SUBMITTED BY ESSY DAY, Library Center of the Ozarks
The Library Center of the Ozarks is pleased to announce a new way for children to listen to books. They are introducing the Playaway, a self-contained audiobook. Each Playaway device is pre-loaded with one children’s audiobook. No computer or CD player is necessary, and no internet or Wi-Fi connection is required. Each Playaway device contains an audio jack for headphones, earbuds, or an external speaker. They can even connect to a car stereo for on-the-go listening. Playaways are perfect for kids because they have large buttons and appealing, bright colors. With Playaways, parents no longer need to worry about their children’s screen time as they would with a traditional, downloadable eBook on smartphone or tablet. Parents also do not have to worry about their children encountering unexpected content as they might online because each Playaway is disconnected from the internet, online messaging, apps and videos.
Parents and teachers love Playaways because they improve children’s vocabulary skills, especially when paired with a print book. Studies show that combining print and audio books increases children’s recall by up to 40% over print alone, and 70% of kids say that they read more after listening to audiobooks. Playaways devices also serve as a helpful learning aid for children with low reading skills or learning disabilities.
Playaways are safe, fun and easy to use, and they make listening to books more interesting for children. Visit the Library Center of the Ozarks at 200 S. 4th Street in Branson and check out one to try. You can search the library’s online catalog and place a hold on an interesting Playaway title at www.LCOzarks.com.
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