Here’s a list of great shows to keep kids ages 2 through 6, and their caretakers, occupied.
By Lindsay Patterson
My son’s podcast addiction began when he was 2, with “The Gingerbread Man.”
He was hooked at first listen and asked to hear it constantly. Eventually, I could recite the entire story, produced by Stories Podcast, along with the host, copying her intonations for the different voices. Our “Gingerbread Man” period peaked when my son was sick, and the only thing that could calm him down at 3 a.m. was listening to the podcast. I sat by his bed with phone in hand, and we listened over and over again, until he fell asleep.
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My son is now 6, and fortunately, his taste in podcasts has expanded. He has many favorite shows and asks for episodes by name. It’s not a coincidence that he’s a dedicated podcast listener. His dad and I co-host “Tumble Science Podcast for Kids,” which we began producing just a few months after he was born. From this perspective, I’ve seen (and heard) the space grow from a handful of audio experiments to a big buffet of listening choices.
That’s great news, because once kids get into podcasts, they really get into them. A new study from the podcast “Brains On!” and the Science Museum of Minnesota of kids 3 to 17 and adults age 18 and over has found that 73 percent of listeners have heard an episode more than once. The study found that kids’ podcasts are a shared listening experience for kids and parents. Podcasts become part of the family routine, with the car the most popular place to listen.
All you need is a fresh playlist of shows that both you and your little one enjoy. I put together this list of great shows for kids ages 2 through 6 and their caretakers. They are all available free on nearly any podcast app.
Stories
“Circle Round” — Folk tales from around the world, told with the help of celebrity readers.
“Stories Podcast” — A combination of classic children’s stories and original tales.
“Molly of Denali” — An eight-episode serialized narrative, based on the PBS Kids series.
“Story Pirates” — Stories written by kids are woven into a narrative about a musical-theater company’s magical misadventures.
“What If World” — The improvisational storyteller Mr. Eric tells fantastic tales based on “What if?” questions submitted by listeners.
“Girl Tales” — Feminist fairy tales written and performed by playwrights and actors.
“Calm Kids Podcast” — Two sisters, Lucie and Charlotte (ages 11 and 8), share their original stories.
“Aaron’s World” — Aaron, a dinosaur lover, started this podcast when he was a kid to share dinosaur facts. It grew into a narrative adventure series that ran for five years.
Educational
“But Why?” — The public radio host Jane Lindholm helps answer kids’ most burning questions.
“Earth Rangers” — A sound-rich dive into nature and animal science, guided by Ranger Emma.
“Wow in the World” — Guy Raz and Mindy Thomas, radio and podcast stars, serve up science news with a heavy dose of silliness.
“Smash Boom Best” — This debate show pits two awesome things against each other, encouraging listeners to choose their own winner.
“Animal Sound Safari” — This Australian podcast travels in a Magic School Bus-style “safari mobile” to discover animals around the world.
“Pants on Fire” — Kids are challenged to “spot the liar” on this game show, co-hosted by a robot.
MEDITATION
“Soundwalks” — Each short episode is a guided meditation through beautiful soundscapes.
“Bedtime Explorers” — Settle down for the night with stories of magical expeditions.
“Peace Out” — This calming podcast teaches meditation and self-regulation through stories.
MUSIC
“Ear Snacks” — The children’s musicians Andrew & Polly explore different themes through songs and interviews.
“Noodle Loaf” — A clever interactive music podcast that features echo songs, musical challenges and a kids’ choir that anyone can join.
“The Music Box” — Each episode is a lesson about a musical concept featuring interactive activities.
“Classical Kids Storytime” — A sneaky way to introduce your kids to classical music, with the help of children’s stories like Hansel and Gretel.
“Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child” — An hourlong show that will introduce the family to the best in kids’ music, every week.
There’s a lot more out there, and much more to come. So how can you help your young children keep their podcast playlist fresh and expanding?
The best way to discover new shows is through the shows that you already love. Often, podcasts will swap episodes, collaborate on special features or sponsor ads on each others’ shows. This allows young kids to participate in discovering new shows. Apple Podcasts also features a curated collection called “Shows for Kids,” which is updated periodically.
If you listen on your own app, I recommend making a unique playlist for your kids so you can always find their favorite shows quickly.
But as with podcasts for adults, word of mouth is still the tried and true discovery method. Ask your parent friends if they’ve heard about podcasts for kids, share your favorites and discover new shows together.