Best Podcasts for Kids & Families- Abby's Survival Series

Best Podcasts for Kids & Families- Abby’s Survival Series

The past few weeks have been a whirlwind. With all of us trying to create a new normal amidst the chaos of the world, there’s bound to be times when tempers flare and kids act up. When my kids get crazy or they start fighting I like to turn on a podcast because it keeps them from yelling and helps them calm down and focus. But have you noticed how many podcasts there are to choose from? It’s mind-boggling! I’ve compiled a list of our favorites, and a few my friends have suggested, to give you the ultimate list of the best podcasts for kids and families. They are organized by age group to help you easily find a few podcasts that you and your kids will love!

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Best Podcasts for Toddlers/Preschoolers

Let’s be honest, it may seem impossible to get your toddlers and preschoolers to listen to podcasts with you. But maybe, you just need different podcasts? Here are my favorites for the young ones!

Little Stories for Tiny People

Little Stories for Tiny People is a kids’ podcast featuring original kids’ stories and poems that will delight the tiny people in your life. Perfect for bleary-eyed parents, innovative preschool teachers, and at-wits’-end babysitters looking for an alternative and non-annoying way to engage the toddlers and young kids they love at bedtime or anytime!

Reading Bug Adventures

Reading Bug Adventures is a story podcast for kids from The Reading Bug. Each episode is a new adventure with original songs — just hop into the Reading Bug’s magic book bag, and we’ll be transported to whatever time or place is in the books inside! Join us for action and adventure, and bring your crayons and paper so you can color your own illustrations. Reading Bug Adventures is created, written, and produced by The Reading Bug, an independent, family-owned children’s bookstore.

Animal Sound Safari

Animal Sound Safari takes your ears around the world to explore the weird and wacky histories we humans have with animals. From camel beauty queens in Saudi Arabia to cooked roosters who save lives in Portugal. Each episode is jam-packed with cool stories, kooky facts, and ‘pawsome’ puns. Led by our safari guide Lawrence with help from his brainy animal expert Laura, you’ll make awesome new friends all around the world – both human and animal.Are you ready for an adventure? Hop on board Animal Sound Safari!

Sesame Street Podcast

Best Podcasts for Kids from 4-8 Years Old

Next up in my list of the best podcasts for kids and families are my picks for the 4-8 year olds in your life. This is a tricky age group because they grow and change so fast from 4 to 8 years old. This age is great for getting into podcasts because they are old enough to follow along in their heads. My tip- try listening in the car so they are less distracted!

Big Life Kids Podcast

Big Life Kids podcast teaches children to stay resilient, believe in themselves, and face life’s challenges with confidence for kids ages 5-10. In each episode, Zara and Leo travel the world to discover the living heroes that are making a difference in the world today.

Story Pirates

Story Pirates a group of world-class actors, comedians, improvisers, and musicians who adapt stories written by kids into sketch comedy and musical theater.

The Punies by Kobe

The Punies, an eclectic group of neighborhood friends who play sports and take on adventures together. Created by NBA Champion Kobe Bryant and featuring original songs and an unforgettable cast of characters known as The Good Ol’ Gang, each episode shares important life lessons on how to play with joy and limitless imagination, the way sports should be played.

Stories Podcast

On the Stories Podcast, we perform a new story for your children every week. The stories range from retellings of fairy tales like Snow White to classic stories like Peter Rabbit and even completely original works. Everything is G rated and safe for all ages. The perfect kids podcast for imaginative families. Whether you’re driving with your children or just want to limit your kids’ screen time, Stories Podcast delivers entertainment that kids and parents alike will love.

Circle Round

Created and produced by parents of young children, WBUR’s Circle Round adapts carefully-selected folktales from around the world into sound- and music-rich radio plays for kids ages 4 to 10. Each 10- to 20-minute episode explores important issues like kindness, persistence and generosity. And each episode ends with an activity that inspires a deeper conversation between children and grown-ups.

Kid Nuz

Reading Bug

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 discover 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!

Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls

A fairy tale podcast for kids about extraordinary women from all over the world. Based on the bestselling series Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls, each episode delves further into the lives of women from the books, encouraging young listeners to ask questions and explore their interests. Narration by real-life women who are pioneers, creators, champions, leaders, and warriors!

Best Podcasts for Kids from 8-12 Years Old

When you have 8-12 year olds, suddenly they are worried about being “cool”, am I right? These podcasts made my list for the best podcasts for kids and families because they straddle that line between kid stuff and “cool” stuff really well. Plus, these podcasts are interesting for adults, too!

Adventures in Odyssey

Created for children ages 8-12 (but loved by listeners of all ages), Adventures in Odyssey is a 30-minute drama that combines the faith lessons parents appreciate with characters and stories that kids love! The official podcast gives behind-the-scenes information on the show, gives deleted scenes and answers fan questions.

Brains On

Brains On!® is a science podcast for curious kids and adults from American Public Media. Co-hosted each week by kid scientists and reporters from public radio, we ask questions and go wherever the answers take us.

Kid Nuz

Kids deserve a daily newscast all their own. Kickstart their morning with 5 minutes of timely, unbiased, and age-appropriate stories from politics, entertainment, science, health, and sports. Professionally written, professionally delivered by 4 Emmy winning journalists who also happen to be moms. Listen in five days a week, starting at 7 am.

Part-Time Genius

Will and Mango have lots of questions. Will we ever live without sleep? How do rats keep outsmarting humans? Where are the sunniest tax havens to hide your money? Join these Part-Time Geniuses as they dive into ridiculous topics… and discover some pretty smart stuff along the way.

Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls

Bedtime History

Bedtime History is a series of educational, relaxing stories for kids. Learn about inspirational characters such as Neil Armstrong, Sacajawea, George Lucas and J.K. Rowling. Other topics include space exploration, current events, and great feats of engineering such as The Transcontinental Railroad.

6 Minutes

Who is Holiday? Where did she come from and how did she end up floating in the icy waters off the coast of Alaska with no memory? Are her mom and dad really who they say they are? Why is she developing those incredible abilities? And what’s the deal with that cool hover board? The mystery unfolds in six-minute episodes, twice a week all year long.

Finn Caspian

The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian follows Finn and his friends on their exciting adventures living aboard the Famous Marlowe 280 Interplanetary Exploratory Space Station. Follow them as they explore planets in far-reaching galaxies, looking for a place where humans could one day live. Along the way, they meet both kind and hilarious extraterrestrials and help them solve mysteries, all while tracking down the secret that is chasing the Marlowe through space.

Pants on Fire

Can you spot a liar, liar, pants on fire? In the era of fake news, kids must be able to tell what’s true from what’s false. And what better way than with a game show? Each week, a kid faces down two grown-ups, one an honest-to-goodness true expert, the other, well, a dirty, rotten liar! Featuring real kid contestants and a hilarious sound-effects-generating robot, Pants on Fire teaches kids to ask insightful questions, weigh the evidence in front of them, and trust their gut.

But Why

But Why is a show led by you, kids! You ask the questions and we find the answers. It’s a big interesting world out there.On But Why, we tackle topics large and small, about nature, words, even the end of the world.

30 Animals That Made Us Smarter

Amazing things humans have learned from the animal kingdom. Inspiring, fascinating, binge-able.

The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel

Mars Patel is the Peabody Award-winning, scripted podcast for middle-grade kids that has thrilled families around the world. When Mars’ friends begin disappearing, he and his band of middle-school misfits go on an amazing adventure that could take them to the stars and beyond.

Young Ben Franklin

Before he was Benjamin Franklin, inventor and statesman, he was just Ben, a boy in Colonial Boston with an adventurous spirit, a curious mind…and a penchant for getting into trouble. Meet our most endearing founding father at thirteen a charming rebel years away from discovering the ageless sayings and brilliant inventions that made him famous. When Ben and his friends stumble upon a mysterious letter leading to a legendary treasure, he’ll have to use his wits and bravery to outsmart the cruel British governor of Massachusetts.

Best Podcasts for the Whole Family

Last up on my list are podcasts the whole family can enjoy. I know we all can’t take many road trips right now (#quarantine), but these are perfect for a long road trip where the whole family needs to be entertained. For now, though, make a fort in the living room with some bed sheets, put on one of these podcasts and pretend you’re on a road trip! It will be a great escape for everyone. Bonus- you don’t have to worry about anyone getting car sick!

That’s Incredible

That’s Incredible is a podcast for parents and kids that’s packed with incredible facts and amazing stories about the world around us. Hosted by Andrew Daddo, each week we go on an adventure and explore topics like the human body, sport, music, science, technology, and space. Plus, we’ll find out what it’s like to travel to the moon, sing in front of the Queen and climb to the top of Mount Everest!

Best Day Yet

In each episode we use mindful breathing and basic meditation techniques to travel the world and meet animals who inspire us to learn more about ourselves. We practice affirmations about kindness, believing in our own value, and growth mindset. The perfect length for short car rides, Best Day Yet is a fun, positive way to start your family’s day.

Wow in the World

Hosts Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz guide curious kids and their grown-ups on a journey into the wonders of the world around them. We’ll go inside our brains, out into space and deep into the coolest new stories in science and technology.

The Past and the Curious

A History Podcast for Kids! Parents love us, Teachers love us, and most importantly, kids do too! History can be amazing, inspiring and relevant to anyone. We love to share the stories of Spies, funny foods, George Washington’s foibles, early advancements in cartooning and ballooning and much more!

Tumble

Exploring stories of science discovery, Tumble is a podcast created to be enjoyed by the entire family.

Forever Ago

Brains On presents, Forever Ago, a history show for the whole family! Every episode explores the origin of just one thing — like sandwiches, video games, clocks and more — while teaching listeners to think critically about history.

Eleanor Amplified

Buckle up! Your car is headed for… adventure! Eleanor Amplified is a radio adventure series for the whole family. Listen together as world-famous radio reporter Eleanor foils devious plots, outwits crafty villains, and goes after The Big Story. Eleanor’s pursuit of truth takes her into orbit, out to sea, through a scary jungle and even to the halls of Congress!Like all the public media shows you love, Eleanor Amplified is entertaining and informative. Eleanor defends the very values you expect from high-quality journalism. The importance of access to information. Being inclusive of different points of view. Telling the truth, and more. Eleanor will spark laughter and conversation the whole family will enjoy, while preparing kids to appreciate journalism and make smart media choices in the future.

If you’ve made it to the end of my ultimate list of the best podcasts for kids and families, I salute you! Ha! But really, I hope this list gives you some ideas of where to start with podcasts when it comes to your kids. There are many more out there that are wonderful, too, but I had to stop adding them to this list because it was getting too long! I hope you can feel my love for each of you. Tell me in the comments if I’ve missed your favorite podcasts for kids and families, so I can add it to my list!

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