Will audio books make my kids lazy readers?

Question

I was wondering if I let my 9 year old listen to audio book occasionally if will make him a lazy reader? We have him read daily and he does very well but sometime I think it would be fun for him hang out in his room and listen to a book too. My wife thinks it'll make him a lazy reader - I'm not convinced. What do you think?

BTW: he's not an ambitious reader - we have to encourage him to read daily. He never chooses to on his own.

Answer 1

no I am using a adio book and really listen to it

Answer 2

I read aloud to my fourth grader and it doesn't make her a lazy reader.  She's actually a great and voracious reader reading at a 7th-8th grade level.  But I can choose things to read aloud that would be challenging for her to read on her own, or I can choose things that she could have read on her own but are just fun to discuss.  We've had great discussions and she has a huge vocabulary because of our read-alouds.

Don't do it instead of his reading to himself, but if it's in addition to reading, it's a great idea.  Listening to an audio book might also spark his interest in a genre or author or series and encourage him to read the rest....

Answer 3

I think that if you let him read an audio book that it probably wont help him read any faster. I would go with your wife and think that it will probably make him a slow and lazy reader. Your the parent so you should decide with your wife.

Answer 4

I am not a parent, but I am an elementary teacher.  I actually think that letting him listen to audio books once in a while is a great idea - especially if he is reading along in a paper copy of the book.  Kids (and many adults) love being read to, and it is actually helpful for low or reluctant readers to be read to, either by a person or by listening to an audio book.  This allows them to experience the joy of reading and literature and also provides them with a model of fluent reading.  I couldn't agree more with you that this is a fantastic way to enjoy books.  Great idea, Dad!