The weather here is hot and this is right around the time where summer boredom becomes a real thing.
For the next fews days the forecast is welcoming triple digits in these parts and we’re finding ourselves at the point in summer that almost mimics the dead of winter. Inclement weather positions us indoors for longer periods of time and we all become a little…well, crazy.
And I need a brain shift. I need to think like winter and bust out the indoor activities. I need to think of ways to keep kids engaged indoors. It’s time to bust out the puzzles and board games so they don’t risk pestering one another incessantly or simply cozying up with a screen more frequently than I prefer.
Enter Audiobooks
You all know I’m a fan of podcasts, and my love for audiobooks shines nearly as bright, particularly when it comes to my kids.
Why Audiobooks?
- In the dog days of summer, audiobooks are the perfect indoor activity.
- On road trips short and long, we love listening and learning, taking the same adventure together as a family, while the distraction helps minimize car squabbles…most of the time.
- They are fabulous for quiet time. For the most part we have graduated from nap time, but we do have an afternoon quiet time where everyone takes a little break from one another. Usually, that looks like reading for a half hour and listening to an audiobook afterward. This has become routine in our home and the downtime makes for much smoother afternoons.
- They inspire creativity and imagination. I love the looks on my kids’ faces as they are listening. They are developing the storyline in their mind, forming the characters, working out the plot. The wheels are turning. That’s winning, moms!
So this being the dead of summer, this being the time many of you are embarking on long road trips or camping adventures, this being the time when it is 100 DEGREES outside and we all risk melting, I’d thought I’d share one of my favorites with you.
Meet Jonathan Park
A few years back we were introduced to Jonathan Park Audio Adventures by a family friend and the cds have become a faithful companion on many family adventures in the years since.
This audio adventure series follows Jonathan Park on his adventures with his family. The tales are fast-paced and exciting, easily keeping children entertained. At the same time they weave Biblical truths as well as scientific and historical facts into the storyline so kids are learning more than they realize. This series has become a favorite of my 11 year old son, but my 6 and 8 year old girls enjoy them nearly as much.
In a day and age when there are so many negative media choices out there, I’m so thankful to have found one that promotes the values we do in our home.
Just the other day my 4 year old spouted off a random, and less than favorable, movie line from the backseat of the car. When I asked where he had heard that, he told me it was a line from a movie – a kid-friendly movie I had let him watch. Wonderful. I had fed that to him. I offered that up on a plate and effectively said, “feast your brain on this, buddy”. And his little brain latched right on. “Kid-friendly” doesn’t cut it anymore, friends. Our kids are are emulating, at a very early age, what we put in front of them.
If I truly want to raise kids who are in the world, but not of the world, then I need to feed their developing minds content worth emulating. I need to be intentional about entertainment choices. I need entertainment that confirms and promotes the character qualities I’m trying to develop, rather than entertainment that is working against me. My four year barely knows the difference, but I do. And it’s my responsibility to do the best I can.
This is exactly why I love Jonathan Park. They are stories with characters worth copying, building confidence in my children to make morally sound decisions as they engage their world. They are adventures that bring out the best in my children and confirm the very values I’m seeking to develop at home. They are working with me as a parent, not against me.
So why do I love Jonathan Park?
- The stories are engaging and entertaining.
- The themes are character building.
- The storylines promote Biblical values and a Creationist perspective.
- They make learning fun! Scientific and History facts are woven into each fun and exciting story.
- My kids love them. This right here make learning easy!
Want to listen for yourself?
Here is a little clip to help you get a better idea of what I’m talking about.
So recently, the makers of Jonathan Park contacted me and asked if I would consider reviewing the product. Little did they know we were already fans! But I told them I’d be happy to share Jonathan Park with my readers, because it’s definitely content worth sharing.
Moms and dads, grandparents, aunts and uncles -these audio adventures make great gifts – birthdays, Christmas, and just for fun!
Ready to get started? If you and your family would like to begin listening to the Jonathan Park action-packed adventures, Click here to get your first Series Pack 1. These entertaining, faith-building audio adventures will equip, educate, and unlock your kids’ imaginations!!
And keep parenting brave, friends! It makes all the difference.
*This post was sponsored by Wise King Media, but all opinions stated are entirely my own and I only ever endorse content that I have purchased and used in my own home. You can find the I Choose Brave disclosure policy here.
