by Sam Perry
Spring 2017 Intern
Even when I was young, I remember
struggling to find the perfect radio station to listen to in the car. My
favorite channel featured a two-hour-long show called The Playground that played requested children’s music with limited
interruption. The two-hour window meant I couldn’t tune in too often, so I can only
imagine the never-ending stream of Harry Potter–inspired songs I could have had
access to if The Playground had
existed as a podcast.
Today, you’d be hard-pressed to
find a subject not covered by a podcast. There are ones for academics or entertainers,
for dedicated listeners or podcast passerby, for adults or children. It’s been
a while since we talked about podcasts
for kids, but several new ones have emerged. Below are a few examples of
podcasts designed by and for children to keep them entertained and learning.
Eleanor Amplified is a series of adventures featuring the radio
reporter Eleanor, who pursues truth and quality journalism as she encounters
various kinds of villains. The show, which is designed for kids aged 8–12, encourages
kids to keep asking questions and inspires interest in journalism.
Tumble is a science podcast for kids. It hopes to instill
curiosity and exploration in children with real science. The hosts, a married
couple with backgrounds in journalism and teaching, created the podcasts in the
hope that getting kids to ask questions early in life will also help them to
ask the right questions about science in the future.
Kids aren’t just standing by,
either. There are several podcasts in which kids take an active role, like Ear
Snacks and But Why. Both podcasts focus on the
curiosity of children, either by interviewing them or featuring questions
submitted by children. Ear Snacks,
created by Andrew Barkan and Polly Hall who also compose music for the
children’s TV show Wallykazam!,
commonly interviews children about various topics on their podcasts. They’ve
also interviewed 35 experts . . . and 2 giraffes!
With But Why, questions are submitted and answered on the show. Parents
are encouraged to record their child asking a question and email an audio file
into the show for a breakdown. Kids will get a great question answered and
parents will get a kick out of the kinds of things kids think to ask.
The great thing about podcasts is
that you can plug in and listen almost anywhere—from the playground to the
poolside to the porch swing. And kids will love listening to the ones that are
specifically made with them in mind!
Did You Know?
Broadcasting over 250 stations
around the world, Global Breakfast Radio is a 24-hour
program that only airs during breakfast time in each time zone.
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