In our continued series on the rising popularity of audio books and Cadbury’s initiative to give people an opportunity to record some here, today we take a look at how individuals and families can enhance their audio book experience with a few tips.
Audiobooks technology is one that has revolutionized the way we consume literature and comes as a refreshing option even for those of us who have always read physical books. With the rise of digital platforms like Cadbury’s Give A Generous Voice, it has become easier than ever to embark on exciting literary journeys with our children.
To fully get children and families immerse in audio books, here are a few tips:
Find a great environment – nothing fancy, even the family living room is a great option. The idea is to find a quiet, comfortable, distraction free place. Audio books are a great addition even to travel where kids can while away the time, or even as an interesting touch to family picnics.
Sound – if you can, invest in good speakers or headphones for your child. Poor sound with echoes and shrills can ruin audio books and discourage listeners. A speaker or speakers is obviously the way to go if the family is sharing story time but if a child is alone and he/she is up to using headphones, then a good option would be noise-canceling ones to eliminate external distractions.
Breaks – If a story is long or if a listener is distracted or has questions, take short breaks to process the story and to reflect on the plot. Pause narration when need, like at the end of a chapter, be to allow the plot to sink in and to keep the interest alive. For short stories like the ones on Cadbury’s audio books site, then a one-off listen could do.
Multitask – Children and even adults can make the most of their time by listening to audiobooks during routine tasks. This can make chores more fun for children and turn mundane work into enjoyable experiences for the whole family.
Communities – Neighborhoods, schools or a pool of friends are a great place to cultivate a community of fellow audiobook listeners or to recruit some. Communities are a great encouragement to carry on, and also an avenue for making things more fun by having activities like group listening or audiobook clubs.
Good stories and immersive listening go hand in hand to transform audiobooks into captivating journeys through the author’s eyes. It is great to see that the art of story telling is not lost on our children as times change, and they can still continue to learn our rich histories, folklores and myths.