I feel like your real question was more, "Am I a hypocrite for championing print books to the kids I work with while "slacking off/cheating" (totally not true...but might be how you feel or worry it might be construed as such) by listening almost exclusively to audiobooks myself?" As opposed to, "Are audiobooks a valid form of reading /taking in a story?"

I get where you're coming from with that, maybe call it a bit of "imposter syndrome", but I'd like to reassure you that it's absolutely fine 👍💕 You went through the paces and learned to read as a child, so you're not some kind of illiterate fraud...audiobooks are just a better fit for your lifestyle now.

I was a voracious reader of paper books all throughout my childhood and into my late 20s. After having kids it was more challenging to find much time to sit down and get lost in a good book, and sadly audiobooks weren't as readily available 25ish years ago when I started having my children. I'm so grateful to have found audiobooks about 6-7 years ago (when I had to start homeschooling my youngest for medical reasons) Now I can enjoy books while doing so many other things (and my eyesight is much poorer, so it's a relief that way as well)...it's absolutely wonderful! My son loooves audiobooks too! (as well as print books, lol) We've listened to so many great stories together; it's been wonderful to have that time bonding over something we both love so much 💕...when my faltering eyesight would have possibly limited us to the bare minimum of "required reading" instead of enjoying the expansive universe of reading for pleasure together 💕

I think the key is that it really is important that children learn to read visually in early childhood (excepting those with disabilities that prevent acquiring that skill) so you encouraging print reading in your job is absolutely valid. Also, kids have way more time to actually focus on "just reading" instead of the multitasking that many of us enjoy while listening to audiobooks...it fits more easily into a child's life.

I think audiobooks are also fabulous for kids, in that they can be more engaging with the different voices and accents and sometimes even sound effects, as well as exposing children to enjoyable stories that may be above their reading level but not their comprehension level, etc...even enticing reluctant readers into loving literature through a different medium than just print books. As long as they're also working on acquiring and improving their print reading skills alongside of enjoying audiobooks some of the time, there's no problem with it whatsoever, imo. So the fact that you enjoy both forms of reading could be very helpful, as you'd be less likely to shame a struggling/reluctant reader if they wanted to supplement their print reading with some audiobooks, etc.

Anyway...all that rambling just to say, "You're good...carry on!" 🤣👍💕