In a world where children are bombarded by screen time, podcasts for kids can provide a reprieve for bleary eyes, engaging both a new sense and children’s imaginations. A whole world of excellent podcasts exists for young children. This particular list dives into podcasts perfect for preschool and elementary-aged kiddos, ages 3-12. 

The podcasts for kids included here run the gamut from mindfulness practice to storytime to science and history. There’s something for every little, no matter their interest area. 

Podcasts can be downloaded onto your device using podcast apps such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and many more that you can locate in your app store. They are short sound segments that can be listened to while cleaning the house, running errands, or whenever your family has a few minutes of downtime. 

Podcasts for kids aged 3-12

1. Five Minutes with Dad

Five Minutes with Dad features kids Pavlos and Angela, and their dad Nick Pavlidis. Together, these children and their father gives parents great resources to connect with their kids. The most recent episode is about how to create, save, and share family memories.

2. Short and Curly

Short and Curly examines ethical questions, exposing listeners to the concept of ethics and right and wrong in an age-appropriate way. These ethical dilemmas are “curly questions” to the podcast creators. It’s designed for children ages 7-12 and examines questions such as “should we trust robots?” and “is it okay to fight a bully?”

3. Brains On

Brains On is a science podcast produced by American Public Media. Kids cohost alongside public radio reporters. It follows a standard “question and answer” format, exploring science questions like “what makes things gross?” Recent episodes have explored the inside of beehives and stars, or “giant balls of gas.” 

4. Tumble

Tumble is basically Radiolab for kids. This is a science podcast that explores science through the vehicle of stories. Season six of this podcast kicked off on September 18 with bonus advice from a teacher about how to keep kids engaged in online learning. 

5. But Why? A Podcast for Curious Kids

Every single parent and teacher of young children is familiar with the “why?” stage. Here, host Jane Lindholm dives into those questions. Kids ask the questions, and By Why? finds the answers. Recently, the show answered “why do dogs have tails?” and “why do cats sharpen their claws?”

6. Earth Rangers

Earth Rangers is a kids conservation organization. Their podcast follows along on the adventures of a wildlife biologist who explores nature, from the jungle to the arctic. This is perfect for kids who love animals. 

7. Wow in the World

Wow in the World is an NPR podcast for kids hosted by Guy Raz and Mindy Thomas. Each episode dives into science questions and kid-friendly news in a way that is both humorous and informative. Three recent episodes looked at what happened when scientists taught lab rats to drive tiny rat-sized cars. 

8. Story Time

Story Time will read a bedtime story to young listeners ages 3-12. Stories are original and last under 20 minutes. The latest posted story is “The Little Raindrop.”  

9. What if World

Just like kids love to ask “why?” they also love to ask “what if?” This podcast takes wacky what-if questions and turns them into irreverent stories that attempt to answer those questions. A recent episode explored the question, “What if a dragon got stuck in time.” Listeners can call in with questions. Stories are produced with fun voices for different characters. Host Mr. Eric believes that stoking kids’ curiosity will keep them thinking asking questions well into adulthood. 

10. Little Stories for Tiny People

Like Story Time, Little Stories for Tiny People features bedtime stories (or anytime stories) in audio form. The creators promise that “Each story is lovingly written and performed with attention to the whimsical senses of humor children often possess.”

11. Circle Round

Circle Round is for children ages 4-10 and features folk tales from around the world read by celebrities. Each podcast lasts 10-20 minutes and concludes with an activity designed to reinforce the theme or lesson of the folk tale. 

12. Stories Podcast

Stories is exactly what it sounds like – a podcast featuring a new story for children each week. The creators promise the content is G-rated and perfect for the whole family. Some stories are classic tales like Peter Rabbit, myths like the recently produced episode of the Greek mortal Arachne, and original stories.  

13. Be Calm on Ahway Island

This podcast is a combination of mindfulness practice and bedtime stories. Guided mindfulness and breathing practice precede each story, ensuring that young listeners are in a state of relaxation before their nighttime stories lull them to sleep. 

14. Girl Tales

Girl Tales is for a new generation of feminists. It features reimagined fairy tales, eliminating the damsel in distress archetype and instead twisting fairy tales so the female leads save themselves – and the day. The stories on Girl Tales are written by women, non-binary, and trans male playwrights and produced with professional voice actors and sound editing. 

15. Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian

This is a sci-fi serial in which listeners tune in for the latest adventures of Finn Caspian, an eight-year-old boy aboard an interplanetary space station. The creators say, “When pressed, we describe it as a ‘mystery gang’ story, sort of like Scooby-Doo meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer in space.” The ongoing story is written and performed by Jonathan Messinger.

16. Story Seeds

Story Seeds is a unique podcast in that it pairs established authors with young writers ages 6-12. The collaborators are given a “story seed” or story idea that they develop into a story that is shared during a podcast episode. Production value is high, and librarian Betsy Bird is the host. A recently featured author was Jason Reynolds, the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature.

17. StoryNory

StoryNory is an audio story read to listeners each week by host Natasha. The stories take various forms including classic fairy tales, myths, poems, and original stories. Some characters are recurring, like Katie the Ordinary Witch. Episodes are a bit on the longer side, some running longer than 20 minutes. A recent story is about Herodotus and the ancient Egyptians and Greeks. 

18. Unspookable

It’s spooky season, and Unspookable is perfect for children who want to hear scary stories, urban legends such as Bloody Mary, and myths surrounding creatures like vampires. It’s recommended for children eight years old and older. The podcasts are produced in a family-friendly way, but the content is nonetheless spooky.

19. Flyest Fables

Flyest Fables is created by Morgan Givens. It’s “hopepunk” fables for the 21st century. Short stories with pithy lessons are performed for young listeners. 

20. Peace Out

This podcast teaches young listeners the fundamentals of mindfulness including breathing techniques and visualization exercises. Podcast episodes take the form of peaceful short stories. Children learn to listen to their bodies and recognize and regulate difficult emotions like fear and anger. 

21. Noodle Loaf

Noodle Loaf is a silly music-themed podcast with ten-minute episodes that are great for the younger crowd. It was created by Dan Saks, an early childhood music educator and author. It’s billed as teaching music fundamentals to the 3-9 crowd, but it’s fun for the whole family. Saks is a goofball, and kids love it. 

22. Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child

This podcast bills itself as “indie music for indie kids.” This is a kids radio show in an era when most kids have grown up listening to mp3s. Podcasts episodes involve hosts who provide an intro, take song requests, play tunes, and provide helpful commentary.

23. Classical Kids Storytime

Classical Kids Storytime features beloved childhood stories set against the backdrop of classical music. It’s a great way to introduce children to both classical music and stories. Recent episodes include Paul Bunyan and How the Camel Got Its Hump. 

24. Ear Snacks

Ear Snacks delivers information about music, science, art, and culture against a musical backdrop, so listeners get to learn and listen to music at the same time. Hosts Andrew and Polly have written for Sesame Studios, so they know their way around what kids like. The format makes for a really fun listening experience. 

25. The Past and the Curious

The Past and the Curious is a cleverly named podcast about history. According to the creators, “We love to share the stories of Spies, funny foods, George Washington’s foibles, early advancements in cartooning and ballooning, and much more!” Each episode is accompanied by music and a quiz at the end. Recent episodes have been about Stagecoach Mary and Leonardo DaVinci.