Remember the “good ol’ days” when families would huddle around the radio for story time, popcorn in hand, eyes closed, and imagination wide open?
If that brings a nostalgic tear to your eye, you’re in luck because that golden era is back, and it’s not just for those who remember rotary phones and VCRs!
Audio stories have made a triumphant return, capturing the hearts (and ears) of listeners of all ages. They’re the fastest-growing segment in the publishing industry, outpacing print and digital books right now!
With platforms like Audible, Spotify, and the Majik Kids App at your disposal, you can bask in the glow of a good tale wherever you are—whether it’s at home, in the classroom, or even while multitasking (hello, Sunday drives to grandma’s house).
Now, you might be thinking, “Are these audio stories the lazy reader’s way out?” Nope! They provide all the cognitive and emotional perks of reading a physical book without the whole “my eyes hurt from staring at a screen all day” bit.
In fact, research shows that audio stories are great for kids— & grown-ups too! Here’s a rundown of the ways audio stories can benefit your family:
- Physical and Emotional Wellbeing:
- Providing Entertainment and Joy: Because who doesn’t love a little laughter and wonder in their day?
- Mental Wellbeing: Helps shoo away those pesky negative thoughts.
- Relaxation and Sleep: Perfect for unwinding after you’ve finally convinced the kids to put away their toys.
- Emotional Intelligence: Let’s face it, who couldn’t use a little more empathy, compassion and critical thinking in their lives?
- Cognitive Functions:
- Imagination and Visualization: Your brain’s inner movie theater starts rolling the moment you press play. Activated imagineers become empowered creators.
- Language Comprehension and Vocabulary: Boosting word power for all speakers, whether native or second-language learners.
- Tone and Phonetic Awareness: Accents, dialects, and pronunciation come to life, leaving those robotic text-to-speech voices in the dust.
- Auditory Memory Retention: Like a brain workout, but without the gym fee.
- Learning Support: From decoding skills to storytelling appreciation, audio stories open doors to reading worlds that words alone can’t.
- Overcoming Barriers:
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- Visual Impairments, Attention and Learning Disorders (like ADHD and dyslexia): Audio stories can help level the playing field for emerging readers.
- Multi-tasking Magic and Complimentary Sensory Learning opportunities: Listen while you craft, color, bake cookies or build something with Lego or Play-Doh!
- Social Connection:
- Quality Time: Listening together brings families closer, especially when you can chat about the characters, lessons, themes or that unexpected twist at the end.
No matter your age or reading ability, audio stories are a gateway to inner adventure, sparking imagination and a love for storytelling. They’ll also leave your brain happier and healthier. As Emily Best, Audio Research Lead at the UK’s National Literacy Trust, puts it:
Try setting aside time at bedtime or mix it up with a relaxing activity like building with Lego, drawing, or crafting. That way, you can savor every twist and turn.
“Audio Stories can be the key to unlocking a child’s love of reading. Their very nature enables all children, regardless of their reading ability, to access and explore the incredible world of stories, which are brought to life by a range of exciting voices, different accents and sound effects. One of the best things about audiobooks is that you can listen to them almost anytime and anywhere, and in the days of tablets, smartphones and smart speakers, listening to stories is easier than ever before.”
Ready to add a little Majik storytelling to your family’s day?
Download the Majik Kids app for a free trial, and start weaving audio stories into your daily routine. Whether it’s on your next drive to school or just before bedtime, our stories are like movies for your ears and imagination… And will be fun for the whole family (or classroom).
“If one thing has struck me about the way people describe listening to audiobooks, it is the reported intensity of their absorption and the emotional grip of the experience. ‘They go right to your soul,’ says one listener.”
References:
Best, E. (2020). Audiobooks and literacy: a rapid review of the literature. London: National Literacy Trust.
Booknet Canada (2021). Listening in: Audiobook Use in Canada 2021. Electronic Publication.
Cahill, M. and J. Moore (2017). A Sound History: Audiobooks Are Music to Children’s Ears. Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) publication, Vol. 15, No .1, Spring 2017, pp. 22-29.
Ponti, M. (2019). Digital media: Promoting healthy screen use in school-aged children and adolescents. Paediatrics & Child Health, 2019, pp. 402–408.
Tan, E. K. (2023). Sound, Stories, and Psychology: The Perceptions and Motivations of Audiobook Consumption. Theses and Dissertations. 9915.
Tusmagambet, B. (2020) Effects of Audiobooks on EFL Learners’ Reading Development: Focus on Fluency and Motivation. English Teaching, Vol. 75, No. 2, Summer 2020, pp. 41-67.
Varley, P. (2002). “As Good As Reading? Kids and the Audiobook Revolution.” Horn Book Magazine 78, No. 3, May/June 2002, pp. 251–62.
We are Teachers Staff (2023). 10 Ways to Boost Literacy Using Audiobooks in the Classroom. Who ever said you have to read to read?. Online publication on weareteachers.com, September 18, 2023.
