Audiobooks

Audiobooks are an amazing resource, especially for homeschooling families.

Roadtrips!

Whenever our family goes away on holiday, we make sure we are prepared for the journey with plenty of audiobooks to keep everyone entertained. We find it really helps to pass the time, and the distraction also reduces fighting in the backseat. Plus, it means everyone has the benefit of ‘reading’ without getting car sick! In the past I have borrowed audiobook CDs from the library. While there are some great stories there, the CDs often have scratches and we end up suffering through the subsequent glitches in the audio, which is extremely frustrating. Who knows whether we’ve missed crucial elements of the story this way?

Listening to E-Audiobooks in the Car

Nowadays we often borrow e-audiobooks from the library and listen via Overdrive or Libby, thus eliminating the scratched CD issue. Being quite behind the times in terms of technology, I didn’t realise we could actually listen to these via our car speaker system until a homeschooling acquaintance told me how! Before we had a car with inbuilt Bluetooth, all we had to do was purchase a small Bluetooth device from AliExpress for a few dollars. It plugs into the lighter outlet, and you just set the device to the fm frequency you want to use on your stereo. In our current car we can just connect directly to the stereo.

Apps

There are other places you can listen to audiobooks too, usually with a paid subscription e.g. Audible, or apps where you pay for individual e-audiobooks. There are apps with solely Christian content as well, such as christianaudio.com or Canon+.

Down Time

Of course audiobooks aren’t limited to car trips, but I personally find it harder to be consistent with them at home. I know others love using them as quiet time for their kids though, which is a great idea. Putting them on in the background while kids colour in, paint or do jigsaws is a fantastic way to make the most of them. They are especially great for kids who are slower to get reading.

Not Just for Kids

As an adult I enjoy listening to the odd audiobook while I’m cooking dinner, or driving somewhere on my own. It’s not quite the same as reading a physical book; I’m not sure I take things in in the same deep way I would when seeing it written down. But it certainly makes mundane tasks like ironing or driving a lot more interesting!

Give Them a Go!

Audiobooks are a great way for adults and kids alike to learn and expand their knowledge of the world and enjoy great literature. They’re definitely worth using as a part of homeschooling life!