These podcasts are sure to teach your kids (and you) new things, no screens required!
Ever since the start of lockdown, I've been enjoying many, many, podcasts for kids and families. In the span of the last five years, podcasts have been booming, but there has been significant growth in niche genres, particularly for kids and families.
While I'm quite late getting into this phenomenon, I've realized that this is not just a plain old programming fad, it's actually a result of too much screen time becoming a concern and people need engaging alternatives to YouTube and Netflix, while providing entertainment that kids and families can enjoy anywhere, anytime, without being too visually engaging.
In my opinion, the genre has experiencing exponential growth for many reasons. One is that most podcasts are available for free and do not need any subscriptions. Another is that audio is a truly portable, and can easily be consumed on the move -- like to preoccupy kids during road trips or grocery runs. And also the ability for many podcasts to be downloaded for offline listening improves the "portability" aspect.
I've also been noticing that many kids podcasts are very imaginative as they involve lots of audio elements such as audio plays that involves special sound effects that are reminiscent if of old-time radio. In other words, they get my mind moving. Not to mention, they are also brimming with tons of fun facts and trivia.
This is only part 1 of a four-part series on podcasts for kids and families. This part is about podcasts that are educational, so you definitely will learn something from these shows!
(DISCLAIMER: Many kids podcasts are available for free but they are mostly from public broadcasters/public radio stations that are supported by donors)
Wow In the World
(Tinkercast/NPR)
photo credit: NPR/Tinkercast
One of the biggest hits in the genre is NPR's first ever kids show which became a runaway hit. Many shows listed here in this post are mostly from individual public radio stations, but this marked the first time NPR itself jumped into the kids bandwagon, considering their reputation as one of the world's largest podcast creator.
Photo credit: Robb Homman)
Guy Raz (you may know him if you love the TED Radio Hour) and Mindy Thomas ( who was a well-known expert on kid's music, hosting her own radio show in the US) host this very cool podcast about science.
I really enjoy the way Mindy and Guy Raz present all the scientific studies. The fun part is that when explaining big ideas, they travel through space and time, just in their imagination.
I also like the ideas they splice into the podcast, including many pop culture references and jokes aimed at adults and jokes aimed at kids. In other words, it's fun for everyone!!!
WHERE TO LISTEN: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, NPR
(Tinkercast)
(NPR)
Brains On!
(American Public Media/Minnesota Public Radio)
Photo credit: Brains On Youtube channel
Another show that I really enjoy is one called "Brains On!". It is one of the oldest kids podcasts in existence with an extensive archive of nearly 200 episodes dating as far back as 2014.
I really enjoy the fact that they take questions from kids and when a question comes in, their research teams kick into action, seeking out all the experts and all the facts about the topic regarding the questions. The experts then give out all the facts while the hosts Molly Bloom, Marc Sanchez and Sanden Totten devise all these plays, songs, sketches, even interaction with kid cohosts and the fun part is that they have a game called the "Mystery Sound" in which a listener is asked to send in sounds and that the other listeners are asked to guess what that sound is. I seem to enjoy it as I generate many guesses as to what the sound really is!
Brains on hosts Marc Sanchez, Molly Bloom, and Sanden Totten
Photo credit: American Public Media
If you have big questions, this show is for you!!!
WHERE TO LISTEN: Spotify (see link below), Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, NPR, Youtube (selected episodes)
LINKS: https://www.brainson.org/
But Why
(Vermont Public Radio)
Photo credit: But Why Facebook page
This is another podcast that tackles curiosity and big questions.
What I love here is that they take in several questions and they really take an effort to get all the answers by calling up the appropriate experts. If Brains On was on the fun side, then But Why sounds quite serious. But it does not sound like some sort of classroom lecture for me, but they do a good job at summarizing all the lessons and make them appreciable at the kids-eye level
WHERE TO LISTEN: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, NPR
Million Bazillion
(American Public Media)
Photo credit: Marketplace/American Public Media
One great podcast ever to come out of this pandemic was "Million Bazillion" made by Brains On and sister podcast Marketplace. It's hosted by it's correspondent Jed Kim.
I really love the intention of this podcast, as it aims to educate young people, especially young children, about business and finance and they took advantage of this time when everyone seems so frugal about money, so that when the world turns "normal" again, at least the kids would have learned something about money.
I also like how they explain everything about money, how it works, how it's made, and what we can do to be better at managing finances and using our money wisely. I also admired how they made the explanation of costing more kid-friendly. How? By using the price of pizza as an example.
WHERE TO LISTEN: Spotify, Apple Podcasts. Google Podcasts
Forever Ago
(Brains On, American Public Media)
Photo credit: Forever Ago Facebook page
Another stellar spin-off show from Brains On is the very awesome history show, "Forever Ago". My favorite episode is the one about emojis. I learned a lot more about that and where video games came from and who made the first photograph. All this with the help of stories and skits, so it's basically like Brains On! but for the history buffs
WHERE TO LISTEN: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts
The Past & the Curious
(Mick Sullivan)
Photo credit: The Past & the Curious Facebook page
Well-known kids musician Mick Sullivan does a really great job making this powerful podcast. To me, this is more or less a audio version of all these CrashCourse videos on YouTube.
The fun here is that it explains histories of things that you really did not know like in an episode called "Hands" that showcased two different stories on two scientists and how their studies on handwashing changed and saved lives. Another one called "Freight Train" about two songs with the same title.
WHERE TO LISTEN: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts
And there you have it! A comprehensive list of my personal favorite educational podcasts for kids and families!
Next post: It's all about fictional/storytelling/literary podcasts that get your kids reading!
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