FOR PARENTS · AGES 5–11
Audiobooks for children: how to use them well, age by age
Use them alongside reading, not instead of it: listening together is the most enjoyed way to listen, and following the printed book while listening links the sounds to the words.
How Litsee helps: illustrated stories your child steers, written for their age (5 to 11) and read aloud if you like.
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Audiobooks fill car journeys, calm bedtimes and rainy afternoons with stories. They can also open up books your child couldn't yet read alone. This guide is about using them well: when to listen together, when to read along, where to find them free, and how to keep them working alongside reading, not instead of it.
By the Litsee team · Last reviewed · About this guide
The short answer: share them, follow along sometimes, keep reading too
Audiobooks are already part of family life. The National Literacy Trust found in 2026: “Around 7 in 10 households (69.2%) listened to audiobooks.” (National Literacy Trust). For children, they can be a way in: “Of audiobook listeners, 50.3% said listening feels like reading, 36.6% said listening has got them interested in reading and 30.1% said that they sometimes read along while listening.” (National Literacy Trust).
They work best as a companion to reading. Listening gives your child stories and vocabulary beyond their reading level, which the national curriculum asks for from Year 1: “listening to and discussing a wide range of poems, stories and non-fiction at a level beyond that at which they can read independently” (DfE national curriculum). Reading the words themselves is a separate skill that still needs practice. Our guide to whether audiobooks count as reading explains the difference.
Listen together when you can
Shared listening comes out best. “Enjoyment was highest when parents and children listened together (93.5%), compared with parents (87.8%) or children (85.8%) listening alone.” Families also said “many also said audiobooks strengthened family bonds (63.2%)” (National Literacy Trust).
It's a lot like reading aloud, which the DfE's reading framework praises: “Children benefit hugely from listening to family members reading aloud to them.” (DfE reading framework). Pause to wonder what will happen, laugh at the funny bits, and talk about the story afterwards. And the routines families already use are a good guide: “Among families who listened together, two thirds (66.7%) listened at bedtime, while almost half listened at weekends (46.5%) or during quieter moments in the day (45.2%).”
Reading along with the book
Following the printed words while listening links the sounds your child hears to the words on the page. It's especially useful for a child who can decode but reads slowly, because they hear what fluent reading of that text sounds like. Many children do it already: nearly a third of young audiobook listeners in the National Literacy Trust's survey said they sometimes read along.
Try a page or two of reading along, then let them just listen. If they want to read the next chapter themselves, that's a great sign. See our guide to reading fluency for why hearing fluent reading helps.
Tips by age
Choose your child's age. These are our suggestions. Your choice stays in the page address; nothing is saved.
Ages 5 to 7
- Short stories and picture-book readings, ten to fifteen minutes long.
- Listen with the printed book open, so they can follow the pictures and words.
- Old favourites they know well: hearing a familiar story again is part of the fun.
- Keep listening alongside, not instead of, the school reading book.
Ages 7 to 9
- Chapter books a little above their own reading level, a chapter at a time.
- Follow the printed text for a page or two, then just listen.
- Series they love: the next book is easy to find.
- Talk about the story afterwards, the way you would after reading aloud.
Ages 9 to 11
- Longer novels, including books they might find hard to read alone.
- Non-fiction on their passions: sport, science, history.
- Let them choose, then ask what they think of it.
- Mix in their own reading every day, so decoding and fluency keep growing.
Interests matter at every age. The National Literacy Trust found: “Around half of current listeners (50.1%) and 43.8% of non-listeners said they would be more likely to listen if content better matched their interests or hobbies.” (National Literacy Trust).
Free audiobooks
Cost holds some families back: “Lack of time (25.2%) and cost (18.9%) were the main barriers reported by listening families” (National Literacy Trust). It doesn't need to.
- Your local library. The DfE's tips say: “Local libraries also offer brilliant online materials, including audiobooks and ebooks to borrow.” (DfE). Ask what you can borrow with a library card.
- The Book Day charity. Its website has free audiobooks: “Audiobooks are great for families or solo story time.” (Book Day charity).
- Your own voice. Reading aloud is the original audiobook, and it's free.
Keeping the balance
Audiobooks can quietly take over from reading for a child who finds reading hard, because listening is easier. That's fine for stories they couldn't read yet, but make sure they still read something themselves every day: the school book, a comic, a few pages of a book they chose.
At bedtime, an audio-only speaker is calmer than a tablet, and a story you read together is calmer still.
Questions parents ask
Are audiobooks good for children?
They're a good way to enjoy stories, hear new words and stories above their reading level, and share stories as a family. In the National Literacy Trust's 2026 survey, enjoyment was highest when parents and children listened together. They don't replace practice at reading the words, so use them alongside reading.
Where can I get free audiobooks for children?
Your local library: the DfE's tips note that libraries offer audiobooks and ebooks to borrow. The Book Day charity's website also has free audiobooks. Ask your library what's available with your library card.
Should my child read along with the audiobook?
It can help. Following the printed words while listening links the sounds to the text. In the National Literacy Trust's 2026 survey, 30.1% of young audiobook listeners said they sometimes read along.
Are audiobooks good at bedtime?
Many families think so: two thirds of families who listened together did it at bedtime, in the National Literacy Trust's 2026 survey. Choose a calm story, and an audio-only player or speaker rather than a screen.
Sources
- Audiobooks in the home in 2026 National Literacy Trust, 7 July 2026, updated 9 October 2026, checked 3 November 2026
- Children and young people's audio listening in 2026 National Literacy Trust, 27 July 2026, checked 3 November 2026
- 10 top tips for parents to support children to read Department for Education, 16 July 2020, updated 25 April 2022, checked 3 November 2026
- National curriculum in England: English programmes of study (key stages 1 and 2) Department for Education, September 2013, updated 16 July 2014, checked 3 November 2026
- The reading framework Department for Education, July 2023, updated 22 September 2023, checked 3 November 2026
- Free audiobooks and £1 books worldbookday.com (the Book Day charity), 2026, checked 3 November 2026
About this guide
Written by the Litsee team and checked line by line against the sources listed on this page.
The tips by age are our own suggestions. We don't name titles, services or prices, because they change; your library is the best place to start.
Spotted something wrong or out of date? Email info@litsee.com and we will fix it. Last reviewed: .
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