How Do Audiobooks Really Help Kids Learn To Read? Here Are 4 Ways...

Audiobooks are a great tool for engaging little (as well as big) minds. And research shows that children who are better listeners are also better learners. Did you know that 85% of what we learn, we learn by listening?! But how do audiobooks really help our kids learn to read? Here are four ways...

Increases Reading Accuracy

Audiobooks allow little ones to hear the explicit sounds of letters and letter patterns that form words, which teaches them pronunciation and improves their fluency when it comes to reading independently.

Improves Comprehension

While listening to audiobooks, children are exposed to vocabulary and language patterns that are not part of their everyday speech. Audiobooks provide them with an opportunity to decode words and comprehend challenging texts. 

Increases Motivation

Audiobooks allow the listener to focus on the meaning of what they're listening to rather than having to decode words on a page. This eases some of the frustration that kids learning to read can experience and therefore boosts their confidence, making reading much more enjoyable.

Combining Print and Audio Increases Recall

Birde also gives children an added benefit by providing a physical copy of the book with some audiobooks. The child is exposed to the written words too, helping them to make the connection between what a word looks like and what it sounds like.

Did you know that little ones can listen to and comprehend audiobooks 2 grade levels above their own reading level? Amazing!

Set your little one on the right path to learning to read with Birde and this great range of ABC Audiobooks, all available now:

Data taken from - "How Audio Promotes Literacy." Audio Publishers Association. 2016.