For a parent to a reluctant reader, audiobooks might come across as cheating. They appear as an alternative to traditional reading that deprives young learners of the richness a book offers. If we come at this debate simply from an either-or standpoint, then it’s easy to say that audiobooks are bad for kids and stop there. However, if we dig a little deeper, there are a number of benefits to audiobooks that allow them to fill a space within the reading world.
Motivation to Read
If you’re struggling to get your kid to read, an audiobook could act as a temporary bridge, providing a glimpse into what physical books have to offer. If they haven’t done much reading, the monotonous lines of text might appear intimidating. An audiobook, which is essentially having a story told to you, can instill the importance of theme, wonder, journey, plot, characterization, and more—now the kid is learning what they can get out of a book without having to start out from a place of disinterest.
Neuroscience
The Journal of Neuroscience had an article published recently about language processing and how the brain may perceive information differently depending on if it is heard or read. In the study, the researchers found that individuals process semantic information similarly between the two senses. This supports the idea that audiobooks are actually still providing meaningful input to young learners.
Tone & Emotion
Let’s not forget that an audiobook isn’t being read by a robot—that’s a real individual providing intonation into the narration. By having the content delivered by speech, the listener has the opportunity to have the author’s message delivered with a degree of intent. This is also why reading out loud is a common school activity.
Use by Educators
Many educators have come to terms with audiobooks, and it helps that experts have expressed that they count as reading. They are being used more and more inside schools, and are reported to assist with fluency, as students are able to hear how something is meant to sound. This is particularly beneficial to students who are learning English as a second language. In addition to providing a shared learning activity in the classroom, audiobooks (and ebooks in general) help fill a void in areas where there isn’t easy access to physical books.
Bottom Line
There are many things about audiobooks that are good for your kids.