Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Inspiration

Keep your child entertained with the best podcasts for kids

These family-friendly podcasts are just for the kiddos

By
Young girl listening to podcast on headphones
Andrea Piacquadio / Pexels

Podcasts are a wonderful distraction when boredom creeps in. How many times have you been on a long family car ride when the arguing starts in the backseat just because the kiddos are bored? Those games on the smartphone only go so far. So, before resorting to sounding like your parents on a road trip, explore the endless possibilities of podcasts.

Adults love them and there’s also a wide range of podcasts geared specifically toward children, tweens, and even teens. Of course, everyone has a podcast these days, which means the options are extensive. Don’t worry, though. We’ve got a list of go-to podcasts for kids you can keep in your back pocket when you need to keep the family entertained.

Recommended Videos

Podcasts for kids

Little girl wearing headphones on a bed
Margarita Shchipkova / Shutterstock

Would you believe podcasts have been around for two decades? It’s true. The first podcasts started in 2003, but the term was coined in 2004 by journalist Ben Hammersly. Podcasting stuck, and over the last 20 or so years, the genre has continued to evolve.

Related

Today, the list of available podcast content can actually be overwhelming, from true crime to self-help and everything in between. Podcasts aren’t just for adults either. There are quite a few with appropriate content for kids. Podcasts can be a great way to expand your children’s horizons. If you’re searching for podcasts for your kids to listen to, here are the ones that top charts for the kiddos.

Wow in the World

If your kids are into science, this is the podcast for them. It’s great even for ones who aren’t. Wow in the World is hosted by Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz and covers scientific and technology concepts so kids and tweens can understand. Listeners learn why ice cream can make your teeth hurt and all about the person who actually found the first baby shark. New episodes come out on Mondays. A subscription to Wondrey will get updated episodes a week early. Wow in the World is ideally for ages 5 through 12, but keep in mind lots of adults enjoy it, too.

The Big Fib

We know all about fake news and so do kids and teens. How can you tell, though? That’s the premise behind this podcast that’s set up like a game show. Kid hosts interview two experts on the subject of the pod episode. One adult is an actual expert in the field, while the other is not. It’s up to the listeners to figure out which one is spouting fake news. The Big Fib is for kids of all ages, but ages 8 to 14 will probably be amused the most.

Tumble

This is an awesome science podcast the whole family can get on board with, especially on a road trip. Hosts, science journalist Lindsay Patterson and teacher Marshall Escamilla, explore all sorts of cool topics, from the possibility of time travel and how scientists track asteroids to the science behind candy.

Story Pirates

An award-winning podcast, Story Pirates, takes stories and sketches created by kids and brings them to life using actors, musicians, comedians, authors, and teachers. This is a perfect podcast if you have kids who love to make up their own stories. The target audience for Story Pirates is 3 to 12 years of age.

Kyle’s Wild World

For kids who absolutely adore animals, Kyle’s Wild World is a must-listen. Kyle is an amateur zoologist who tapes episodes in his garage. He features special animal guests along with field segments from Gail. Gail is a friend of Kyle’s who visits various animal habitats. This podcast is for animal lovers of all ages, but specifically for the 3 to 12 set. It’s also an ideal family-friendly podcast made for long or short car rides.

The Past and the Curious

Designed for history buffs, The Past and the Curious focuses on lesser-known but just as interesting people and things that have happened in history. Topics include the only woman in history to ever be awarded the Medal of Honor and the first American woman to find a new comet. Listeners learn about why most Americans adjust their clocks twice a year and a whole host of other cool topics. The Past and the Curious is an eye-opening listen for kids from 8 to 13.

But Why?

This is the podcast for parents caught in the why cycle. You know the why cycle when your kiddo asks you why questions about pretty much everything. Well, if you’ve ever been stumped for answers, chances are the But Why? podcast has covered it.

Live from Mount Olympus

Many kids get into mythology after it’s introduced in school. Another prime mythology time is when middle schoolers discover Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series. Live from Mount Olympus brings Greek myths to life and is hosted by the talented and Tony Award-winning actor, singer, director, dancer, and choreographer André De Shields.

If you’re looking for something to keep the kiddos busy in the car or while waiting, or as an alternative to get those eyes away from the screens, podcasts just might be the answer. Just like for adults, there is a lot of podcast content geared toward children. Podcasts for kids is family-friendly entertainment and something everyone can get on board with, especially on road trips. Sure, the list is lengthy since there are tons of podcasts out there. We’ve narrowed the menu a bit for you with the eight top podcasts for kids that are a must-listen. All these podcasts are available wherever you get your podcasts.

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
Dawn Miller
Dawn Miller
Contributor
Dawn Miller began her professional life as an elementary school teacher before returning to her first love, writing. In…
New slang words parents should know that their kids are using
Parents' go-to guide for new slang words
Three teen boys looking at phones.

Are you all that? As if. If those phrases strike a chord, you probably grew up in the 90s. Every generation has its slang, which usually leaves parents in the dark as to what their kids are talking about. That's kind of the point of slang. Kids, especially teens, invent their own sayings and phrases to convey meaning only they understand. Thanks to social media and texting, slang terms are much more prevalent, with usage starting younger.

If it seems like slang words are evolving faster than you can keep up, well, you're right. That's again courtesy of social media and memes, along with the fact that tweens and teens are attached to their cell phones. Now, as a parent, you may want to be chill, but it's important to keep up with the new slang words your kids are using and what they mean. Of course, that may not always be rad to your kids, and neither is recycling 90s slang when talking to them. So, let's get you updated on what the kids are saying these days.
New slang words

Read more
4 of the best ways to get your sleeping baby to the crib
At least there's more than one way to do this delicate task
Mother holding a sleeping baby near a crib.

Sleep is crucial for babies and their parents, but what is a tired, overwhelmed new mom or dad to do if their baby won't fall asleep in their crib? After all, there are only so many drives around the block you can do, and having them sleep in your arms is sweet until you start thinking of the endless things you'd like to do when your baby is sleeping. You cherish these bonding moments with your little one; however, you do need to get started on your to-do list. But now comes the transfer from your arms to the crib -- when your baby always wakes up. That’s the cumbersome part and every new parent faces this difficulty: Transfer sleeping baby to crib without them waking.

While there are no foolproof solutions, we’ve come up with a few suggestions that may help you successfully transfer your sleeping baby to the crib.
How to transfer a sleeping baby to the crib

Read more
Help your child de-stress with these brain breaks for kids
These brain breaks will help your kiddos reboot and reset their minds and bodies
A child and parent on the floor talking.

Emotional outbursts and children shutting down when faced with a problem are a part of learning and growing up. While a child can't sit in the car for 10 minutes to calm down after work before walking into the house, there are ways for parents to help their child de-stress to lower their anxiety level so they can refocus.

Brain breaks will give kids healthy coping mechanisms later in life if they get into the habit now. Do these fun and amazing brain breaks for kids when they get home from school, are stuck on an activity at home, or anytime you notice your child needs one.
Breaks that get your child moving

Read more