I got the idea to make my own set of audiobooks from the blog Play At Home Mom LLC, but I decided to put my own twist on it. Making the audiobooks was extremely easy to do. I chose picture books that we already had at home, recorded them onto my computer using GarageBand, and burned them onto CDs.
For Christmas we bought our two girls their own personal CD players and kids’ headphones. I highly recommend Crayola MyPhones. They fit well, limit the volume to 85 decibels, and come with stickers and markers for personalizing.
The twist came in who read the books. My husband and I each recorded a book. I also asked each member of our extended family (grandparents, aunts, uncles) to record a picture book that they had enjoyed reading as a child. We ended up with 15 personalized audiobook sets for free! The girls love the novelty of listening on their own headphones and they especially love hearing their various family members (particularly those who live far away) read to them. We keep all of the books, cds, and headsets in a basket on the floor where it is easily accessible.
Longer books work well as you don’t have to change the cds as frequently. I recorded several Curious George books as well as some classics: Make Way For Ducklings, Blueberries For Sal, and Goldilocks and the Three Bears. We rang a bell in the recording to signal when the pages needed to be turned.
At 2 years old, my younger daughter is still trying to grasp the concept of turning the pages at the appropriate times. She is a little young to sit still for the entire story and is often more interested in taking the cds in and out of the player and finding the matching books. (A learning experience in and of itself!) My older daughter (3 ½ ) has always loved books and will sit and listen for up to 30 minutes at a time. I love watching her reaction as the story begins and she suddenly realizes who is reading to her. A smile will creep over her face as she whispers, “It’s Grandpa!”
The girls have enjoyed listening to the audiobooks in the evening as I get dinner ready. It is wonderful to have them absorbed in a quiet activity other than television!
– Annie Walker has a Masters degree in Elementary Education and has taught kindergarten, 1st grade, and reading intervention. She currently stays at home with her two daughters, ages 3 1/2 and 2.