Want your child to do something other than watching YouTube or social media? How about encouraging them to listen to one of the best podcasts for kids? With so many great podcasts out there, they will enjoy the fun of learning without even realising it and still feel connected to the big world outside.
Podcasts are also a great family activity to do together. Play one while the family are seated together for dinner or in the evening and then chat about what you’ve learnt. These are also a great resource for delivering more learning to your kids while you home school. Enjoy!
Younger children podcasts
Podcast – The Beanies
Over half a million Beanies have enjoyed listening to the silly songs that The Beanies sing that answer the sorts of questions your kids aged 3 to 8 ask. With over 50 original songs Laura, Mim and Michael will keep the kids amused without you feeling guilty that they are having screen time.
Bedtime Explorers: a podcast to help kids get to sleep!
How about playing a meditation story for your little one as they go to sleep. Put the Podcast on a speaker at low volume once they’re in bed and let them fall asleep listening to the Bedtime Explorers. I’ve got to admit, the calming voice of Amy Taylor-Kabbaz has me feeling sleepy whilst I write this!
Bedtime FM: Free bedtime stories for children
Story Time hosted by Bedtime FM is an independent Podcast producer that gives you free children’s stories written by children’s authors and narrated by parents from all around the world. Each podcast will give you a suitable age for the child of the story and no story lasts more than 20 minutes with the hope they are just long enough to keep your child fully engaged.
Little Stories for Tiny People | LSFTP
Little Stories for Tiny People give the tiny people in your life bedtime stories that will appeal to a child’s sense of humour. Lovingly written and performed these stories will keep your little people happy for a while.
EAR SNACKS
If you have a little one that is inquisitive about the world and loves to learn let them listen to Ear Snacks. Kids talk about a variety of subjects in simple ways they can understand.
Primary school-aged podcasts
Listen to David Walliams’ Marvellous Musical Podcast
You might well have heard of Mozart – and you’ve definitely heard his music. But did you know that he loved fart jokes and had a pet starling? Or that Beethoven was so scruffy he was once arrested for being a tramp. And have you heard the story of the ballerina who was so jealous of one of her fellow dancers that she released a flock of chickens during a performance? Or that Clara Schumann was actually a robot? Wait. That one’s not true. Join David Walliams for a marvellous musical journey and meet some familiar names along the way – from the 19th-century heartthrob Franz Liszt to the famously grumpy Ludwig van Beethoven.
The Squiz Kids Podcast
Squiz Kids is a news podcast for 8-12yos. In just a few minutes, they’ll give kids (and their adults) a rundown on the big news events delivered free of opinion, and with positivity and humour. Designed to slip easily into families’ morning routines, a new episode will drop at 7 am each weekday.
Fierce Girls
Settle back with your girls to hear the true-life stories of Australian girls who dared to do things differently. From Bindi Irwin to Layne Beachley, Mary McKillop to Dame Nellie Melba find out what they achieved and gain an insight into their inspirational lives.
These Australians were adventurous and showed guts and spirit. You could even call them FIERCE! Listen to Amy Shark, Turia Pitt, Leah Purcell, Stephanie Gilmore, Dame Quentin Bryce and more tell the tales of these inspiring women.
Brains on! A podcast for kids & curious adults
With over 100 episodes this award-winning science podcast features Molly Bloom and different kid co-hosts that ask questions of the world around us. Their goal is to encourage a kid’s natural curiosity and wonder by using science and history.
Arty Farty Season 1 – This Kids Life
The Sydney Opera House delivers you Arty Farty, podcasts for kids that explore big ideas by little thinkers. Jennifer Macey talks to kids about science, resilience, diversity and accessibility. Aimed at kids aged 8 to 13 this is a great resource you can use.
Short & Curly
My 11 year old loves Short and Curly. She listens to it at school and brings it home for us all to share. Short and Curly covers topics as diverse as animals, pop culture, technology, school and the future. With two fantastic presenters, Dr Matt Beard from the Ethics Centre, kids and some high profile guests such as sports stars and musicians they bring a little silliness into some serious learning. Definitely one to put on your list.
Six Minutes
From the award-winning creators of ‘The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel’ and ‘The Ghost of Jessica Majors’ comes this mystery adventure series that will keep the whole family amused. Eleven-year-old Holiday is pulled from the icy waters of Alaska with no memory of who she is or where she came from. Are her Mum and Dad really who they say they are? And when she begins to develop incredible abilities, she’ll soon discover she’s not alone in the world.
Podcast — Story Pirates
Story Pirates are a group of comedians, world-class actors, musicians and improvisers who adapt stories that are written by kids into sketch comedy and musical theatre. If you love to laugh these are stories for you.
Big Life Kids Podcast – a growth mindset podcast for kids
The Big Life kids podcast was created by parents who wanted to share with their son strategies to remain positive, confident and resilient. A podcast for this moment in time.
But Why: A Podcast For Curious Kids
Covering all sorts of topics including the Coronavirus these podcasts cover all subjects that interest kids and explain them in a way that children can understand.
High School Age – Be aware some of these have more adult content and language
TED Talks audio
With over 300 episodes to choose from Ted Talks Daily covers a variety of topics in short 10 to 15-minute podcasts that encourage your teens to think about the world around them.
Stuff You Should Know on Apple Podcasts
Stuff you should know covers multiple topics over 300 episodes. From How Grass Works to an episode on the Muppets lots of subjects are delved into and discussed in episodes that last about 45 minutes.
Myths and Legends on Apple Podcasts
Myths and Legends has Jason Weiser tell stories that have shaped our cultures through history. All the stories are sourced from folklore but retold for our modern times.
Sum of All Parts on Apple Podcasts
Sum of All Parts tells extraordinary stories about how we feel, think and behave which are influenced by unseen numbers.
All In The Mind podcast
All in the Mind looks into the mind, brain and behaviour covering subjects that vary from artificial intelligence to addiction.
Background Briefing podcast
Background Briefing gives you Australian investigative journalism that uncovers the hidden stories of our country’s biggest issues.
Earshot podcast
Want to listen to documentaries about people, stories, places and ideas in the diverse world we live in? Take some time out to listen to Earshot.
Hamish & Andy Podcast
The Hamish & Andy Show was an Australian radio show and currently ongoing podcast which covers daily life on very relatable topics. This comedy duo will have your teens laughing out loud as they follow along with these two as they navigating life in our modern world.
