Going on a road trip? Or tired of too much screen time? Podcasts to the rescue! There are so many wonderful “kidcasts” that you can stream for free, which offer a fantastic way for children and their families to listen, learn, and be entertained anywhere, anytime.
Did you know that listening to audiobooks, or audiopodcasts, increases kids’ reading skills? They improve their vocabulary, because if they are struggling to read a printed word that they do not understand, many children tend to skip over it. In a podcast or audiobook, the word is pronounced in context within a sentence, and the meaning becomes clearer that way. Listening to stories or fun podcasts also helps kids of all ages to gain new information about our world, increases comprehension, develops a longer attention span, and reduces anxiety about decoding words. Podcasts are perfect for multi-age audiences, and there is something for everyone to enjoy!
7 Ways Audiobooks Benefit Students Who Struggle with Reading
We’ve gathered our favorite kidcasts that are created especially for kids.
Reading Bug Adventures : Are you a fan of adventure? Kids will be tickled by Reading Bug’s magic book bag, which takes them to whatever time and place is in the books inside. For preschool and grade school readers.
The Past and the Curious : Want to travel back in time? Take a virtual journey through the past with music, trivia, museum facts, and performances that make history come alive. For grade school and middle school readers.
Pickle : Want to ponder the mysteries of our world? Explore the BIG questions kids have, with fascinating adventures to museums, zoos, and around the world. For grade school and middle school readers.
Ear Snacks : Are you a music lover? This award-winning music duo are awesome tour guides through soundtracks that kids are going to be singing all day. For preschool and grade school readers.
Book Club for Kids : Can’t wait to hear about the hottest books? This award-winning book club is for middle school kids who love to read and discuss with authors and celebrity guests. For middle school readers.
The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel is an engaging, fun, serial mystery for fans of Stranger Things and other weird and wild tales. For grade school and middle school readers.
Brains On! Are you curious about how everything works? Host Molly Bloom takes kids through all the ins and outs about fascinating science facts, like why do cats purr? For grade school and middle school readers.
Buttons & Figs : In the mood for some silly nonsense? This odd podcast features nonsense stories and poetry, along with lots of humor. For grade school readers.
Wow in the World : Want to geek out about cool new ideas? This NPR podcast helps kids and families discover all the amazing wonders of our world through science, stories, and information about new technology. For grade school readers.
The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian : Want to hear a bizarre story? This is a science fiction story serialized into bite-sized pieces. Finn Caspian is an 8-year-old aboard the Marlowe 280 Interplanetary Exploratory Space Station and this fun space adventure will have your kids laughing and cheering along with his antics. For grade school readers.
Noodle Loaf : Like to sing and play? The dad in this podcast is a musician and invites your family to join him in some rollicking fun! For preschool and grade school readers.
Want more? Tune in to Kids Listen to stay on top of trending kidcasts!