When kids educate themselves through self-directed learning the classroom can be literally anywhere. Children can learn by reading, writing, playing, and by simply listening to an entertaining show. Educational podcasts are an excellent way to soak up some information on a long drive, while you’re out for a hike, or while you’re doing a hands-on activity and can listen to something while you work. These podcasts are all fantastic educational resources that can provide both knowledge and entertainment to busy kids.
Book Club for Kids
Book Club for Kids is exactly what it sounds like it is. A book club where real kids talk about books with the host of the podcast, Kitty Felde. In each episode there is a celebrity reader, the kids give their thoughts on the book, and there is an interview with the author.
Shabam
The Shabam podcast is the perfect combination of an entertaining story and some factual science. Season one of the podcast is about a group of kids that get separated from their parents during a zombie apocalypse. During their experiences we learn about the science that is all around us every day that we don’t usually give much thought to.
But Why
The But Why podcast discusses a wide range of topics about the world and all the amazing stuff that’s in it. It’s structured in a way that the listeners ask questions, the hosts find out the answers, and then they share them with their audience in an entertaining audio show. Some questions they’ve answered include “why am I afraid of the dark?”, “do skunks like their own smell?”, and “why do days start at 12 o’clock?”.
KiDNuZ
KiDNuZ is a news podcast created just for kids. They talk about the top news stories, current events, politics, entertainment, sports, and science in ways that are entertaining for their young audience. These podcasts are great if you only have a few minutes to spare because every episode is only about 5 minutes long.
What if World
The What If World podcast is a great place to hear a ton of wacky stories from the host, Mr. Eric. Listeners can submit their what if’s and Mr. Eric spins these what if’s into a new wild and crazy tale on each episode. The site also features a What If Generator so kids can take their own trip to What If World and concoct their very own fantastical stories.
The Show About Science
The Show About Science was created by Nate Butkus at only 5 years old. For the past 4 years Nate has been discussing scientific research and discoveries with his guests, exploring topics such as chemistry, climate change, evolution, aliens, and biology. Not only are his topics interesting and educational but it’s always awesome for kids to learn from other kids who are motivated and passionate about the topics they discuss and the projects they tackle.
Wow in the World
Wow in the World is a super fun podcast hosted by Guy Raz and Mindy Thomas. They guide their listeners on adventures out into space, inside the human brain, or around the world with awesome stories about science and technology. Their goal is to encourage families to put down their screens, look up at the world, and be awed at what they see.
Brains On!
Brains On is an award-winning science podcast for kids that answers fascinating questions about the world. Every episode starts by answering questions from the listeners and each week a different kid co-host joins the regular host of the show, Molly Bloom, as she explores a wide range of neat topics and interesting ideas.
Story Pirates
The Story Pirates podcast is comprised of a group of performers who take stories written by kids and transform them into absurd and entertaining audio shows. The latest season features celebrity guests such as Dax Shepard, Claire Danes, and John Oliver.
Tumble
Tumble is an educational science podcast designed to help kids learn about the mysteries of the world. Hosts Lindsay and Marshall tell stories about scientific discoveries and teach their listeners what science is all about.
StarTalk
Short & Curly
Short & Curly is an ethics podcasts for kids that discusses questions and ideas that are intended to really get kids thinking. They cover topics such as animals, technology, school, pop culture, and the future. This is a great podcast to listen to as a family and later talk about the thoughts that were presented.
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The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian
The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian is a science fiction podcast about 8 year old Finn Caspian who lives aboard the Famous Marlowe 280 Interplanetary Exploratory Space Station. He and his friends explore uncharted planets, help out the odd alien they meet, and solve mysteries along their travels.
There is a podcast out there for every kid no matter their age, what their interests are, or how much time they have to listen. Some of these podcasts are super short and provide interesting yet concise shows for kids to think about. Others are much longer and more intellectually engaging for those that want to sit back and listen for awhile. Many of these are even fun for adults, allowing you to listen to some podcasts as a family and later discuss the ideas that were presented.
