Best Podcasts for Kids

You may have gathered that I’m a little obsessed with podcasts. Why clean the dishes in silence (or in earshot of post-dinner mutant-robot sword fights…why does their energy always ramp up right after dinner when you need it to dissipate)? Popping in an earbud and catching part of a Fresh Air interview or Dear Sugar Radio episode doesn’t just pass the time and force me to think beyond work and family minutiae. On some days, it keeps me sane.

I realized recently that the same might be true for my kids. There are plenty of short, “dead” periods in the car and at home when, tired and left to their own devices, my kids will choose to needle and whine. While I realize that down time to just “be” is important to childhood, I think we have plenty of those. What I could use is a little brain teaser when energy is short but I’d like my kids to do more than zone out to Sonic the Hedgehog. The other month, I covered audiobooks. Today, I’m talking podcasts.

While podcasts about kids (i.e., parenting) are plentiful on iTunes, podcasts for kids are few and far between. But among these, there are several gems. Sample from some of the programs below, and hook up your phone or the kids’ iPads to the car or home stereo when you’re in this zone of betwixt and between. And, just in case you don’t know how to access, much less download, a podcast, here’s a quick primer: If you have a smartphone, you should have (or can download) a Podcast app, where your chosen programs will be stored as you subscribe to or download them. To find one—and there are hundreds of thousands of free ones—fire up iTunes or Stitcher and search for whatever you’re interested in…fashion, politics, parenting, whatever. These services will cue up the 10 or so most popular podcasts in that genre. You can subscribe (new episodes download automatically), listen to a single episode if you are in a Wi-Fi or good cell zone, or download one by one. 

Brains On!
Ages 5-12
In terms of quality, this is tops among kids’ podcasts, probably because it’s run by three public radio vets. Each episode explores a kid-friendly scientific phenomenon or conundrum—why is some hair curly? Is there an edge to space? Smart, excited kids and friendly, real-life scientists animate the explanation. Just in case brain cramp sets in, each installment is broken up by a feature called “Mystery Sounds” in which a short audio clip is run and everyone gets to ponder the source. Older kids might balk at some goofy elements, but they’ll also surprise themselves by learning something.
Listen and subscribe

Ear Snacks
Ages 3-6
Indie kids’ rock musicians (and parents) Andrew and Polly mix it up on this wacky podcast, which covers topics from “Beeps” to “Boxes” to “Shadows” with a mix of science, stream-of-consciousness ramblings, and surprisingly good music. Best for the preschool set but some musically inclined early elementary schoolers might get into it, too.
Listen and subscribe

Storynory
Ages 3-8
Among little kids’ audio, there are a lot of creaky-feeling folk-tale retellings, but what’s great about this podcast is its mix of classic and new, and long and short, with some funny poems and songs mixed in. Actors read myths, fairy tales, and original stories you’ve never heard before.

Story Pirates
Ages 5-12
It’s a clever concept: top comedians and actors adapt stories written by kids into musical theater. The performances are amusing, but perhaps the best part is that children get the idea that their ideas matter. (Sample episode teaser: “From the Wilderness show, the Story Pirates present new story ‘Bird Tornado’ by Austin Fuemmeler!” You can imagine Austin’s delight.) Each podcast in an excerpt from the Story Pirates’ weekly Sirius XM radio show and nicely edited down to 6-20-minute bites: perfect for the ride to camp or the pool.
Listen and subscribe

Tumble
Ages 5-12
Husband-and-wife duo Lindsay Patterson and Marshall Escamilla are psyched about science, and are on a quest to get entire families feeling the same way. What it lacks in polish compared to, say, Brains On, it makes up for in enthusiasm. Perhaps you do know why dogs or loyal, or why bats hang upside down; for the rest of us know-littles, it’s a great podcast for parents, too.
Listen and subscribe

Readers: What awesome, kid-friendly podcasts am I missing? Clue me in below or here!

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