GETTING ready for a long road trip with the kids, but don’t want to just stick a tablet in their hands? Podcasts are a great way to keep the whole family entertained.
There’s no end of podcasts out there for screen-free entertainment, so it’s hard to know where to start, but we’ve picked out some of the best free podcasts for young kids and teens, with options that you’ll love too.
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These titles are all available for free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, so you should be able to get access to them on any device.
PODCASTS FOR YOUNG KIDS
If your kids like a mystery (and who doesn’t?), then a great option is Bust or Trust.
It’s a myth-busting podcast that investigates some of Earth‘s most interesting mysteries, including haunted paintings, the truth behind Stonehenge, and whether aliens visited Earth thousands of years ago.
Kids can even get updates on the latest Loch Ness monster sightings. Perfect for a road trip to Scotland!
And it’s family-friendly too – the podcast boasts that it’s “fun for ages six to 106”, so that’s just about everyone.
For very young kids, try Thomas & Friends Storytime.
It’s a Thomas the Tank Engine-themed podcast with stories about the origins of the engines, fairy tales, and includes plenty of life lessons, too.
This is very age-appropriate for youngsters and is rated for kids as young as three. But if you’ve got slightly older kids, they likely won’t be as interested.
There’s usually a new episode each week, with more than 100 released in the series so far.
One smash-hit option is the Story Pirates podcast, which is very highly rated and downloaded.
It’s like a sketch comedy show (packed with music too) based on stories that have been written by kids.
The episodes feature content from comedians and songwriters, plus celeb guests.
Recent episodes include interviewing a zombie expert that might be turning into a zombie himself, a hotdog that climbs Mount Frankfurter as part of a tradition to find his own sauce, and a “dungeons and dragons” special.
It’s an award-winning series with weekly episodes and a massive back catalogue of seasons to enjoy.
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And another great option for youngsters is the history podcast You’re Dead to Me.
It invites a comedian and expert historian on to have funny chats about history, which should keep the whole family engaged.
You’ve got recent episodes on arctic exploration, the legends of King Arthur, and even cave art.
Just make sure to be selective with the topic. Very young children might struggle to get to grips with some topics – but it’s a great way to get your youngster interested in history.
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It’s proper history delivered in simple (and very funny) terms.
Episodes typically come out once a week, and the series is rated as “clean” on Apple Podcasts.
If you’re looking to send the little one off to sleep, you could try a bedtime stories podcast.
Sleep Tight Stories is very well-reviewed, and has a load of peaceful child-friendly tales for bedtime. Just don’t listen to it in the car – it might put you to sleep too, which wouldn’t be good.
It’s fine for all ages, so this is a great option if you want to send a toddler off to sleep with a fun little story.
Here’s a quick list of our favourites:
- Bust or Trust
- Thomas & Friends Storytime
- Story Pirates
- You’re Dead to Me
- Sleep Tight Stories
TRY AUDIOBOOKS TOO!
Don’t just rely on podcasts – audiobooks are a great option…
By opting for audiobooks, you might be able to get your kids interested in reading.
And there’s almost no end of child-friendly audiobooks out there.
Probably the best-known way to access audiobooks is via Audible.
There’s a free tier that just involves signing in with your Amazon account.
Then you can enjoy a rotating selection of free audiobooks to listen to, including timeless classics but also some new options.
If you’re an Amazon Prime member then you can also claim two free audiobooks of your choice.
And if you want a proper Audible membership, you’ll have to pay a membership (after a 30-day free trial).
The Standard membership (for £5.99 a month) lets you choose one audiobook a month from the collection, which you can listen to for as long as you’re a emmeber.
And the Premium Plus option (for £8.99 a month), gets you the same monthly credit, but you can keep the book even if you cancel your membership.
You’ll also be able to listen to thousands of extra audiobooks from the Plus catalogue – and you’ll get access to exclusive sales and discounts too.
If you’re not keen on Audible, you can also try audiobooks via Spotify.
If you have a Spotify Premium membership then you’re already owed 15 hours of audiobook listening time every single month.
But you can pay for extra hours if you want.
Picture Credit: Audible
PODCASTS FOR TEENAGERS
The good news is that a lot of the best podcasts for teens will also keep you entertained as an adult.
One very educational option is the always-brilliant The Rest is History.
It’s hosted by two popular British historians (Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook) who chat through specific topics like the Titanic disaster, the Romans in Britain, and even the historical figures that would suit going on Love Island.
Apple Podcasts rates it as “clean”, but some episodes will cover more sensitive topics. So consider the episodes you choose depending on the age of your teen.
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But the podcast explains history in simple terms even if you don’t know much about a topic – and it’s usually very funny too. A great way to get your kids loving and learning about history.
Another cracking option along similar lines is Stuff You Should Know.
This time you’ve got American hosts (Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant), explaining just about anything and everything.
They’ll tell you about the origins of ketchup, why Minecraft is such a massive hit, and what lurks in the Catacombs of Paris.
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It’s extremely engaging, very easy to chew for a general audience, and will turn your teen (and you!) into a total trivia whiz.
If you’ve got a teen that loves movies, a great option is Film Sack.
It’s four hosts who watch an old movie that’s available on streaming services, and review it in a playful way over the course of 90 minutes or so.
The show is largely clean, but it’ll depend a little bit on the movie that’s being “sacked”. Recent episodes include 2004’s Starsky & hutch, George Clooney’s Ocean’s Twelve, 1985’s The Goonies, and a round table special on Coming of Age Movies.
…AND THE BEST PODCASTS FOR PARENTS
Don’t let your kids have all the fun – there are loads of great parenting podcasts out there too…
Possibly the most well-loved option is Parenting Hell.
It’s hosted by star British comedians Rob Beckett and Josh Widdicombe.
They talk about their own parenting trials and tribulations, as well as chatting to celebs about how they’re getting on with their kids.
It’s very funny and has a large back catalogue of episodes to enjoy.
Another excellent choice is The Sun’s own podcast No Parental Guidance.
It’s a new series from our Fabulous team hosted by the brilliant and hilarious Louise Boyce and Hannah East.
The podcast is described as “a safe space for real mums to talk openly and hilariously about the chaos, guilt, and of course joys of parenthood”.
Episodes feature special guests, with celebs featured so far including Angela Scanlon and Konnie Huq.
Picture Credit: The Sun
If you and your teen want a laugh, the Off-Menu podcast is brilliant.
It’s hosted by British comedians Ed Gamble and James Acaster, who interview celeb guests about food – asking them to pick favourite starters, sides, mains, and desserts in a “dream” restaurant.
This one is probably for older teens, but you’ll almost certainly be able to get them listening if it’s a celeb that they like.
Recent episodes have included illusionist Derren Brown, Marvel star Sebastian Stan, acting titan David Tennant, Star Wars’ Daisy Ridley, and the inimitable Danny Dyer.
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It’s a nice mix of pop culture and food, and it’s packed with laugh-out-loud moments.
So to recap, try these out:
- The Rest is History
- Stuff You Should Know
- Film Sack
- Off-Menu
This will serve up thousands of hours of entertainment, so you’ll be sorted all summer long.
And if you are going on a long road trip, The Sun recently tested a trick to beat car sickness with an iPhone.
