When I first began to conduct homeschool evaluations, I remember often struggling with whether I should allow homeschoolers to list audio books on their reading lists.  If they didn’t actually read the book, was I doing a disservice by not calling it into question?  The fact is, reading is designed to help children build their reading comprehension skills and to develop their ability to think critically about a book . . . right?

But as I have grown as an educator (and mother), I now see the great advantages of audio books. Homeschoolers (and all of us of all ages) can really develop some terrific skills from audio books.  Listening comprehension and auditory processing (the ability to process what we hear) top to the list.

Imagine a child who struggles with auditory processing or memory–this is the child who will go upstairs to do the three things you just finished telling him to do, get there and forget why he is there (auditory short term memory problem).  It is also the child who often struggles to reply or contribute to a conversation because she is still trying to process what she heard (auditory processing).  Start using audio books with this child and you are targeting that struggle.  Combine that with a book that he or she will really enjoy and you have a winning combination!

On the other hand, when you have a child that is an excellent communicator and who is an auditory learner, you can challenge that child with more advanced “reading” using audio books.  I am constantly amazed at how much more insight and analysis my auditory learner is able to contribute when we discuss a book she has heard rather than read.

So when homeschoolers ask me if they can count audio books on their reading list, my answer is now much more ready . . .

Do it!

In fact, I encourage all of our homeschooling families to expand beyond the printed word and include at least a few audio books every year.

Not only are they are terrific way to build the auditory modalities but they are also a great way to read in the car without feeling “car sick!”