Have you ever tried listening to science podcasts with your kids? If not, you should really consider the idea. It is one of the best educational distractions for children who have seemingly unending questions about how the world works. As parents, we don’t always have the answers, but a science podcast may have.
When you play an episode, you stimulate your child’s curiosity, foster his or her love for science, and you get to have about a few minutes of time to yourself. On the other hand, if you want to spend quality time with your children, you can listen to a science podcast for kids together. They are definitely going to learn something valuable, and, who knows, you may learn something new yourself.
Best Science Podcasts Your Kids Will Appreciate
When you search for Science podcasts for kids online, you will get pages and pages of search results. So you don’t have to do the heavy lifting, we’ve narrowed it down for you today so you can choose the best science podcast that fits your routine and sparks your children’s interest:
Brains On!
About the Podcast: A podcast for kids, co-hosted each week by kids. Brains On! is an award-winning podcast which sparks children’s natural curiosity. There are so many interesting topics for you to listen to, from farts (yes, farts) to discovering whether plants have feelings or not.
Website: www.brainson.org/pages/listen
Why You Should Listen:
Brains On! is an interesting podcast that seems to answer random science questions that kids often ask like “Why is food so delicious?” or “Do dogs know that they’re dogs?” Because the topics are so interesting, Brains On! could be a podcast your kids will be asking you to play everyday.
Tumble
About the Podcast: Tumble is a Science podcast that was created for the entire family to enjoy. Focusing on scientific discoveries and amazing stories about how science works, Tumble will have an episode that’s interesting for both young and old audiences.
Website: www.sciencepodcastforkids.com
Why You Should Listen:
Tumble is a great podcast for those families who want a bonding experience while listening to interesting facts and stories about science. Parents should take note, however, that the episodes were created with kids aged 6-12 in mind so it may not be suitable for children who are very young.
Sci Fri
About the Podcast: Short for Science Friday, the Sci Fri podcast is a trusted source of news about science, technology and other cool stuff. Sci Fri has two special series aside from its regular episodes: Science Diction – a bit-sized podcast about words and the scientific stories behind them, and Undiscovered – a series that highlights left turns, missteps, and lucky breaks that make science happen.
Website: www.sciencefriday.com/science-friday-podcasts/
Why You Should Listen:
If you have older children, let’s say at the ages of 12 years old and above (teens and tweens), they may engage more with the episodes of this podcast. Finding out about the term “Meme” on Science Diction (March 11 Episode), for example, might catch older kids’ attention because it is something they’re age bracket is into. Other than talking about the term meme, there are other interesting subjects like the Pokemon Brain, Slime Molds, and the like.
Point of Discovery
About the Podcast: This podcast takes you on a journey behind the frontlines of sciences, introducing you to and your kids to the brilliant, quirky scientists who make the magic happen. It’s not just a science podcast, but also an inspirational medium for youngsters aspiring to be future scientists.
Website: www.cns.utexas.edu/point
Why You Should Listen:
Here’s another podcast which is suitable for curious teens. At first glance, the topics may seem intimidating because the titles sound complicated. For example, January 8 Episode – The Next 50 Years: The Global Census of Life – doesn’t seem to be intriguing for young humans, but that specific episode introduces a new mini-series, where the host interviews celebrated scientists, asking them about their vision for the future.
Earth Rangers
About the Podcast: Earth Rangers’ mission is to create a generation of conservationists. The content for the podcast specifically allows kids to get to know wild animals in a new and fun way. With jokes, games, and other activities, each episode will definitely be a treat for young ones who love to learn about wildlife.
Website: www.earthrangers.com/podcast
Why You Should Listen:
From forest, urban, to prehistoric animals, Emma (the host) talks about them all in an upbeat and informative way. The podcast was, most likely, designed to maintain the attention of younger audiences (7years old and below).
It’s not just fun animal facts that your kids will learn when listening to Earth Rangers. Emma also inserts some humor into each episode by telling the funniest animal jokes! You can go on the website and vote for the ones that tickled your funny bone the most.
Science is Fun E
About the Podcast: Private and Skipper talk about anything and everything science from animals, to technology, and sometimes even monsters. Most of the time, Private asks the questions and Skipper gives convincing answers that are easy to understand for curious listeners.
Website: www.jyringic.podbean.com/
Why You Should Listen:
What makes Science is Fun E relatable to kids, young ones and ones that are a bit older (up to the 6th grade), is the 12-year-old host named Private. Accompanied by co-host Skipper, the “old guy”, this podcast takes a look at anything that has to do with science through the eyes of a child. Questions like, do animals have their own language, can people really disappear, and who invented electricity, are given easy-to-understand explanations.
People Behind the Science
About the Podcast: New discoveries are made daily. The People Behind the Science podcast sheds light into the lives and contributions of the ones who are making these amazing discoveries. It’s all about the lives and minds of some of the most brilliant scientists of today.
Website: www.peoplebehindthescience.com
Why You Should Listen:
If you think you have a future scientist on your hands, this is the show that you should be encouraging your child to listen to. It’s going to open his or her eyes, not just to the world of science but, to how scientists make discoveries, what they are passionate about, how they overcome failure, and how their success has contributed to the betterment of the lives of others.
But Why?
About the Podcast: When kids reach a certain age, they don’t seem to stop asking why. Why do we have nightmares? Or, why are jellyfish so jelly-like? Why does the day start at 12 o’clock? But Why, a podcast for curious kids, may just have the answers.
Website: www.npr.org/podcasts/474377890/but-why-a-podcast-for-curious-kids
Why You Should Listen:
Send in your kid’s “Why” questions to the But Why podcast. Not only will the show give your child the answers he or she is looking for, his or her audio recording will also be featured when it is chosen, of course. Because the show plays the recording of kids asking, it encourages other children to keep being curious, always asking the question “Why” about anything that they don’t understand.
Shabam!
About the Podcast: The perfect blend of fictional stories and real science, there is never a dull moment while you and your kids listen to Shabam. The name of the podcast is actually an acronym for all of the topics that the hosts like to talk about: S – science, H – history, A – architecture, B – any B-word you can think of, A – art, and M – maths.
Website: www.shabamshow.com
Why You Should Listen:
Although Shabam isn’t purely a science podcast, it will be interesting for your kids to listen to a variety of topics that are explained in a way that kids will understand and appreciate. On top of that, the website also has a video format if your kids require more of a visual stimulus. As a parent, you can even mix it up, alternating between playing the audio and video versions.
The Show About Science
About the Podcast: You won’t believe that this podcast was created by a 5-year old. On each episode, he invites scientists and educators from all over the globe to talk about a slew of different scientific topics – climate change, fake sugar, and tarantula hawks; you name it!
Website: www.theshowaboutscience.com/episodes
Why You Should Listen:
At such a young age, Nate, the host, dives into the world of scientific research and discovery. He was featured on the Ellen Show, even! This will tell you how passionate and dedicated this young child is to learning more about the world. You may be listening to a future scientist, you know.
Houston We Have a Podcast
About the Podcast: There is no place more mysterious than outer space. Because of its vastness, it’s almost impossible for us humans to explore every inch of it. However, by sending in astronauts, we can discover small, yet amazing parts of it at a time. Houston We Have a Podcast is the official podcast of the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.
Website: www.nasa.gov/johnson/HWHAP
Why You Should Listen:
What it’s like to be an astronaut and travel to space? What exactly do scientists and astronauts do at NASA? This podcast will answer these questions and more. Listening in lets your children understand how traveling to space works, and what NASA does to help us understand the universe and the stars a bit better.
Wow in the World
About the Podcast: Wow in the World is your and your kid’s guide to the wonders around us. Listen to Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz explain things like sweating, mummies, the moon (or the mini one orbiting earth), bumble bee vomit, and so much more.
Website: www.npr.org/podcasts/510321/wow-in-the-world
Why You Should Listen:
The hosts of Wow in the World sound really animated to make each episode fun and interesting to listen to for kids of all ages. Audibly stimulating, your kids will have a great time listening to goofy sounds while they put on their thinking caps to figure out the right answer to the main question of the episode.
Fun Kids Science Weekly
About the Podcast: Science is both amazing and weird at the same time. It’s fun trying to understand the usual things like energy or trees, but it is more fun to learn about things that are not so usual like the most dangerous plant known to man (which may be found in your backyard) or fish odor syndrome (ew!).
Website: www.funkidslive.com/podcast/the-fun-kids-science-weekly
Why You Should Listen:
A UK show, Fun Kids Science Weekly explores the weird and interesting. It may be formatted as another science podcast, but the topics themselves will be the main reasons why your kids will want to listen in every day. Uncover and learn the best kept secrets of the earth as you listen to the show.
Aaron’s World
About the Podcast: Aaron’s World is a science-themed podcast that follows the adventures of Aaron and his trusty computer friend INO. They both explore the pre-historic world, asking different questions about the dinosaurs that roamed the earth during that time.
Website: www.mydogrocket.com
Why You Should Listen:
Aaron’s World is a podcast with only 50 episodes. You won’t be able to enjoy it for long because the makers aren’t producing new content any time soon, but it is still very entertaining. Your kids will love the story-telling format of the episodes, and they’ll also appreciate the topics which touch on dinosaurs, time travel, robots and more!
Cool Facts About Animals
About the Podcast: A podcast for kids and by kids that gives you some of the most interesting facts about the world’s wildlife. Giant clams, Koalas, the Colossal Squid, and even dinosaurs – if it’s an interesting animal, Cool Facts About Animals has details on it for you to learn.
Website: www.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cool-facts-about-animals/id1334467437
Why You Should Listen:
Any podcast that talks about animals will surely be a big hit for children. This one, in particular, doesn’t just examine facts about wildlife. With each episode, the hosts (some of the hosts are kids, by the way) really dive into that something that makes a certain animal unique.
Oh My Science
About the Podcast: Oh My Science tackles big science questions, and then explains the answers to kids in the simplest way possible. You’ll meet Roisin, the host, who is joined by her little brother Cilian who is 6 years old. Roisin asks True or False questions, then Cilian answers. If Cilian doesn’t get it right, his big sister explains what the right answer is.
Website: www.open.spotify.com/show/0qvjCz2VduTYA9lw8uW0Tp
Why You Should Listen:
Although this is a new show, it has great potential! Not only will your kids be interested to listen the hosts (who are kids too), they will likely tune in every week to listen to new episodes and updates. Science questions, though only a few right now, are answered, plus children listening in will be inspired to take on new projects like starting a podcast.
Little Da Vincis
About the Podcast: Christian Amyx (currently in the 7th grade) is the creator and host of this podcast. He aspires to be an innovator and scientist when he grows up, which is why he interviews experts who are some of the best in their fields. The aim is to learn from them and ask them questions about their careers.
Website: www.christianamyx.com
Why You Should Listen:
Although Christian is still young, he has received a number of awards for his academic, cultural, and athletic achievements. He is, to say the least, a gifted young man, whose curiosity shines through with each episode. This podcast may be helpful for teens or tweens who want to learn more about science or medical professionals and what they do.
Fizzics Ed Podcast
About the Podcast: The Fizzics Ed podcast is mainly for educators and teachers who teach science in any grade level. It talks about technology, nature, and other STEM topics in a way that can help educators have a more engaging class.
Website: www.fizzicseducation.com.au/category/podcast
Why You Should Listen:
Yes, it’s a podcast for teachers, but it can also be enjoyed by parents and their children. Parents, will of course, be the guide to the kids through the topics. And, as an added resource, parents can also go on the website and check instructions for 150 different science experiments for free.
Are Podcasts Good for Kids?
Of course, being a responsible parent, you have to ask the question: will listening to podcasts be good for my children? Well, not all podcasts are good for youngsters to listen to. But, Science podcasts for kids specifically can be fun, informative, and engaging. They can be useful in the following ways:
- Eyes Away From the Screen
Most parents have this common complain of their children spending way too much time on their phones or tablets. Well, when you have science podcasts in your arsenal, you can activate your children’s sense of hearing as well as their imagination since podcasts don’t rely on video or visual stimulus.
- Don’t Just Wait – Learn Something
Don’t you just hate sitting inside a waiting room with no distractions for your kids? Or, maybe, you’re taking a long drive to some place and your kids keep playing the same song over and over again. A podcast will fix these problems right up. Instead of just waiting or driving with the car radio on, why not listen and learn with your children?
- Add Podcasts to Your Bonding Time
Did you know that podcasts for kids are actually incorporated into home school lessons? Though you’re not enrolled into home school, you can follow their lead and actually have that quality time of learning with your kids. Let’s say one Sunday afternoon, you listen to a science podcast for kids that talks about dolphins. You can then pattern your next activity on the podcast you just listened to – draw dolphins, have a question and answer about different sea creatures, and so on.
An Expert’s Take on Podcast for Kids
Jenny Radesky, a pediatrician who specializes in child development, shared her thoughts on Business Insider regarding learning and listening. Radesky is the lead author of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Media and Young Minds policy.
According to her, it’s most likely that younger children (up to two years old) won’t get any benefits from listening to podcasts. Research says that very young children “process language best when it is from a person who is reacting to cues the baby is giving.”
She also said that young children can process audio better at the age of three or four. Podcasts, however, are not a total dead end because they can still be beneficial if there’s an adult to interact with, explaining the story and answering possible questions.
When listening to podcasts, it’s important for parents to practice self-awareness. There has to be an engagement with the children for optimal learning to take place.
Conclusion
There are so many more science podcasts for kids that you can listen to online. Don’t just limit yourself and your family with this list. Besides, that is what science is all about, isn’t it? Science is not about limiting yourself to what you already know, but opening yourself up to learning more. In the same way, you’re also broadening the horizons of your kids because you allow them to learn and discover new possibilities through the different topics they encounter on each podcast episode.
If you think that we missed your favorite science podcast for kids on our list, do send us a message and let us know. If you’re interested in other podcasts, then check out our list of education podcasts too! We will be building this list more as more science podcasts specifically designed for children are created.
