9 Podcasts You'll Love Listening to with Your Kids

Do you look forward to your commute because you can’t wait to hear the latest episode of a true crime story or get advice on anything from finance to relationships to grammar? Podcasts are entertaining and informative for grown-ups—and the same holds true for kids.

In fact, children of all ages can build important skills by listening to podcasts, says Maggie McGuire, the CEO of Pinna, an audio-streaming service for kids. Take toddlers: Exposing them to language-rich, age-appropriate audio “helps them build their emerging vocabulary and aids in building their background knowledge across a wide variety of topics and themes,” McGuire says. Plus, podcasts encourage imagination and curiosity.

Fortunately, there are plenty of options out there for little kids, bigger kids, and teens.

RELATED: Our Favorite Parenting Podcasts for Moms and Dads 
   

Podcasts for Preschoolers

Story Time
Ages: 2-13
This bi-monthly podcast features simple but engaging 20-minute original stories, read by a rotating cast of narrators (many with British accents). While the easy-to-follow tales are a natural fit for bedtime, there’s no reason not to listen in the morning, after lunch, or during a long car ride.

Quentin and Alfie’s ABC Adventures
Ages: 3-5
Each of the 26 episodes covers a letter of the alphabet—which is a fun way to introduce kids to letters and sounds. The story follows the adventures of Alfie and his babysitter, Quentin, everywhere from amusement parks to the zoo.

Story Pirates
Ages: 3 and older
This podcast is billed as “by kids, for kids.” Here’s how it works: Kids submit stories and the cast (actors, comedians, and musicians) turns them into hilarious sketch comedies and songs. It’s an upbeat, hilarious show—one episode features a song about trash-loving raccoons (; ages 3 and older).
   

Podcasts for Big Kids

Wow in the World
Ages 4-10
NPR’s first podcast for kids, now in its third year, is co-hosted by Guy Raz and Mindy Thomas and aims to leave kids (and parents) saying “wow” at the end of each science-themed episode. Explanations to intriguing questions like “why do zebras have stripes?” and “how do onions make us cry?” are paired with zippy background music.