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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to ask dh NOT to buy the girls story cd's for xmas?

51 replies

misdee · 26/09/2008 10:49

he says they will be great for long journeys etc etc. some roald dahl ones i think the book people are offering.

i am saying no, as i didnt like story tapes as a child, would prefer to read the book myself and use my own imagination regarding voices, images etc in my head. he said he loved story tapes, but he admits himself he finds reading hard (he is dyslexic) and doesnt get the enjoyment i do from books.

dd1 is starting to enjoy reading independantly (she has struggled but is now at an age apprioate level), dd2 also reads independantly already and is ahead in her reading age ability to her chronicalogical age. i want them to enjoy books, and not just tune out whilst a cd is on.

dh reads nightly to them (atm, he is reading The Twits to them, complete with whacky voices) and they really enjoy that each night.

AIBU?

OP posts:
Original poster
misdee · 26/09/2008 12:04

lol np, dh was checking we didnt already have anything like hat. as he wasnt here for so long he doesnt know exactly whats on the bookshelves like me.

OP posts:
Niecie · 26/09/2008 12:13

YABU I'm afraid.

My DS1 is a great reader - it is his favourite thing to do after playing computer games but he loves his story CD's (and Horrible Histories) to listen to in the car on long journeys. CDs have made them so much more bearable since he got his - no more, 'are we nearly there yet?' and it is a minimum of 5 hours to the PIL so a long journey.

DS2 loves them to for a while although he is younger and doesn't have the attention span - besides he likes to chat!

Lots of children get car sick from reading anyway - I know I did.

It is perfectly possible to enjoy books and CD's. If you are worried about the CD's spoiling the imaginative process of the book why not get CDs for books they have already read? Besides there isn't enough time to read all the books in the world so you don't even have to duplicate if you don't want.

Or if you are really worried, keep the CDs just for the car.

Celia2 · 26/09/2008 12:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

falcon · 26/09/2008 14:26

YABU They don't replace books and sometimes it's nice to relax and listen to a recorded book, it certainly doesn't lessen my enjoyment of reading.

And they are ideal for long journeys, many people become ill if they attempt to read a book while travelling and the recorded book solves that problem.

flatmouse · 26/09/2008 14:32

audio books helped DS with his reading - he had some Horrid Henry ones which you could read along in the book. Helped with fluency. He's a good reader and enjoys reading - can't read in car tho or he'll get sick.

He got a nano for his bday and it is 80% full of stories - Stig of the Dump, various HP, various Roald Dahl, some Famous Five.
He loves listening to stories at bedtime when too tired to read (once we've said goodnight), and in car journeys.

They're not an alternative to reading, they're a great supplement.

Having said that - i haven't the patience to listen to them (hence nano).

ChippyMinton · 26/09/2008 14:36

YABU - agree with what everyone else says about the benefits.

Are the Roald Dahl's on offer again?

MaryAnnSingleton · 26/09/2008 14:37

YABU - ds had them,still does and he has always read books too

llynnnn · 26/09/2008 14:39

slight hijack sorry, but at what age did your dc start to enjoy story cd's?

i used to love them as a child and would much rather dd listened to a 'real' story rather than watch a dvd

bubblagirl · 26/09/2008 14:52

i think he has every right to buy what he wants too even if you dont agree im sure you dont ask him if all is ok before you buy something his there parent too and the thought is great most story cd come with book so can follow story in the book which would keep amused on journeys

just because you didnt like them doesnt mean they wont find enjoyment allow him to make a decision of his own choice it will mean alot to him i think you dont have to do i told you so's either if they dont like them as his equal to you and has the right to decide himself

Original poster
misdee · 26/09/2008 14:56

i never said he didnt have the right we were discussing xmas presents and this one wasnt what i would buy but he wanted to, i asked if i was being unreasonable, i have already said i am, and this is now added to the list for present ideas for the children.

and we do discuss xmas presents and dont just buy on a whim. especially seeing as dh wasnt here for 2+ xmas's and birthdaysm, and i have more of an idea of what the girls have already. he has already had to return a couple of books in the past as we already have them from previous xmas' and birthdays.

OP posts:
SixSpotBurnet · 26/09/2008 15:04

Hi misdee,

My DS1 and DS2 both really like story CDs - they don't listen instead of reading, they do both (not at the same time obviously) and quite often will want to get and read a book that they have heard on CD.

We don't have a car, but I find them great for rainy weekends, or bedtime sometimes, when I really need both of them to do something quiet and peaceful together for a while (so I can spend some time with DS3, for example).

bubblagirl · 26/09/2008 15:20

sorry more like im being unreasonable sounded bit harsh sorry bad day with ds x

PoppyFox · 26/09/2008 15:22

I'm the odd one out. My children love to sit on the counter and listen to Horrid Henry while I cook. They are 3 and 6 and can not read. (6 yr old can a little bit, but not well enough to read the book itself).

nailpolish · 26/09/2008 15:31

why are you the odd one out?

Aniyan · 26/09/2008 15:33

llynnnn - my ds started listening to story tapes and CDs from 2 or 3 - but they were very short stories back then

Now he's 8 and has just worked his way through the complete unabridged Lemony Snickett series on CD (13 books - and a real bargain on the School Link Books website ).

FluffyMummy123 · 26/09/2008 15:33

Message withdrawn

tortoiseshell · 26/09/2008 15:38

We have the Roald Dahl ones and they are fab. Read by really good people (Simon Callow etc) - the kids LOVE them in the car. They got us from Bristol to Aviemore (11 hours in the car with 3 kids - age 6,4,1) and were a total godsend.

And in fact they have fired ds1's love of books - especially Roald Dahl. He is an AVID reader, and being a little bit geeky, likes to compare things - so will compare the book with the CD with the film (or in the case of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the VERSIONS of the film).

So, yes, get them! Total godsend.

Original poster
misdee · 26/09/2008 15:39

cod i already know i am a nutter

OP posts:
hanaflower · 26/09/2008 15:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

elkiedee · 26/09/2008 15:41

Seeing how they reacted to tapes/CDs from library sounds like a good idea to me, but I think it's brilliant that you and your dh have this approach to sitting down and planning what pressies to get together.

I've got those CDs for myself (at the moment) though hopefully dcs will enjoy them when they're old enough (currently nearly 17 months and -4 months(!)) - but perhaps I should play them to dp now.

smartiejakethepeg · 26/09/2008 15:43

Both my dds get car sick if they read on long journeys. Story tapes would be great for them.

My two are now 10 and 12 and although avid readers both still enjoy being read to so think they would enjoy a story tapes. As some of the other posters said - they can do something else while they are listening e.g. drawing etc.

nailpolish · 26/09/2008 15:56

maybe start off listening to radio 7

and getting cds from the library for a trial

mumto2andnomore · 26/09/2008 16:47

Like everyone has said story cds are great in the car. We love the Famous 5 and Horrid Henry ones, even me and dh !

AbbeyA · 26/09/2008 16:54

Surely it isn't 'either or', there is place for both. I was a book worm as a DC but I couldn't read in the car because it made me sick.

hana · 26/09/2008 17:00

we love story tapes here too. just bought Rudyard Kipling's 'Just So' stories from Amazon.

n

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