Tune In! The Best Podcasts for Preschoolers in 2026

One of our most popular posts from 2025 has been refreshed with the best podcasts for preschoolers and some new award-winning options. Whether in the car, before bedtime, or as a nice non-screen time activity, podcasts for preschoolers are wonderful for supporting language development, imagination, and listening skills. Plus, they promote family bonding and expand cultural understanding. Boost learning for you and your little learner year-round with Denver Preschool Program’s (DPP) overview of the best podcasts for preschoolers, as well as a little science behind how podcasts can help calm the nervous system. 

The Science Behind Listening to Podcasts

The benefits of listening to audiobooks or podcasts for kids of all ages are wide-ranging. Plus, they provide an engaging and educational alternative to screen time. 

Here’s what the experts say about audiobooks and podcasts for preschoolers:

• “Listen to This! Children’s Podcasts, Family Engagement, and Opportunities for Learning,” a 2025 study by the Education Development Center (EDC), found that podcasts lead to meaningful family interactions, easily fit into family routines, and sparked imagination and storytelling among children and the adults in their lives. 
• A 2024 University of California analysis of two different studies found that 11  minutes of daily listening to story‑based science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) podcasts paired with parent-and-child conversations enhanced the child’s higher-order learning skills, like critical thinking. 
• A 2011 National Literacy Trust report studied the effect of interactive audio on building literacy skills. The study found that audio storytelling for kids ages 3-8 introduced them to vocabulary words they might not hear at home and helped them build empathy toward characters. In addition, the lack of visuals created opportunities for imagination. 
• When adults co-listen with children and engage in back-and-forth conversation about the content, children experience enhanced learning potential, according to a Harvard Center on the Developing Child Study on “Serve and Return” interactions. 
• Audiobooks make storytelling more accessible, especially for kids or caregivers with visual challenges, fostering a love for reading and creating opportunities to share favorite stories with friends and family. 

Tips for Introducing Audiobooks and Podcasts to Your Preschooler

Before you press play on an audiobook or podcast, be sure to keep in mind a few helpful tips to ensure they are well-received by your preschooler:  

• Preview content before sharing a new podcast with your child
• Look for age-appropriate content; even stories for 6+ might be too advanced for young kids
• Focus on a maximum length of 5-15 minutes 
• Choose slow-paced podcasts with simple language and interactive narratives where the author asks questions 
• Find content that helps children think about and identify emotions, relationship skills, or a subject-matter they are interested in 
• Pause to ask questions and talk about the story to create shared experiences; questions like, “What do you think will happen next?” are great! 
• Use audiobooks and podcasts for transitions, like car rides, wind-down time, or bath time

Top Five Podcasts for Preschoolers

Now that you’re ready to download and share in podcast listening with your little learner, here are our top 5 podcasts for preschoolers:

1. Circle Round (Ages 3+): This podcast features folktales from around the world that focus on mindfulness and music.
2. Wow in the World (Ages 4+): Science, tech, and exploration in a kid-friendly storytelling format make this podcast unique.
3. Story Pirates (Ages 3-7): This podcast uses real stories written by kids and transforms them into sketch comedy and songs.
4. Little Stories for Tiny People (Ages 3+): Who doesn’t need help at bedtime? This podcast features original, calming bedtime stories.
5. Goodnight, World! (Ages 2-5): A partnership between Sesame Street and Headspace, Goodnight, World! is the perfect podcast for wind-down time as it uses stories and imagination to promote mindfulness, self-regulation, and calmness at bedtime.

New Notable Podcasts for Preschoolers for 2026

Like most things, new podcasts for preschoolers are getting developed all the time. Here are a few new ones to put on your radar (or, rather, on your app):

1. But Why – A Podcast for Curious Kids — produced by Vermont Public Radio, this podcast is fueled by questions submitted from kids around the world. From science to weather to animals, they cover it all and feed your little one’s curious mind. Other fact-focused winners include Ask the Nincompoops and Brains On!
2. PBS Kids Podcasts — PBS has created a wealth of content across mediums. Shows like “Molly of Denali,” “Arthur,” “Lyla in the Loop,” “Brambletown” and “Pinkalicious” all have free seasons on the PBS Kids Video App. There are also dozens of corresponding educational games on the PBS Kids Games App. Today, most of the popular shows also have podcasts, so kids can listen to their favorite stories and characters when they are on the go (and not looking at a screen). 
3. Culture Kids — This Webby Award winner takes kids on adventures to explore the history behind global cultures, traditions, languages and stories, all told through those with lived experiences. 
4. Greeking Out — Produced by National Geographic Kids, this podcast is an exploration of Greek mythology in a kid-friendly format. Gods, goddesses, monsters and heroes all come to life in this mystical trip back in time. 
5. Audiomoves — This podcast gets kids moving, wiggling, jumping and learning from real life experts at museums, zoos and fascinating locations across the globe. 

When in doubt (or in an urgent toddler meltdown), search specifically for your child’s favorite book on your go-to audio platform. Audible, Apple Books, Spotify, and Google Play all offer paid subscriptions that include thousands of children’s audiobooks. In addition, many libraries offer audiobooks through free accounts like Hoopla. On Spotify, there are countless Children’s Book Playlists, classic series like “Frog and Toad” or “Pout Pout Fish,” or accounts full of read-aloud options like “Read Along With Mom.” 

Need a break from digital devices? No problem! Denver Public Library also offers storytelling in locations across the city and for all ages! Check out their events page for storytime near you and read more about DPP’s longtime partnership with Denver Public Library in our  blog post “Denver Public Library: Space, Activities for All Families, Anytime.” Also, be sure to read our “2025 Best Books for Preschoolers” blog post.