Engaging Preschoolers with Audio Stories: Seeking Advice

[nenharma]

Hello fellow parents,
I'm a father of a 3.5-year-old boy who has recently been exposed to screens more than I'd like. In an effort to reduce screen time, I've started creating engaging audio stories with dialogue and music (in MP3 format) for him. I am seeking effective strategies to transition from screen to audio storytelling. Has anyone here successfully shifted their child’s attention in this way? Is this a sensible approach, and if so, how might I make this shift more appealing for a young child?
Thank you for your insights!

Can’t you just read directly to him? I’m not sure passively listening to stories without any adult interaction is any better than screen time.

Thank you for your suggestion. Along with the stories, I've created picture books to accompany the audio. This way, we follow along in the book together while listening to the story, akin to a radio play. It combines reading with listening, but somehow, the screen still seems to hold more allure. Any tips on making the book-reading session as appealing as the screen would be greatly appreciated.

He’ll be more engaged if you read to him as you can morph what’s happening based on his reaction. Audio books are better in the car with props to play with.

It interacting which makes books exciting at that age. Making ‘silly’ mistakes in a well know book eg baby bear ate a bowl of spaghetti or creating a gap so they can finish the sentence when it’s a rhythming word. asking questions what do you think will happen next, how do you think Jack would feel?, if you could have a pet what would you have? Or asking questions about the language, what does chilly mean? What other words can you use for rain?

As for screens have set times when they’re. We say you can have 30 mins of TV before dinner but use whatever consistent rule works for your family.

Don’t try and make the books the replacement for TV. It’s like expecting a lovely piece of chocolate cake and some one offering you an apple. I like apples but not if what I was expecting and wanting was chocolate cake.

I think reading stories together is a special time which children that age love. Snuggling up and reading a book. I used to let mine choose the books. They knew many of them off by heart so could read them together with the joining in especially on repeated phrases.

Apart from that, I agree to have set screen times and then if they want to play or do some colouring or listen to an audio book or help with cooking, they can choose what they like. I would give it as an option amongst other activities which aren't competing with screen.

You do need good books though. I recommend Little Bunny Foo Foo, Bear Hunt, Squash and a Squeeze, Hairy Mclary, Eek mouse.