Summer break is here, which means it’s the perfect time to pop a pair of headphones on your kids or plug in your favorite smart home device and listen to a family-friendly podcast to fill your time. These podcasts are not just a bunch of fun — they’re also incredible opportunities to diversify your child’s entertainment and supplement their education.
Common Sense Media, the nonprofit advocacy group providing expert technology and entertainment recommendations to families and teachers, recently announced a new podcast-centered expansion of its Selection Seal, which recognizes media with significant quality and impact on families and society at large. In April, the organization launched its first podcast rating and review site, which seeks to inform listeners about each shows’ educational value, its co-listening ability for parents and children, the shows’ diversity and authenticity, and the quality of audio. The latest announcement pulls from that in-depth review list of more than 70 child-friendly podcasts, singling out the best of the best for families and kids. Each Common Sense Selection meets the highest editorial standards for overall quality based on diversity, impactful themes, and positive messages and role models.
The newly unveiled list of Common Sense Selections feature 21 of these shows across a range of storytelling formats and topics, from stories of time travel and Puerto Rican culture to kid-friendly news and science programs, like the science sitcom Wow in the World.
“It’s very clear the podcast world is growing, but what’s less obvious is how impactful and innovative kids and family podcasts are and will continue to be as they expand and evolve,” said Laura Ordoñez, head of podcast ratings and reviews for Common Sense Media. The intention is to aid parents and kids in their search for educational, creative shows and help more families see the “incredibly diverse and dynamic media format as both an educational and entertainment resource for kids and families,” the organization writes.
Each piece of media on Common Sense’s site is reviewed according to specific child development best practices and displays the minimum age for which content is developmentally appropriate, the organization explains. Common Sense also includes a star rating that reflects overall quality and learning potential. Find out more about the ratings system on the Common Sense Media website.
Check out a few notable picks below, and then visit CommonSense’s website for the full list of approved and reviewed Common Sense Selections when searching for your families’ next audio adventure.
For younger kids and storytelling
Circle Round, 5 stars (ages 2+)
Circle Round shares 15- to 20-minute adaptations of famous folk tales from around the world, narrated by big names across stage and screen, like broadway actress Phillipa Soo and chef and TV personality Samin Nosrat. Each episode is accompanied by original music to creatively connect the cultural tales with its overarching themes and celebrity guest, engaging even the youngest audience. In Common Sense’s 5-star review, the organization points out the podcast’s additional web activities, including printable illustrations and coloring pages, and notes the show’s central themes of courage, compassion, empathy, and self-control.
Story Seeds, 5 stars (ages 6+)
Story Seeds is a perfect show for book lovers of all ages, as young aspiring writers team up with established children’s authors like Katherine Applegate and Dan Gutman to outline and write their own books. Each episode follows the process of turning one child’s “story seeds” into a full-fledged narrative, with listeners walking through the storytelling along with both adult and child authors. Common Sense Media notes that the episodes specifically emphasize representation, and foster a sense of empowerment for children who come with ideas from a variety of backgrounds. The organization rates the show 5 stars for the presence of positive role models and diverse representation, and recommends the show’s bonus Q&A with each author as additional material for interested families.
Newsy Paloozi, 5 stars (ages 7+)
This podcast is a great entry point for children interested in current events or for parents seeking a way into big conversations about international politics, science, and other newsworthy topics. Episodes about heavy issues, like gun control, are treated delicately for a young audience — the episodes also come with timestamp warnings for those who may want to skip certain news — and each is accompanied by a child correspondent in conversation with an adult in order to better understand what’s going on. Common Sense Media highlights this podcast for its notable educational content and positive effect on media literacy.
Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls, 5 stars (ages 7+)
The Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls podcast is inspired by the book of the same name, part of the Rebel Girls series, which shares the real-life stories of notable women around the world and throughout history. In this audio version, other inspirational women, like model Ashley Graham and youth activist Marley Dias, take on the role of narrator to bring these stories to young listeners, which Common Sense Media notes as exemplifying positive role modeling and messaging for children. The podcast has recently moved over to its brand new Rebel Girls App, which offers the same positive podcast content, as well as additional playlists, sleep stories, and soundscapes for listeners of all ages.
For kids exploring bigger topics
Stoopkid Stories, 4 stars (ages 8+)
Stoopkid Stories, narrated by creator Melissa Victor, tells the story of a diverse neighborhood of Black children and their families navigating daily life in a fictional neighborhood, all based on her own experiences growing up in Baltimore. Interwoven with the relatable stories of early childhood, in which kids learn how to process experiences like school drama and braces, are heavier discussions about social activism, racial justice, addiction, and grief. The episodes span the realities of various communities of color in a way that’s easy for young children to understand, which Common Sense Media says can help spark important conversations between parents and their children.
The Activators!, 5 stars (ages 8+)
This show spotlights the work of successful young activists working to enact social change for environmental and racial justice, food security, gender justice, and other forms of compassionate social activism. Hosted by kid activist and Disney+ actor Leo Abelo Perry, each young leader participates in a Q&A session all about themselves and their work. Many of the kid leaders run full-fledged nonprofits helping in-need communities — like Blankies 4 My Buddies and Khloe Kares — and they hope to inspire fellow listeners to get involved or start their own movement for social change. Common Sense Media notes the way that Perry succinctly communicates the institutional context behind each movement, all while emphasizing a hope for the future.
Mija Podcast, 5 stars (ages 8+)
Mija Podcast is a multilingual podcast (available in English, Spanish, French, Mandarin, and Arabic) about intergenerational family stories, with each season focused on the members and experiences of a different immigrant family. The show was created by Lory Martinez, a daughter of Colombian immigrant parents who grew up in Queens, New York. In each episode, Martinez enlists the voice of a daughter (“mija” in Spanish) to tell her family’s story. Common Sense Media awarded the podcast 5 stars across the board, noting for any worried parents that the show includes descriptions of perilous experiences and racism.
A Kids Book About: The Podcast, 5 stars (ages 8+, some recommend 10+)
Based on the A Kids Book About book series, this podcast tackles sensitive, important topics for families and children in ways that foster ​​empathy, communication, compassion, courage, and curiosity, according to Common Sense Media. The episodes covers real-world issues like body image, racism, gender equality, sexuality, and even specific current and historical events, like anti-Asian racism and the Tulsa race massacre. The episodes are guided by kids and adults who have lived experiences with each topic, and the hosts invite listeners to send follow-up questions.
For the preteen and teen audiophiles
The Two Princes, 5 stars (ages 8+)
The Two Princes podcast is a fictional audio story that takes on a classic fantasy tale of mythical beasts and star-crossed lovers. In this version, however, the romance centers on two rival princes as they defeat evil and meet a diverse cast of characters during their cross-kingdom travels. The story features queer and racially diverse characters, as well as explorations of sexuality and young love. It also has an impressive celebrity cast, including actresses Christine Baranski and Samira Wiley, so parents might be just as delighted to listen to this fantasy story about LGBTQ identity as their kids are.
Hold Me Back, 4 stars (ages 13+)
Hosted by father and son duo Aidan and Ash ElDifrawi, this conversational podcast tackles subjects that parents and their teens encounter daily, from grades to swearing to heartfelt conversations about mental health. The two — the elder ElDifrawi is a clinical psychologist and the younger will graduate high school next year — engage in healthy debates, sharing both generational perspectives, and invite special guests on the show to add an outside perspective. Episodes go over personal experiences, as well as relatable, societal struggles like social media use and the college admissions process. Common Sense Media gives the show high marks for positive messaging, role models, and education.
