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We’re all guilty now of using our phones too much. We surreptitiously check it under the table when it vibrates silently in our lap, we turn on post notifications so we don’t even need to unlock our phone and type in that pass-code to see what social media update we got or what that latest text just said. We just want a short bite of information to give us the quick fix.
Now, if you’re an adult, about 21 years or older now, then when you grew up, you didn’t have technology like kids of today do. Little ones are being given iPads before they can even walk. Parents aren’t teaching their children how to spell but apps are. Car rides are full of pixels.
The amount of times I’ve been out driving and seen the minivan in front of me with a movie playing. Why would you do that?! Your ride can’t be that horrible that you have to put a movie on in the car for the kids to watch. Now cars let you sync your phones or XBoxes to play your video games in the car. And god-forbid your car comes with built in wi-fi. Your passengers will be glued.
Long gone are the days of getting lost and turning it into an adventure.
But road trips….ah, the good old road trip. You pack the family into the car, bring some snacks and set off for your final and intended destination.
When I was younger, I’d always pack a book with me because there were no phones. It was either music (and you could only bring so many CDs), books or looking out of the windows.
Now, parents fully charge up the iPad, make sure the games are updated and off they go!
But it doesn’t need to be that way!
I get that some kids don’t like reading books, they need their kindles (who knows why), so maybe they want something simpler than a thick book to enjoy a story.
That is where audiobooks comes into play!
Adults love them! You can go on long drives and listen to your favorite audio book and complete a story, immersing yourself in it. You can even listen at work (maybe not so productive, but shhh, the boss doesn’t need to know – your story is more important).
Now this is a fantastic way to get your kids to use their imaginations, without images being fed by apps, and not have them go blind from staring at screens too long.
Audio books are fantastic!
They let you enjoy a story without even having to strain your eyes. The kids can listen quietly from the back, it keeps them entertained, the driver can listen as well, and everyone gets to just enjoy the trip without being immersed in their own worlds.
This way the kids can get a break from technology, can shut the kids up ‘cus you can turn up the volume and increase everyone’s imagination.
It’s a win win!
If you’re looking for some good suggestions, check out this article from NY Times, or if you want to save your limited free NY Times views (to see much more important articles *wink, wink*), check out Audible.com and their stuff!
Happy Listening!
