With so many good podcasts to listen to available on dozens of online platforms and apps, it’s no wonder that 20% of kids aged 6-8 listened to one last year. That number went up to nearly 50% for teenagers aged 13-17! Podcasts are a great solution to help limit screen time for kids at an age when their brains need to disconnect and interact with the world.

As parents and caregivers learn about the benefits of listening to podcasts, such as expanding vocabulary and practicing active listening, they’re turning their attention to finding the best way to listen to podcasts. It’s probably also the reason you’ve found yourself reading an article about ways to listen to podcasts, isn’t it?

In this article, we’ll introduce some of the best platforms for listening to podcasts. All you have to do is choose a podcasting platform and get connected while at home, in your car, or even at an appointment. The sky is the limit, and you can easily find podcasts for every age, personality, and interest.

If you aren’t sure where you start, Goop Tales has a selection of nearly 100 episodes, so any child will be able to find something they like!

HOW TO LISTEN TO PODCASTS

As long as you have an internet connection, you have access to a multitude of podcast streaming services and different must listen podcasts for kids and adults alike. Most will require you to sign up, but all of the platforms on the list below offer a free option, so you can take Goop Tales (and any other podcast) wherever you go!

WHERE CAN YOU LISTEN TO PODCASTS

Whether you want to listen to podcasts on your computer, phone, or tablet, the apps and platforms listed below offer options for every technology. Simply choose the platform that’s right for you.

AMAZON MUSIC

Many music streaming platforms also host podcasts, and Amazon Music is no different. As one of the most popular platforms for music, audiobooks, and podcasts, you’ll find something for everyone. You can listen on your browser or using a desktop app.

Listen to Goop Tales on Amazon Music!

DEEZER

Deezer is a platform dedicated to listening to music, podcasts, and radio. The free version will even offer recommendations based on what you’ve listened to in the past. Start with Goop Tales, and see where it takes you from there.

Listen to Goop Tales on Deezer!

IHEARTRADIO

iHeartRadio is best known for offering access to live radio, but it also has a great selection of podcasts. You can listen on your computer or download the app to your phone or tablet.

Listen to Goop Tales on iHeartRadio!

SPOTIFY

As one of the world’s largest music streaming services, Spotify is also very simple to use and offers a huge range of podcasts. You can use Spotify on your browser or download the app on your phone or tablet.

Listen to Goop Tales on Spotify!

AUDACY

You may be familiar with Audacy, but you’ll know it by a different name, as it was formerly known as Radio.com. The best thing about Audacy is that it’s completely free and doesn’t ask you to sign up!

Listen to Goop Tales on Audacy!

SOUNDCLOUD

Soundcloud is another free music streaming service with a great selection of podcasts. You’ll have to sign up, but once you’re in, you’ll find something for any day or mood.

Listen to Goop Tales on Soundcloud!

RADIOPUBLIC

RadioPublic offers a wide selection of free podcasts and makes it easy for listeners to either stream episodes directly or download them for a later listen (great for when you’re in the car and may not have a stable internet connection).

Listen to Goop Tales on Radio Public!

If you’re interested in checking out lesser known but still very high quality podcast streaming platforms, any of the below would be a great choice!

HOW TO GET KIDS TO LISTEN TO PODCASTS

Once you find the best app to listen to podcasts, your next step may be figuring out how to get kids to listen to podcasts. Little ones are notoriously active and tend to have short attention spans, which can make sitting through an entire audio story a bit tricky. However, there are several things you can try in order to keep them interested in what they’re listening to.

1. PAIR IT WITH ANOTHER ACTIVITY

Simply sitting down and listening can be a boring ask for an adult, not to mention a child. That’s why so many of us spent hours doodling in our notebooks at school, or even at work. People of any age often enjoy keeping their hands or bodies active while listening to music or a podcast, but this is especially true for kids. Use this to your advantage and play an educational podcast while they’re building a block castle, painting a picture, or doing a puzzle. You can even pair it with their chores so that cleaning their room or doing the dishes doesn’t seem so bad anymore!

2. LISTEN IN THE CAR

In the car, your little one can turn into a captive audience, and often a bored one. Instead of passing them your phone or tablet to keep them entertained, put on a family friendly podcast that everyone will enjoy.

3. INCLUDE IT IN THEIR BEDTIME ROUTINE

If you make it a habit to listen to a podcast as a way to help your youngster wind down at night, they’ll know to expect it and will start to look forward to this step in their bedtime routine. This can help relax them and can even lead to interesting family conversations based on what they hear.

4. LET THEM CHOOSE THE PODCAST

Don’t give your little one too many options to choose from, as this will overwhelm them (and they’ll never decide), but picking two or three podcasts and letting them choose which one they want to listen to can be a great idea when you want to get them interested in something new. If they know they’ve picked it, they will likely be more invested in listening to it.

CONCLUSION

Ultimately, learning how to listen to podcasts and finding some great podcasts to listen to is the easy part with all of the amazing apps and platforms out there. Get connected on your device, and soon, the whole family will be enjoying their favorite episodes based around science, stories, and more.