"In terms of time spent in front of screens, children reportedly spend over four and a half hours (281 minutes) watching television or videotapes, playing video games, using the computer, or browsing the Internet each day."   — Media in the Home 2000, The Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania

In today's world, there are many forms of media competing for a child's attention — television, videogames, the internet, etc. Audiobooks are one option that are not only entertaining, but also good for kids.

Audiobooks aren't meant to replace printed books, the experiences of a parent reading to a child, or a child reading on their own. But there are times when it's not practical to read, such as a car trip, when making dinner, or doing chores. During these times, listening to an audiobook is a great family activity. Not only do audiobooks make the car trip seem shorter and doing chores almost enjoyable, they offer a teriffic way for parents to start a dialogue with their children.

Click here for more suggestions on how to use audiobooks every day.

"Take a leaf from my book and try the White Noise Ploy: play audiobooks in the background of low-key daily activities you do with your child such as school commutes, cleaning the house, fixing dinner, or even running errands. Do it consistently and see if your child tunes in. You'll know you've turned her on if she misses it when it's gone."   —Esmé Raji Codell, bestselling author of Educating Esmé, Sahara Special, and How to Get Your Child to Love Reading