Survey on Audiobook Use During Childcare: Audiobooks Solve the Problem of "Not Having Time to Read".
- The following is content from the press release -
(Head office: Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo; President: Hiroya Kubota; hereinafter "Otobank"), operator of audiobook.jp, the No. 1*1 audiobook lineup, conducted a "Childcare Audiobook Use Survey" among 132 audiobook.jp users with children under 6 years old. The survey asked 132 audiobook.jp users with children under six years of age about their use of audiobooks while raising their children. The survey found that audiobooks, which allow users to read without using their eyes or hands, are helping to solve the problem of parents who find it difficult to find time to read while raising their children.
1: Japan Marketing Research Organization, November 2023. 1. Survey of the number of Japanese-language audiobook book lineups.
An audiobook is a "book to listen to" in which a book is read aloud by a narrator or voice actor. The appeal of audiobooks is that they can be read even in situations where you cannot take your eyes or hands off the page, as long as your ears are free to listen.
Until now, the majority of users have been businesspeople who listen to audiobooks while commuting to work or other places on the move. In addition, some companies that have introduced audiobooks for human resource development have begun to offer audiobooks to employees on maternity or childcare leave, in addition to general employees.
Therefore, Otobank conducted a survey of 132 audiobook.jp users with children under 6 years old on audiobook use while raising children.
Survey Highlights
1) One in four users with children under 6 years old use audiobooks while "raising children.
26.5% of respondents with children 6 years old and younger indicated that they often use audiobooks while raising their children.
(2) Audiobooks are useful in situations where you can't take your eyes or hands off the screen, such as when you are "watching over" or "tucking in" a child.
The specific child-rearing situations in which audiobooks were used were "while watching children play" (26.5%), when parents cannot take their eyes off their children, followed by "while putting children to bed" (23.5%), when the room must be darkened, and "when watching children play" (23.5%), when parents have to put their children to bed (23.5%).
3) Audiobooks solve the problem of "not having time to read" while raising a child.
The appeal of audiobooks as perceived by users with children aged 6 and under is that they "can make effective use of time by listening while reading" (90.9%), followed by "can read even when their eyes or hands are busy" (71.2%).
Some customers say that audiobooks have relieved the stress of not having enough time to read due to childcare.
1 in 4 users with children under 6 years old use audiobooks "while raising children".
We compared the most frequently used situations for audiobooks between those with children under 6 years old and the rest (no children under 6 years old).
Those who said they often use audiobooks "while raising children" ranked 9th with only 3.5% of those who do not have children under 6 years of age, though,For those with children under 6 years old, "raising children" ranked fifth at 26.5%!One in four of those with children under age 6 use audiobooks frequently while raising their children.
Audiobooks are useful in situations where you can't take your eyes or hands off your child, such as when you are "watching over" or "tucking them in.
So, in what specific situations are audiobooks used during childcare?
When asked to those with children 6 years old and younger, the number one answer was.Watching over children playing(26.5%), followed bylulling a child to sleep(23.5%) and third place went toWhen picking up and dropping off children(18.9%).
In addition to the fact that they cannot take their eyes off their children for their own safety while watching them play, some respondents said that their children get angry when they look at their phones, so audiobooks are useful because they can read with their ears while keeping their eyes on their children.
In addition, many commented that they had to darken the room during bedtime, and that the audiobooks were helpful in an environment where they could not watch TV or look at their phone screens.
Others say, "I listen to it when my child falls asleep in my arms and I can't move,Audiobooks are used in a variety of situations during childcare, when eyes and hands are often not available.We found that
Respondent Comments
When putting children to bed, audiobooks are good because you can listen to them in a darkened room. If I read a book to my child, I can't darken the room, so I have to rearrange the bedtime routine. (Female in her 40s)
I want to read to them before bed, but I also want to keep the lights off, so I use audiobooks that I can listen to by ear. (40s female)
My son is now 0 years and 8 months old. I listen to it while holding my son who is sleeping because he only sleeps in my arms for naps. (Male in his 20s)
I use it when I am unable to move, such as when my child falls asleep while in my arms. (Male in his 40s)
When my child is playing alone or drinking milk, I listen with a wireless earphone in one ear only. (40s female)
I listen to it while watching over my children when they are playing outside in front of my house or at the park with their siblings, or while taking a walk around the house with my younger child who cannot speak yet. (30s female)
It is very helpful to be able to listen from my ears because my children get angry when I look at my phone while I am watching them play. (40s female)
Audiobooks Solve the "Can't Find Time to Read" Problem While Raising a Child
We also surveyed those who use audiobooks while raising children to find out what they find attractive about audiobooks.
The most supported was "Time can be used effectively by "listening while listening" etc.(90.9%), followed byReading is possible even in situations where your eyes and hands are busy.(71.2%).
To the comments from respondents,Audiobooks have relieved the stress caused by the lack of time for reading due to childcare.Some of them said, "I'm not sure I'm going to be able to read while I'm raising my child. The features of audiobooks, such as "listening while listening" and "reading without using your eyes or hands," are helping to solve the problem of reading while raising a child.
Respondent Comments
. I was stressed because I could not get proper reading time due to raising my children. Since using audiobooks, I have been able to devote my commute to work to reading time, and both the amount of reading and exercise have increased, so I am satisfied. (Male in his 30s)
During my child-rearing years, it was difficult to find time for reading, and after giving birth, I felt that for some reason I could no longer concentrate on reading books. I also felt like I couldn't concentrate on reading after giving birth. At that time, the audiobook was a great opportunity for me to easily get in touch with books in my spare time. (Female in her 30s)
I am currently on maternity leave for one year. I am deepening my education by listening to many books that I had wanted to read before I took childcare leave. I am deepening my education by listening to many books that I have wanted to read since before I took childcare leave. I think it is a perfect tool for childcare because my "ears" are basically free while I am raising my child. (Male in his 20s)
I love listening to it with my child before bedtime because I can close my eyes and enjoy the story and the warmth of the voice is comforting. It is a very friendly app for those of us who find it difficult to read long story books to our children and whose interest is not sustained enough to let them read alone. I am hoping to find an opportunity to help my child appreciate books. (40s female)
I am glad that I can input information while doing other things. It's hard for me to make time for myself and study, but just listening to the audiobooks fills me up a little. (40s female)
Survey Summary
Survey period: November 13, 2024 - November 17, 2024
Research organization: In-house survey
Survey target: "audiobook.jp" users
Number of valid responses: 417 (132 of whom have children under 6 years old)
Survey method (tabulation and calculation method): Internet-based questionnaire survey
Providing Audiobooks to Employees on Maternity or Childcare Leave, Alfresa Corporation
Alfresa Corporation, which has introduced audiobook.jp Corporate Edition as a human resource development tool, has been taking a progressive approach in supporting the work and life of its employees by providing audiobooks to employees on maternity or childcare leave. At the "Audiobook Awards 2024" held on October 21, this initiative was highly evaluated, and the company received the Work-Life Learning Award in the Corporate Edition Utilization Category. Here is what they had to say when they received the award.
Human Resources Development Group, Human Resources Department, Corporate Headquarters, Alfresa Corporation
From Natsuki Yamakawa
(Excerpts)
I am a mother of two and have experienced maternity and paternity leave. I strongly wished I had an audiobook that I could listen to by ear when I was putting my children to bed or holding them in my arms. So I thought it would be a good idea to provide audiobooks to employees on maternity or childcare leave, who had not previously been eligible for such services, and I worked with my supervisor to create a system to do so. Through this initiative, we were able to create learning opportunities and connections with the company even during maternity and childcare leave. Employees who actually used the audiobooks have continued to use them after returning to work, and they have been well received. We are also developing an audiobook program for employees who have been offered jobs, with the hope that the audiobooks will help alleviate some of their anxiety about entering the workforce and lead to spontaneous learning and increased motivation."
Comments from Saki Iizumi, Head of Audiobook Division, Otobank, Inc.
I am very happy to see that many people of child-rearing age are using audiobooks for both child-rearing and reading. As a mother of one child myself, I am one of those who use audiobooks while putting my child to bed or watching over him or her. I think there are many people who are stressed because they can't take their eyes off their children or their hands are occupied, and they don't have time to read. In such a situation, the fact that more than 90% people appreciated the effective use of their time by "listening while listening" gave us a good response to our efforts and allowed us to see further possibilities. We will continue to actively provide content that allows all people, including those raising children, to satisfy their intellectual curiosity while cherishing their time. We will strive to further evolve our service as one that can be tailored to each individual's lifestyle."
What is an Audiobook?
An audiobook is a "book to listen to" in which a book is read aloud by a narrator or voice actor. Because reading can be enjoyed only with the ears, people who have difficulty reading text can enjoy "reading while listening" in all aspects of their lives, such as while running, on trains or in cars, or while doing household chores.
In recent years, the number of audiobook users has rapidly increased against the backdrop of the rapid development of the audio content usage environment with the spread of smartphones and wireless earphones, and the introduction of subscription plans that allow unlimited listening to a variety of works at a fixed price. Currently, audiobooks are spreading as the third type of book, following paper and e-books.
Reference] You can learn about audiobook production and recommended works! Reference] "Maruwakari! Audiobooks https://bit.ly/3Xg8mFJ
audiobook.jp
One of the largest audiobook distribution services in Japan, operated by Otobank, Inc.
The service was launched in March 2018, renewed from FeBe, which began distribution in 2007. Aiming to expand the platform to popularize the audiobook category. Number of members exceeds 3 million in February 2024.https://audiobook.jp/
Service Overview
- Service name: "audiobook.jp
- Site URL:https://audiobook.jp/
- App Store page:https://app.audiobook.jp/ios
- Google Play page:https://app.audiobook.jp/android
- Fee structure:
The unlimited listening plan is 1,330 yen/month (tax included). The first two weeks of membership are free.
Individual purchases can be made for each work. (*These titles are mainly distributed at approximately the same price range as the book titles (1,200 yen to 1,500 yen).
(Headquarters: Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo; President: Hiroya Kubota)
We are one of the largest audiobook distribution companies in Japan, aiming to achieve "creation of listening culture", "barrier-free for the blind" and "promotion of publishing culture" by developing business centering on audio contents. We are also the publisher of the online book guide "Shinkan JP" (https://sinkan.jp/ ), as well as a book promotion business.
