Podcasts are a wonderful way to entertain and educate little ones while travelling this summer. These are some of the best podcasts for children.
The school summer holidays are about to begin; whether catching a flight or setting off on a road trip with your kids, these fantastic podcasts for young audiences will give them something truly engaging to listen to.
Including thrilling tales for all ages (some written by kids themselves), inspiring real-life stories and age-appropriate news, there’s a podcast to suit all ages and interests. Pop on some headphones and step into a world of imagination and adventure.
Story Pirates Podcast
Possibly the coolest kids podcast idea ever, Story Pirates take original stories submitted by kids from around the world and turn them into sketch comedy, stories and songs that children of all ages can tune in and listen to. Downloaded over 85 million times, this award-winning free podcast is one of the top three kids and family podcasts in the world, and regularly welcomes guest readers such as Julie Andrews, Claire Danes and David Schwimmer, who really bring the tales to life. With titles like The Balloon Who Never Stopped Floating, The Secret Theme Park and If Dogs Could Boogie, there’s a huge range to choose from – all thought up by creative little minds. Some last up to an hour and you can check out the synopsis of each one on the website. If you love the stories, why not encourage your kids to pen and submit their own? Even if they can’t adapt your story the team will reply to every single entry they receive. Fill out the form on their website to share your idea.
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The Week Junior Show Podcast
The Week Junior is a much-loved news and current affairs publication for kids – that now has an excellent podcast too. Just like the weekly magazine, the podcast offers a fantastic curation of local and global stories, covering a range of topics including politics, science, sport and the environment, in a way that is accessible to a younger audience. A new episode is released every Friday where you’ll listen to the team discussing their favourite stories and debating the latest hot topics. Some are serious, some are funny, but all are relevant and interesting for kids. Helping children digest the news and make sense of the things shaping the world around them, The Week Junior aims to report the facts objectively, and approaches every subject in an age-appropriate way that helps children to understand, and not to feel alarmed or frightened. This is a wonderful podcast for kids aged from roughly eight to 14, who are curious about the world around them and want to discover more.
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CBeebies Radio Podcast
For all the fun of CBeebies but without the screen, check out the channel’s wonderful radio podcast. Hailed as ‘CBeebies for your ears’, expect to find some of your favourite characters from shows such as Postman Pat, Mr Tumble and Hey Duggee. Designed to captivate children as young as a year old, little ones are taken into a world of stories, songs and music – all packed with imaginative adventures. Each episode is available for 30 days. Elsewhere on the channel, check out Nick Cope’s CBeebies Podcast where the singer-songwriter is joined by his dog Norman in a magical, musical series filled with funny songs for children and their families. There are three series of Nick’s episodes on CBeebies, each with tons of great episodes to explore.
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Tonies Daily Podcast and Stories
Tonies Boxes are a great way to encourage children to listen to stories. What makes them so appealing are the adorable little figurines that you use to access each story or track; place one on top of the Toniebox to start the corresponding story, including tales from The Gruffalo, Paddington Bear and Disney. Now there’s a Tonie’s Daily Podcast available too. Updated daily, the ten-minute shows are packed full of fun, facts, challenges and jokes for kids aged over four, though younger ones will enjoy them too. And they’re easy to access – just pop the Tonie figure on top of the box and it will automatically download if connected to wifi. Up to two weeks worth of shows can be stored, and as new podcasts are released, older ones will be replaced. The boxes are portable and ideal for travel – they can easily be popped into your hand luggage. It’s recommended that kids under the age of four are not left unattended with a Toniebox due to small parts.
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Good Night Stories For Rebel Girls Podcast
Following the marvellously successful book of the same name, this engaging podcast tells the stories of amazing, clever and inspiring women from all walks of life – from the arts to sports and civil rights. Just like the books, the Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls podcasts are relatable and accessible for young audiences. And don’t be put off by the name if you have sons – these stories are also great for boys. Each episode focuses on one extraordinary woman, read by another extraordinary woman; Greta Thunberg’s story is read by Jameela Jamil, and Rosa Parks’ is read by Anita Hill. Each episode lasts from 10 minutes to half an hour and really explores the lives of women from the books, encouraging listeners to ask questions, and to consider the world around them as well as the lives and actions that have shaped it.
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Amazon Audible Podcasts And Audio Books
While there is no substitute for the joy of reading a book, there are times when audio books are a great alternative. Audio is a great option if your children are too young to read themselves, if they struggle to settle down with a book, or if you simply want the joy of listening to a great story being read aloud. With thousands of books – including classics like The Wind and the Willows, The Secret Garden, The Beatrix Potter Collection, Roald Dahl stories, and the Percy Jackson series – Audible is well worth subscribing to (and there are tons of books for adults to enjoy too). With hundreds of podcasts for kids and teens to choose from – such as the excellent Short Stories for Kids podcast which is updated daily – this is a great one-stop shop if you’re looking for audio entertainment for the whole family.
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Yoto Player Stories And Podcasts
If you haven’t already got one of these clever gadgets, it’s definitely worth considering before summer holidays abroad. Yoto Player stories come on cards that you insert into the box; choose by age and genre to find the perfect tale for your child – there are over 1,000 in their store including from Disney, Ladybird and Julia Donaldson’s much-loved books. Yoto also offers a huge selection of podcasts, great novels, and a family radio station – all accessed through the app, providing endless hours of stories and music. Other features include a programmable night light, a clock, and sleep sounds to help little ones drift off peacefully. There’s also an extra-special option of filling in blank cards with personalised audio; record a sound your kids love or your own stories in the Yoto App.
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