Our research found that children and young people are increasingly choosing audio for enjoyment, wellbeing and to understand the world. In particular, they turn to audiobooks for relaxation, imagination and escape, immersing themselves in a story through exciting voices and sound effects. For some, especially those who my struggle with printed text, this can be a gateway into the world of stories and reading.
Audiobooks in the classroom
There are huge rewards to be found by listening to audiobooks in the classroom, particularly for reluctant or struggling readers. Not only can students access stories that may be beyond their reading level, but they can hear them in a range of exciting voices and accents, and understand expressions and nuances not always clear from printed books. Children and young people build their comprehension, their vocabulary and their enjoyment away from the demands of decoding.
Audiobooks for families
Audiobooks are ideal for the home. Children and young people can listen almost anytime and anywhere as a family – in the car or the kitchen, during bath time or bedtime. In the days of tablets, smartphones and smart speakers, listening to digital stories is easier than ever before. For schools trying to build engagement with reading beyond the classroom, audiobooks offer a powerful way in.
Available to download
- Top tips for using audiobooks in the classroom
- Top tips for sharing audiobooks as a family