Summertime has arrived, and those long-awaited days of sandy toes, sandals, and sun hats are gloriously within reach. But before you load up the car or board that flight, I want to talk to you about one particular summer essential that may not be on your packing list— audiobooks.
If you’ve been following me for a while, you know that I’m a big fan of audiobooks for readers and pre-readers of all ages and abilities. They’re easy to implement, even for the busiest families; they can be accessed for free (thank you, Libby app!); and during these easy, breezy summer months, audiobooks are a trusted line of defense in preventing summer learning loss.
Remove the Roadblocks
As any educator will tell you, summer learning setbacks are experienced by children of all ages and reading levels. For struggling or reluctant readers, the blow can be especially crushing. I’ve worked with many struggling readers throughout my career, and I’ve noticed one glaring similarity: They aren’t visualizing the story. Struggling readers don’t picture characters or settings to create “movie reels” in their minds. This is just one of several comprehension skills that require practice. Audiobooks give readers— whether skilled or just learning— the opportunity to build those essential skills.
At this point, you’re likely wondering how listening to stories can make a child a stronger reader. Listening is different from reading. Right? Right! But reading is not just about decoding words on a page; sounding out words is a singular part of a complex process. If children are not employing metacognitive strategies like visualization to help them comprehend what they are reading, the decoding piece is pointless. Audiobooks allow children to experience the joy of literature without the heavy cognitive load of decoding. Time that may otherwise be used sounding out new or unfamiliar words can be spent practicing higher-level comprehension skills, such as inferring, drawing conclusions, or making connections. Let’s look at the research!
Schedule A Tune-Up
A 2016 study found that when children listened to audiobooks regularly over a 10-week period, they could make up to 58% of their annual expected gains in reading achievement. That’s huge! Compared to the control group, these children saw measurable improvements in comprehension, vocabulary, and even motivation to read.
In the study, researchers had 2nd and 3rd graders listen to audiobooks for 20 minutes a day, five days a week, for 10 weeks. They did not provide any reading interventions, ask any comprehension questions, or even have the kids follow along in the book. They simply had them listen. That’s it. And what a payoff!
Audiobooks can function like a scheduled tune-up, building crucial listening skills, sparking the imagination, and ultimately improving reading skills. And best of all? Audiobooks fit seamlessly into even the busiest summer schedules.
Oh, The Places You’ll Go!
Packed with summer camps, travel plans, athletic clinics, and everything in between, summertime can feel as busy as ever. Thankfully, audiobooks require very little effort to fold into daily life. Simply provide a device— I will share my favorites in a minute— and let the audiobooks do the work. They’re very flexible to fit your family’s unique needs.
My favorite place to start is the car. Taking a road trip this summer? Give it a try. Heading to the pool? Pop on a story or two. This is an easy way for you to control the initial experience while your child is strapped in and eager for something to do to pass the time.
Another window to try is independent play time. This has been a common practice for my son, now 5, for quite a long time. I even notice he will play exponentially longer if he is listening to an audiobook. He will do puzzles or build Magna-Tiles or make a creation out of Duplos while enjoying the story.
Bedtime is another perfect opportunity. Audiobooks can become a part of the evening routine, helping your child wind down after a long day of swimming or bike-riding. Not only will this grow your child’s comprehension skills, but this practice can become a powerful self-regulation tool, as well. As your child practices listening, they will hone the skill of attending to a text through listening only, while simultaneously learning how to use a tool like audiobooks to settle or wind down. It’s an excellent addition to their skill set!
Pack Light
If you’re ready to bring theory into practice, you’re in luck— audiobooks can be accessed for free on your existing devices through the Libby app! This is a great way to test the waters and as an added bonus, Libby won’t take up any additional space in your summer travel bag. The app connects to your local library branch via your library card, giving you access to thousands of audiobooks, including many of the titles included in my summer reading program, The Sandbox! (Check it out— I’ve included a bunch of low-key yet engaging activities, recipes, and enrichment to help bring each book to life!)
As an alternative, children seeking independence and autonomy may enjoy using the Yoto Player. The Yoto is a small, portable, screen-free audiobook player. Similar to the Toniebox, it gives children the ability to play whatever story they like with the insertion of a card. I often get asked why I prefer the Yoto over the Tonie. In short, the Yoto has audiobooks for little children and much older children. It will last and keep their interest for many more years. (Keep in mind, if you are reading this and your child is much older, it’s not too late to start. Even as an adult, I love audiobooks! And if your child sees you enjoying them, he or she will be more likely to buy in).
No idea what books to even start with?
Think about what books they already love. Start with those! It will be easier for them to listen to books they are familiar with and get the hang of it. Then head to favorite authors they love, genres they might like, have them ask their friends for ideas, and just follow the trail of what they are enjoying. Of course, there are many books that would be fun for the whole family! Looking for more specific titles? Keep your eyes out for a blog post on our favorites coming soon or check out my Audiobooks highlight on Instagram!
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So that’s it— my #1 summertime travel essential. Portable, flexible, and enriching, audiobooks will help protect your child’s school-year reading gains all summer long. How will you fit audiobooks into your family’s schedule? Try them out on your next road trip or during a rainy afternoon. I can’t wait to hear what happens.
Written by Stef McGuffey and Becca Thiemann
