If you're an avid audiobook listener, you already know how transformative listening to a novel can be. But did you ever stop to think that the children in your life can benefit just as much, if not more, from audiobooks? With our helpful guide, you can learn about the seven amazing ways audiobooks can help kiddos and discover a few tips and tricks for getting your child started with the best audiobook service.
What Makes an Audiobook Great for Kids?
Kids can be a tough crowd, so how do you make sure you're choosing a kids’ audiobook they'll like? The most important elements of amazing kids' audiobooks are a compelling narrator and captivating material. As you browse the best audiobook services, check out reviews and listen to samples to find one you know they'll love.
7 Benefits of Kids Listening to Audiobooks
Whether your children need to listen to a book assigned to them for school or are tuning in just for fun, kids' audiobooks are more than just a hobby. Listening to titles can transform the way they read for good. Learn about the seven fantastic and somewhat surprising ways that audiobooks can benefit your kids:
1. Audiobooks Help Children Develop Listening Skills
If there's one thing about children, it's that many young tots have shortened attention spans—and it's no wonder! Audiobooks encourage focus, concentration, and patience on the story at hand, keeping your child engaged and present throughout a story. After enough audiobooks, you may even see those important listening skills at work in other moments!
2. Hearing Words Read Aloud Widens Vocabulary
From your baby's first word to now, vocabulary is a building block in child development. Playing a kids’ audiobook exposes your children to a wide range of words that they may not hear on a daily basis. This can help them grow their own communication skills as well as learn how to properly pronounce longer problem words as they age.
3. Listening to Kids’ Audiobooks Improves Child Reading Comprehension
Anyone can press play on the best audiobook service and listen passively—but for children, hearing their favorite stories out loud can make a world of difference in how they comprehend the material at hand. Suddenly, the words on a page are more than sentences. Listening to kids' audiobooks helps a child understand the story at a deeper level than before.
4. Kids’ Audiobooks Help Strong Imaginations Develop
One of the most enviable and magical parts of childhood is the power of imagination. Hearing about the amazing adventures of their favorite heroes and heroines encourages kids to visualize settings, character interactions, and general world-building all in their small but mighty minds. Soon enough, they may be dreaming up amazing stories on their own thanks to their creative mind and limitless imagination.
5. The Best Audiobook Services Help Ignite a Love of Reading at a Young Age
Any voracious reader will tell you that reading is a hobby that changes your life—so you might as well start 'em young! As they grow and progress through new grades at school, it can be difficult to keep them interested in reading. Listening to kids' audiobooks bridges a gap between reluctant and avid readers, introducing them to engaging stories that will keep them on the hook and encourage them to come out the other side with a passion for reading.
6. Audiobook Services Keep Children Engaged with Immersive Storytelling
If you've ever experienced your young'uns asking you to "do the voices!" when reading their favorite bedtime stories, you'll know just how important oral storytelling can be. That's why the best audiobook services are chock full of titles read and performed by professional voice actors. Each narrator is professionally trained to immerse their readers by using different voices, clear emoting, octaves, thought-out pauses, and more, keeping your children hooked on every word.
7. Listening to Kids Audiobooks Makes Multitasking Fun
Any parent can confirm that there are times when asking your child to do something or keeping them entertained can feel impossible—kids' audiobooks are the perfect solution. Use the best audiobook service and pick a title your kiddo will love whenever an opportunity for multitasking arises. Between soothing bath time books to help your children unwind after a long day and exciting chapter novels to accompany them as they clean their room, there's a kids’ audiobook for every situation.
The Best Times to Listen to Kids Audiobooks
Pop on a kid's audiobook in situations during:
- Bedtime routines
- Chores
- Pre-mealtime
- Long car rides
- Travel days
- Errand runs
- Restaurant outings
Can Listening to Audiobooks Help Children with ADHD?
For some kids diagnosed with attention disorders, sitting down to read a physical book isn't feasible. Luckily, audiobooks provide the perfect amount of auditory and physical stimulation to kids with ADHD, allowing them to fidget and move around while still listening to the auditory information of a story. If your child experiences ADHD, signing up for the best audiobook service can transform the way they read for good.
5-Step Guide for Introducing Your Kids to Audiobooks
If you want your kids to become successful readers (and we're sure you do!), find the best audiobook service for you and follow these five easy steps to get them started:
Step 1: Download and Subscribe to the Best Audiobook Service
First, find and download an audiobook app. With over 400,000 titles to choose from and plenty of children-specific selections to browse, in our opinion, the best audiobook service out there is: Libro.fm. Once you've downloaded and started your account, you can choose between a monthly membership or buying novels a la carte.
Why We Partner with Libro.fm
While we await the construction and red tape involved in opening our business in Rochester, we wanted to provide our customers with ways to support us and enjoy their favorite titles. That's why we've partnered with the best of the best audiobook services: Libro.fm!
Unlike its competitors, Libro.fm is an audiobook app designed to support small, independent booksellers. When you sign up, just choose to join with Novel. That way, when you spend any money on your monthly subscription or standalone books, a portion of each dollar will benefit the indie bookshop you choose.
Step 2: Pick Out a Book with Your Kiddo
Once you have downloaded the best audiobook service, browse the options with your children to choose a title that sparks their interest. Sometimes, if they're young enough, you can select one for them, but once they're of a certain age, it's important to make them feel included in this process. When they have a say, they're more likely to be excited to listen to the audiobook.
3 Tips for Choosing a Kids’ Audiobook:
- #1: Find familiar titles you have read before on the best audiobook service.
- #2: Choose a shorter book, so finishing it feels like a huge accomplishment.
- #3: Listen to a small section together to see if it will be a good fit.
Step 3: Choose a Time and Place to Listen
When you first introduce the idea of kids' audiobooks, it's a good idea to pick a specific listening location and time to get them used to this new addition to their routine. Many parents start playing them in the car so they can listen alongside their children and make it feel like a fun family affair. You could also add the best audiobook service as a bedtime ritual or treat it as an after-dinner alternative to watching TV.
Step 4: Monitor How They're Enjoying It
As the book plays, keep an eye on your children to see how they like the experience. If you notice your child is feeling squirrely, give them something to do with their hands. With their body occupied, they'll have an easier time listening to the novel. If they're nodding off, maybe it's time to switch to a more exciting book!
Step 5: Praise Them When They Finish An Audiobook
Experts say that children thrive off positive encouragement and praise. When they finish a kids’ audiobook, make a big deal out of it! Maybe they earn a special treat or a sticker, or perhaps it's words of affirmation—whatever method you choose, rewarding your kiddos for listening to an audiobook should create a healthy habit and encourage them to continue to use the best audiobook service to enhance their reading.
Finding the Right Kind of Audiobook for Each Age Group
With thousands upon thousands of titles to choose from, there's something for every age range. Use these specific lists to gain some inspiration for your next audiobook download:
Toddler-Friendly Audiobook Suggestions
When it comes to reading, age is just a number. Children around two to three years old can enjoy listening to select titles. In fact, hearing narrators read stories aloud can help them grow essential reading skills at a young age, from patience to exploring new ideas. Start with something shorter, such as:
- Classic fairy tales
- Story podcasts
- Dr. Seuss books
- Shel Silverstein poems
- Musical tales
Audiobooks for Preschoolers and Kindergarteners
Preschool and kindergarten are crucial ages for developing early reading skills. Choosing titles with fun and engaging characters, clever wordplay, and outrageous plots will help engage these tiny readers. Search for audio versions on the best audiobook service app for works like these:
- Amelia Bedelia series
- Fancy Nancy
- Peter Rabbit
- Frog and Toad
- Beezus and Ramona
Great Audiobooks for Elementary Schoolers
With the introduction of chapter books in elementary schools comes a whole new list of potential reading challenges. Kids in this age group need to start learning bigger words, increase general reading comprehension, and possibly even complete some book-based class assignments.
Listening to the best audiobook service around can help your five- to 11-year-olds advance and learn to love reading. Start with titles such as:
- The Magic Treehouse series
- The Spiderwick Chronicles
- A Series of Unfortunate Events
- Roald Dahl books
- The Babysitter's Club series
Best Audiobooks for Middle Schoolers
While they might not like it when you call them kids, middle schoolers can benefit from kids' audiobooks, too. This is the first time where pop quizzes and truly choosing to read for fun come into play, and listening to books can help in both regards. Help them choose a title, whether for school or fun, with options like:
- The Percy Jackson Series
- The Outsiders
- The Harry Potter Series
- The Giver
- To Kill a Mockingbird
The 3 Best Ways to Play Kids Audiobooks
If you're a parent, you likely grew up tuning into books on tape or CDs—nowadays, your options for listening to kids' audiobooks have gotten a little fancier and a lot more accessible! From your iPhone to high-tech, kid-friendly players, your options are endless and oh-so-easy:
1. Listen in the Car
It doesn't matter whether you have Bluetooth or an aux cord—the app version of the best audiobook service, Libro.fm is perfectly designed for in-car use. When you're driving the long commute to school or attempting a grand cross-country road trip, play your kid's chosen audiobook through your speakers for nonstop entertainment on the go.
2. Use Volume-Safe Headphones
Many parents will give their children their iPads or smartphones to keep them entertained at a restaurant or in the store. But if you're looking to lower screen time or are wondering if “Cocomelon” is bad for your kids but don't want to lose that helpful kind of distraction, switch it out for kids' audiobooks! Make sure you invest in a high-quality pair of child-friendly headphones to ensure they listen at a safe volume.
3. Buy a Yoto Player
Yoto Players are a parent's best friend. These small, adorable audio players require insertable Yoto cards that you can either buy or make yourself with the best audiobook service, Libro.fm. To use one, you or your kid simply choose a card, slip it in, adjust the volume, and voila—you can listen with Yoto Players wherever you go!
This type of audio player also encourages independent listening. With easy-to-use and intuitive buttons, your child can listen to their chosen title whenever they want! Set it up on their bedside table, in their playroom, or in the living room, and your children will be able to listen to their favorite novels, podcasts, and even the radio!
Audiobooks have the power to transform how we enjoy books, and with countless benefits, why wait? Get your kiddos started with the best audiobook service around, Libro.fm, today!
