we looked into it!

  • Gemma

    You’ve definitely opened my eyes to audiobooks as I’d never thought of them before for the kids. Will give them a try

  • Erica Price

    We’ve not tried audio books, but I’m very open to the idea. I think it would be great for long car journeys and we could listen together too.

  • Anne

    my girls have tried audio books but were not keen, the Little Man loves them though. I’m not sure if it’s because he’s turning out to be a lot more independent than the girls ever were

  • Ruthy @ Minibreak Mummy

    I think it’s about sharing the joy of stories, in whatever format suits the child best. My son loves comics, so I’m learning to read comics with him.

    You’ve made me think it might be worth trying audiobooks as well.

  • Ness

    We did try some from the library for my daughter but she said she preferred me reading them! There’s only a small selection in the library and none that my son likes. Also we have no way of playing them in his room.

  • Debbie

    We’ve never considered audio books, but I must admit we’ve had dvd players in the car since our children were little due to the long journeys we do. I do like the idea, now they are old enough to keep a pair of headphones on to try audio books rather than dvds!

  • BlueBearWood

    I’m a fan of audio books. Books are just one way to pass stories on. Just think of all the stories that are passed down through families by just work of mouth.

  • Stephen

    Anything that gets children interested in books and reading is a good thing. If starting with audio books helps them progress onto e-books or the real thing then it’s something to be encouraged. LOL, I was once in a meeting when a library campaigner who was against computers and ebooks in libraries equated anything other than paperbacks as the work of the devil – I nearly choked on my coffee! Stephen :o)

  • Lucy Dorrington

    I think audio books have an equal place alongside reading to children. It’s good for them to sometimes be able to enjoy the experience of listening to a story independently, at their own pace, for as long as they like. I especially like the idea of audio books for travelling, that’s a great idea.

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