Did you know there are so many amazing podcasts for kids? Which is great news if you’re looking for some creative ways to cut down on all that screen time!
DID YOU KNOW: Studies have shown that too much screen time can be detrimental for developing minds.¹ There’s also research that proves a link too much screen-time to poor physical development and an increased risk of obesity!²
Podcasts are great as they provide entertainment that is both engaging AND educational.
Today, we’re sharing 21 of the best kids podcasts. These are guaranteed to keep even the most reluctant child entertained while boosting their imaginations, their knowledge, and will take them on so many exciting adventures.
1. The Radio Adventures of Eleanor Amplified
The one and only Eleanor Amplified is a clever little podcast. It’s staged as an old fashioned radio, set in the present day with sassy commentary from our hero, Eleanor Amplified who outwits criminals while also mastering their less-than masterminded henchmen!
The story is exciting and your kids will love the audio adventure they get to go on with Eleanor Amplified. The quality of sound effects are excellent, the dialogue is witty (parents, you’ll enjoy this one too!) and the writing is fun. Eleanor Amplified has moxie, heart, and a whole lot of great life lessons rolled up in a grand, daring adventure, a perfect listen for the whole family.
2. Reading Bug Adventures
Reading Bug Adventures is a podcast created from beginning to end by The Reading Bug, a family-owned, independent bookstore in California. The podcast is up-beat and features original stories and songs as we follow the Reading Bug on a new adventure each episode, depending on what books are in the Reading Bug’s magical book bag!
These stories are also interactive as children are encouraged to have paper and crayons handy to draw pictures from the story. Because of this, the stories are very descriptive as well as being full of facts as discoveries are made on each adventure.
3. For Kids, By Kids Story Time Podcast
By Kids For Kids shares a collection of short stories, classic tales, and fables for children. But whether you’re nine or ninety, you’ll enjoy listening to these captivating stories. The quality of this podcast is outstanding, the child voice actors are incredibly talented, and the editing is excellent. All the stories capture the imagination beautifully, and the children’s voices make it really relatable as well as entertaining.
4. Aaron’s World
Aaron’s World is a 50 episode audio drama that is jam-packed with fun and excitement! If you like your podcast adventures to include dinosaurs, time travel, robots, and plenty of fascinating science, then Aaron’s World is definitely the podcast for you! Journey through the age of dinosaurs with a young boy named Aaron and his trusty computer companion, INO, as they explore and uncover the mysteries of the Prehistoric World.
The individual episodes are self-contained and focus on a single prehistoric creature or science topic, but there is also a larger story arc that weaves all the adventure together and leads listeners to an exciting finale that teaches a valuable lesson about science.
5. Stories Podcast
Stories Podcast releases a new story every week. Some are retellings of fairy tales and fables, some are original stories, but all are expertly performed and produced. Host Amanda Weldon has a gift for voices, as well as a beautiful singing voice, and there’s often an original song included.
Writer Daniel Hines does a fantastic job of scripting the stories, whether they’re based on fairy tales or folklore from around the world, or whether they are original works (Meowmaid, a recent two-part story, was based on a painting, and tells the really enjoyable tale of Captain Calico Ken and his calico cat Calliope!) its entertainment for the whole family as the stories are diverse and new.
6. Purple Rocket Podcast
The Purple Rocket Podcast is a whole lotta fun! It’s full of imaginative adventures and daring tales that will keep the kiddos (and their parents) hooked from the very beginning. What could be more captivating than a magical globe, a handy guidebook and secret missions to apprehend a sinister organization? In the Grandpa’s Globe series, you’ll get this and a whole lot more as you travel with twins, Suzie and Sawyer on whirlwind adventures.
But there are also series that take us on intergalactic journeys on a space train, there are some spritely adventures of Winnie and the Pixienauts, as well as prehistoric escapades at Camp Dino, and a whole lot more!
7. Young Ben Franklin
While the Young Ben Franklin podcast is a fictional rendering of his life before he was Benjamin Franklin, the inventor, statesman, and the face on the $100 bill, it’s a fantastic audio production which breathes life into history and paints a tale of intrigue and adventure that will keep all on the edge of their seats.
It’s full of mayhem and mystery, as young Ben and his friends stumble upon a mysterious letter leading to a legendary treasure, and as you’re drawn into the tale, you’ll wait with bated breath as Ben uses his wits and bravery to outsmart the cruel British governor of Massachusetts. And great news, as Season 2 is coming soon!
8. Earth Rangers
Earth Rangers is hosted by an aspiring wildlife biologist “Earth Ranger Emma”. This is a great podcast for nature and animal enthusiasts, filled with exciting animal facts, super-inspiring conservation stories, and candid conversations with scientists and researchers. From the comfort of your couch, you can travel the world to unearth some of the wildest animal facts and discover some of the world’s craziest creatures. It’s fun and educational, with top ten countdowns, wild animal guessing games, conservation conversations, and epic animal showdowns, perfect for nurturing a love of nature and getting the next generation excited about and involved in nature conservation.
9. Little Stories for Tiny People: Anytime and bedtime stories for kids
Little Stories for Tiny People is a kids’ podcast featuring original kids’ stories that will delight the tiny people in your life. Perfect for bleary-eyed parents, innovative teachers, and at-wits’-end babysitters looking for an alternative, non-annoying way to engage the toddlers and young kids they love at bedtime or anytime! Each story for children is lovingly written and performed with attention to the whimsical senses of humor children often possess.
10. Classical Kids Storytime
Set to the backdrop of beautiful classical music, Classical Kids Storytime is a collection of some of the classic stories we know and love, sometimes with surprising twists and turns. The run time of each story ranges between 10-20 minutes, with a new story coming out each month. The classical music is paired perfectly with each story, not only stimulating an appreciation for classical music, but also making these episodes perfect for bedtimes, or car rides when a little quiet time is needed.
11. Mystery Recipe
Mystery Recipe aims to help kids and their grown-ups uncover the fun, fantastical, and fascinating sides of food, and as it’s hosted by Molly Birnbaum, editor-in-chief of America’s Test Kitchen Kids, we’re definitely in the right place to learn about all things yummy! Each ingredient-themed episode builds to a grand finale: a mystery recipe cook-along! That’s right, you get to cook along with the steps listed in the grand finale episode…and then tuck into a delicious meal you’ve prepared yourself! It’s a really great way to get everyone excited about cooking. It’s deliciously silly and unexpectedly educational, and will keep everyone well-fed!
12. Story Pirates
Story Pirates is featured on a lot of kid’s podcast recommendation posts. And it’s no wonder! It’s a truly unique listening experience! The premise is that the Story Pirates take stories written by children and turns them into sketch comedies and songs. A talented group of performers and writers make these stories come alive, and an interview with the kid authors makes this show extra special. The songs and in-between content are witty and clever, the stories the kids come up with are hilarious and imaginative, and the performances are excellent. It is a delightful, fun-filled podcast that’s perfect for children’s imaginations and witty enough for parents to enjoy too.
13. Wow in the World
Wow in the World is another sciencey podcast that takes curious kids (and their grown-ups) on a journey of discovering the incredible world in which we live. Together with hosts Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz, your kids will go on crazy science adventures, from the inside of our brains to way out into deep space, as well as learning all about the mindblowing new technological discoveries happening all around the world. It’s a really well-produced, high-quality educational adventure you and your kids will love.
14. Story Shed
Story Shed features original, usually rhyming, stories by an elementary school teacher in the UK, with the purpose of creating something children and adults can enjoy together. They are a great resource to engage children in the art of storytelling as well as for teaching valuable lessons, particularly focusing on inclusivity. At the end of each story, the host and writer, Jake Harris, goes over important or thought-provoking points from the stories with his own young children, as a way of engaging young listeners with the content. The stories have a lot of heart, humor, and originality, so they’re fun for listeners of all ages.
15. Circle Round
Circle Round is a great story-telling podcast that shares folktales from around the world, all with an important underlying message. Orchestral instruments are cleverly used for sound effects and background music, making for a very calming, imaginative experience.
Folktales have been used for centuries to teach morals and are still a great way to teach character lessons to children, as well as an appreciation for different cultures. Sharing stories from different countries provides plots that most have never heard before, making these a worthwhile listen for children and their parents alike.
16. Julie’s Library
On Julie’s Library, Julie Andrews, along with her daughter, children’s author, and educator, Emma Walton Hamilton, invite listeners into their home library and share their favorite children’s books. Every story comes to life with sound, music, and activities, creating a fully immersive, imaginative reading experience. There is also the added bonus of special features from authors, kids, and other special guests, making for a diverse, exciting listen each and every time. If you want to foster a lifelong love of reading and imaginative thinking in young minds, this is the podcast to turn to!
17. Brains On!
If you’re looking for a science-focused podcast to keep curious minds stimulated, you’re going to want to check out Brains On! It may be branded as a science podcast for kids, but you’ll love learning about vast and varied topics just as much as they will. The episodes cover everything from decyphering myths and mythical creatures, to answering questions you never knew you had, like do plants have feelings or what actually makes food delicious? (What great questions, right?) It’s a fun, engaging way to keep the thirst for knowledge alive and thriving, and a great tool to help develop critical thinking skills and broaden scientific horizons.
18. The Storyteller Podcast Kid’s Edition
The Storyteller Podcast Kids Edition is a highly-polished podcast and another great listen for the whole family. It’s full of vivid imagery, fantastical adventure, told in a calming, yet captivating manner. The writer and creative force behind this, as well as the original show The Storyteller Podcast, is Adam James, and it’s hard to believe this is a one-man show. This magical adventure will keep all enthralled and will teach some valuable lessons along the way.
19. The Past and The Curious: A History Podcast for Kids and Families
The Past & The Curious is a history podcast especially for kids! History can be amazing, inspiring, and relevant to anyone, and this podcast does a fantastic job of bringing history to life.
You’ll hear intriguing stories of spies, funny foods, George Washington’s foibles, early advancements in cartooning and ballooning and much more! A professional music score and important songs accompany nearly every themed episode.
20. The Calm Kids Podcast
The Calm Kids Podcast is an example of the next generation embracing the incredible platform given to podcast hosts to share their message and use it to connect with and help others. When eight-year-old Charlotte suffered bouts of anxiety and could not fall asleep, her big sister, Lucie, who was 11 at the time, decided to make up relaxing stories to calm her down and eventually doze off. The two sisters decided to record some of these stories, to help other kids struggling to fall asleep.
This special podcast features unique stories invented and read by both Lucie and Charlotte, who present their stories in such a calm, but confident manner. And between them, their are bucket-loads of creativity and the episodes include everything from light-hearted tales to easy-to-follow relaxation techniques, and they are also wonderful story-tellers, delivering their unique escapades with an incredible level of professionalism.
21. Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls
This podcast is based on the New York Times bestselling book of the same name and is an engaging way to learn about all the phenomenal people, past and present, from all over the world doing astonishing things in a variety of fields and spheres of influence. This podcast is a great way to introduce all children (it’s definitely not just for girls!) to some fantastic role models who will motivate and inspire both young and old alike to do the impossible, to dream bigger, and to aim higher. It’s also a really effective way to enhance the lessons of being kind, standing up for what you believe in, and looking for ways you can change the world around you.
Related read: 21 Of The Best Podcasts Of 2021…So Far!
Sources:
1 The Lancet Child and Adolescent Health: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanchi/article/PIIS2352-4642(18)30278-5/fulltext
2 AHA Journals: Sedentary Behaviors in Today’s Youth: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2676326
