Podcasts aren’t just for grown-ups. There are tons of unique, entertaining, and educational podcasts for kids. They can be enjoyed in the car, while doing chores, as a family before bedtime, or anytime you want screen-free entertainment.
Best Podcasts for Kids
If your kids spend too much time in front of the screen, podcasts are a great option to showcase other forms of entertainment. Too much kids’ screen time is something we all think about as parents. Limiting screen time can improve mental health and help with restless sleep. Children’s podcasts can provide entertainment, as well as educational value, trivia questions, science lessons, and much more, without eyes glued to a screen. Whether your kids are interested in reading, science, or animals, there’s a perfect podcast out there for them.
Planning a summer road trip? Many of these podcasts for kids are perfect for long car rides.
With so many great podcasts available, we decided to ask our moms about their favorite podcasts for kids of all ages! Check out this list of best kids’ podcasts for varying ages and interests.
Educational Podcasts for Kids
Brains On! Science podcast for kids
Brains On! is a science podcast from American Public Media for curious kids and adults. Co-hosted weekly by kid scientists and reporters from public radio, we ask questions and go wherever the answers take us.
Wow in the World
Podcast hosts Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz guide curious kids and their grown-ups on a journey into the wonders of the world around them. Travel inside your brain, out into space, and deep into science and technology’s most incredible new stories.
Tumble Science Podcast for Kids
Exploring stories of science discovery. Tumble is a science podcast created to be enjoyed by the entire family. Hosted and produced by Lindsay Patterson (science journalist) and Marshall Escamilla (teacher). Learn about climate change, science discoveries, and more. This is easily one of our favorite family podcasts. Visit tumblepodcast.com for more information and educational content.
Warrior Kid Podcast
Leadership and discipline advice and guidance for youth. This is an excellent podcast for middle school students.
Smash Boom Best
Smash Boom Best is a debate show for kids and families from the makers of the award-winning podcast Brains On. Every episode takes two awesome things, smashes them together, and lets you decide which is best. Cats versus Dogs. Pizza versus Tacos. Super Speed versus Super Strength. Who will be crowned the Smash Boom Best? The debaters use facts and passion to make their case…teaching listeners how to defend their own opinions.
But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids
But Why is a show led by kids. They ask the questions, and the hosts find the answers. On But Why, they tackle large and small topics about nature, words, historical events, and even the end of the world. It’s a big exciting world out there.
A Gift Called Dasha
Dasha encounters everyday activities searching for her gift/talent (which she is passionate about). Her parents are a big part of her life and are the first ones to help her and encourage her to find it. She prays while she continues on her journey to find her God-given talent.
Storytelling Podcasts for Kids
Story Pirates
Story Pirates is a group of world-class actors, comedians, improvisers, and musicians who adapt stories written by kids into sketch comedy and musical theater. Visit storypirates.com for more information on Story Pirates and how you can even bring their live show to your school or town!
The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel
The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel is a high-quality serial mystery story for middle graders performed by actual kids. The devious plots of this adventure series will keep kids engaged. Think Goonies, meets Spy Kids, meets Stranger Things for 8-12 year-olds. Listen along as eleven-year-old Mars Patel and his pals JP, Toothpick, and Caddie set out on a daring adventure in search of two missing friends. The mysterious tech billionaire Oliver Pruitt might have a thing-or-two to say about their quest because, as he likes to say, To the stars! In fact, that’s just where they might be headed…
Storynory – Stories for Kids
Let Natasha’s voice beguile you with classic fairy tales, new children’s stories, poems, myths, adventures, and romance. Storynory brings you an audio story every week. Each one is beautifully read by Natasha and her friends.
Six Minutes
Eleven-year-old Holiday is pulled from the icy waters of Alaska with no memory of who she is or where she came from. Are her mom and dad really who they say they are? And when she develops incredible abilities, she’ll soon discover she’s not alone in the world.
From the award-winning creators of The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel and The Ghost of Jessica Majors comes Six Minutes, a new mystery adventure for the whole family.
The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian: Science Fiction for Kids
The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian is a serialized science-fiction story for kids. Told in 15-20 minute episodes, the podcast is perfect for parents to put on when driving around town, on a marathon road trip, or to bond before bed. The story centers on Finn Caspian, an 8-year-old boy aboard The Famous Marlowe 280 Interplanetary Exploratory Space Station. He and his friends Abigail, Elias, and Vale are Explorers Troop 301, taking off from the Marlowe to explore uncharted planets, help the occasional alien, and solve a mystery that threatens to destroy the Marlowe. It’s a “mystery gang” story, like Scooby-Doo in space.
The story is written and performed by Jonathan Messinger, author of Hiding Out, former web editor of Time Out Chicago Kids, and father of two boys. His son Griffin, 7, serves as editor of the story, appearing in episodes to critique, make predictions and express skepticism that his father knows what he’s talking about, which also happens to be the way the rest of their relationship works.
Sparkle Stories Podcast
Sparkle Stories produces original audio stories for families around the world. Each week on the Sparkle Stories Podcast, they share a Free Story from one of their Original Story Series.
Kids Story Room
Wonderful, wacky, and original stories podcasts for kids aged 1-100.
Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls
A fairy tale podcast about the extraordinary women who inspire us. This show is based on Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls, the global best-selling book series written by Elena Favilli and Francesca Cavallo, inspiring millions of girls and women around the world to dream bigger, aim higher, and fight harder.
Molly of Denali
Meet Molly Mabray, an Alaska Native girl growing up with her parents, family, and friends. Over eight episodes, Molly and her friend Tooey discover the identity of a mysterious creature that has stolen Molly’s birthday cake. Join Molly and the gang and find out what life is like for a typical kid on big adventures in Alaska.
The Molly of Denali podcast is made by the folks behind some of your all-time favorite PBS television shows, Arthur, Curious George, Pinkalicious and Peterrific, and more! Molly of Denali, the TV series, is on your local PBS station.
Bedtime Stories Podcast Fairytales and Folk Tales from the Lilypad for kids
Lily, a frog, tells fairytales, folk tales, and bedtime stories to kids. These sweet stories are perfect for younger children.
Purple Rocket Podcast
Purple Rocket Podcast takes kids on an unforgettable adventure through a mix of long-running series and occasional one-offs, many of which impart lessons. For example, “My Homework Ate Me” is a cautionary tale of procrastination. Stories come to life through an elaborate array of voices, music, and ambient sounds that hold children’s attention. Adventures include everything from aliens to fairies.
Children’s Podcasts for Relaxation
Peace Out — Relaxation and mindfulness stories for kids
Short stories help children calm down and relax by guiding them through visualization and breathing exercises. Perfect for parents or teachers who want to teach mindfulness and self-regulation. Proud member of Kids Listen, a grassroots organization promoting content just for children.
Bedtime Explorers
Slow down and snuggle down with Kinderling’s relaxing meditation series, specially designed to soothe kids to sleep. Join mindfulness coach Amy Taylor-Kabbaz, as she guides kids on extraordinary, imaginative journeys to magical places, visiting animals with super powers, and meeting up with some very friendly dinosaurs. Kinderling is Australia’s #1 radio station for kids and families. Visit us at kinderling.com.au. Check out Amy’s website at happymama.com.au.
Playtime & Movement Podcasts for Kids
Noodle Loaf – Dan + Music + Kids
Noodle Loaf is an interactive music-themed podcast for kids created by a music-ed specialist dad to help bring learning and laughter to your downtime with singing, dancing, and lots of play. Noodle Loaf is a new way to get kids moving.
Once Upon a Playtime
“Once Upon a Playtime” is a podcast for parents and kids about the value of playing around. A hybrid between Dr. Seuss’ whimsical, narrator-driven storytelling and Pixar’s “movies for kids with messages for grown-ups,” this podcast presents a rare joint listening opportunity for parents and their kids. Each episode features a well-known personality or celebrity who shares how a toy or play experience from their childhood shaped them.
Playtime
Sing a silly song. This podcast for kids has lots of fun and learning for pre-school children through songs, stories, and movement activities.
Listen.Think.Leap!
Listen.Think.Leap! is a creative movement podcast introducing kids to dance concepts, critical thinking, self-regulation, body awareness, and literacy skills through games and easy-to-follow movement instruction.
Yoga Kids Adventure
Step into your next yoga adventure! Yoga Kids Adventure is centered around mindfulness, imaginative play, and physical activity. With audio yoga adventure stories ranging from 5 to 15 minutes, it’s a way to make kids’ yoga part of your every day. All you need is your ears, imagination, and a safe place to move.
What are your favorite family-friendly podcasts? Share any we missed in our Local Anchor Facebook group.
RELATED:
