How homeschool families can use Pinna to jazz up their routine and make learning fun

Whether you’re a veteran homeschooler or new on the scene, audio streaming can benefit your family in so many ways.

Many parents are coming to realize how handy podcasts and audiobooks are for both education and entertainment. Homeschoolers, in particular, can make excellent use of this popular technology.

Audio is great because it’s readily available on any device, cost-effective, and screen-free. Plus, it’s convenient for families on-the-go.

Our family has found audio streaming to be an invaluable tool in our learning arsenal. We listen to podcasts and audiobooks several times a week - in the car, during lunch, while the kids play puzzles or blocks, and even at bedtime.

Here are 19 ways you can use an audio streaming service (like Pinna!) to jazz up your homeschool routine.

1. Turn on a science podcast like Brains On while driving to the grocery store. Bonus points for discussing what you all learned while you shop!
2. Enjoy a chapter of an audiobook before bed each night with the family.
3. Listen to a short story, or short episode of an ongoing series, during snack time each afternoon.
4. Pick a Magic School Bus book and then try out an experiment from the story.
5. Keep learning while the family is on vacation. Audiobooks and podcasts are perfect screen-free entertainment on long car rides.
6. Put together a unit on fairy tales while listening to Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest.
7. Let kids put on headphones and pick something to listen to during afternoon quiet time.
8. Choose a series to listen to at lunch each day. Take time while listening to pause and discuss.
9. Study geography by listening to Discover the Forest as a family. Be sure to research the places the Velez family explores.
10. Transition into nap time for little ones with a classic children’s book like Where the Wild Things Are, Curious George Rides a Bike, or Goodnight Goodnight Construction Site.
11. Take on a new creative pursuit with Anytime Art. Get the whole family involved!
12. Introduce young listeners to a new language with Eat Your Spanish.
13. Learn all about animals with Kyle’s Wild World. After each episode, spend some time researching the animal you learned about.
14. Beat the rainy day blues without resorting to screens.
15. Discuss current events by listening to TIME for Kids Explains together each week.
16. Hear about the history of things we know and love today while listening to Forever Ago.
17. Make P.E. fun by dancing to catchy tunes.
18. Play fun games like 5 for 5 Trivia and ExtraBLURT (and ExtraBLURT Jr.!) in lieu of worksheets once in a while.
19. Listen to Alphabet Rockers with your preschoolers while brushing teeth (1 song makes a great timer!). Reinforce letters and sounds with fun beats and easy to memorize lyrics.

Really, the options are limitless. You can incorporate audio in so many ways as you go about your busy day.

For even more ideas, check out Pinna’s growing resource section for educators. There’s a fantastic selection of worksheets and activities here for many of the podcasts featured on the platform.

We’re all ears! Share your favorite ways to use audio streaming in your homeschool. Find us on all our social platforms - Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.