How podcasts for kids boost their learning potential

15 Aug 2019

Entertainment technology for kids usually gets a bad rap. People tend to judge parents who allow their kids to plug into an iPad or smartphone, whether over dinner or on a long commute.

But it’s not the technology or device that’s the issue – it’s the content. As long as they’re consuming educational content, what’s the harm?

Of course, prolonged screen time is no good for young eyes and brains. Studies have shown that too much screen time can cause development delays in children, as well as a declining cognitive functioning and impaired social skills.

This is why podcasts for kids are a good idea. This way, children don’t need to stare at the screen in order to soak up the content, but it ‘s still a convenient way for them to be entertained and educated on-the-go.

Plus, most of them are free and readily available on popular streaming apps such as iTunes and Spotify, making it an affordable and convenient way for kids to learn.

Here’s how podcasts for kids help speed up or supplement their learning, while opening their minds to exciting new worlds.

Learning, the fun way

My goal is to not only help children learn fun new songs, but to also teach them to be creative as they use their own ideas in music. On the podcasts, I often give children the opportunity to do this. Try a free sample podcast here: https://t.co/OAIk4SAKwp #ece #preschool #music pic.twitter.com/vDPEcXdDLx

— Gillian Sharma (@ListenTogetherP) June 12, 2019

With podcasts, kids get to learn about the world around them in a fun and engaging way. Many kids struggle to grasp concepts in a classroom setting, but may be able to do so better by listening to a podcast which spurs their imagination.

For example, KidNuz is a daily 5-minute news podcast made for kids which provide news stories that are age-appropriate for kids.

According to the website, “This podcast is an amazing way to teach your kids the importance of caring about what goes on in the world around them, while still trusting they aren’t taking in any information that is inappropriate for them.”

Another example is the What If World podcast, which explores questions often asked by the inquisitive minds of children, such as ‘What if cars would talk?’

The podcast makes these questions a reality by describing what the world would look like in vivid and imaginative detail.

They can help them learn new languages

Final episode of Animal Sound Safari season 2 is out! Making this podcast for kids about culture, diversity, language and animals has been a true highlight of my career. Listen to them all wherever you get your podcasts or here https://t.co/Lq4XkDwyLB

— Emma Gibbs (@emmamgibbs) April 29, 2019

When kids listen to a podcast while reading the same text, it helps them understand better and even motivates them to read more. It also helps them learn a new language more effectively – particularly for older kids.

According to ReadingRockets, “Word recognition (or “decoding”) is the most crucial skill for very young students; however, with older students (middle school and upwards), decoding becomes more automatic, and listening comprehension becomes the primary component for learning language.

“Podcasts allow students to practice their listening comprehension of complex texts that are both conversational and formal, and the corresponding transcripts enable students to confirm their success.”

Podcasts keep kids focused

Kids will pay attention to a full 15-20 min #podcast and learn from it – this might be the key to your holiday drive! https://t.co/FhVZeda80m #edchat #listening #reading #parenting

— MindShift (@MindShiftKQED) November 18, 2017

Kids have short attention spans, and for those who struggle with ADHD, getting them to sit down and focus on reading a book can be even more challenging.

Podcasts are a good way to get them to learn because they often come in bite-sized episodes, and are engaging enough to hold their attention.

According to KidsCanFocus, “Engaging hosts, dynamic storytelling, fascinating topics, and connecting big concepts with everyday life are just some of the reasons that the podcast format connects so well with kids and helps them focus and retain detailed information.

“On top of this, podcasts are often short. They pack a lot of information and entertainment into a snack size format that is just the right length for a child who struggles to pay attention for long periods of time.”

Keen to introduce your kid to a podcast? There are so many out there and choosing one depends on your child’s personal interests. To get started, Check out the 25 Best Podcasts for Kids by Common Sense Media.