| Children's audio books on CD were something I'd | | | | thought about it like that. Through just listening to |
| always regarded with mild suspicion. After all it's | | | | audio books on CD or cassette children's |
| not really reading or is it? As a mother and English | | | | concentration is improved and they become |
| teacher, not to mention an avid reader myself, I | | | | better listeners and thereby better learners. Just |
| was fully aware of the importance of reading and | | | | take a moment and think about it. Not too long |
| had always tried my best to instil in my children | | | | ago there were no televisions and radios were |
| and students a love of reading but, I still | | | | the centre of home entertainment. Growing up in |
| wondered if I wasn't perhaps missing something | | | | South Africa (TV only became available there in |
| and decided to investigate the matter further. | | | | the early 70's) I still remember looking forward to |
| I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the | | | | Sunday evenings at home listening to stories on |
| experts agree - audio books in fact help improve | | | | the radio. Listening to stories is still a great way to |
| a child's reading! | | | | spend quality time together as a family and it has |
| By listening to audio books children are presented | | | | been shown to improve a child's conversation skills |
| with an opportunity to hear language thereby | | | | and to encourage them to express themselves. |
| providing them with models for the correct use | | | | The narrators of audio books also often bring the |
| of grammar and also giving them the chance to | | | | stories to life through different voices, music and |
| hear the correct pronunciation of new or difficult | | | | sound effects. Children are encouraged to use |
| words. | | | | their imaginations and "paint" their own pictures of |
| Another benefit of audio books is that they can | | | | characters and places. The overall effect of this is |
| play a vital role in bridging the gap in young | | | | one of entertainment and enjoyment thereby |
| children whose understanding and comprehension | | | | strengthening the link between books and |
| is greater than their reading skill. Often children | | | | pleasure. This is particularly important for parents |
| who cannot yet read or who are just learning to | | | | struggling with reluctant or problem readers. |
| read become frustrated by their lack of reading | | | | According to a Commission on Reading report, |
| ability. In allowing them to "read" along with an | | | | "Becoming a Nation of Readers", "The single most |
| audio book this frustration can be avoided as the | | | | important activity for building the knowledge |
| child feels as though they're actually reading. This | | | | required for eventual success in reading is reading |
| is an enormous benefit when encouraging a | | | | aloud to children." However, changes in society |
| life-long love of books and reading in the very | | | | mean that more and more demands are being |
| young. | | | | made on our time. Finding time to squeeze |
| A more obvious, but no less important benefit of | | | | everything in is often not only a challenge but |
| listening to stories is that it improves a child's | | | | impossible. Audio books can give often exhausted |
| listening skills. More than half of our learning or | | | | parents a break from reading to their child. What |
| accumulation of knowledge is achieved through | | | | better way to relax and end the day than to |
| just listening. Wow! Up until now I hadn't really | | | | cuddle up together and just listen. |