March is the time of year when we celebrate World Storytelling Day — and what a celebration it is!
We communicate through the act of storytelling.
A story is a thread that can bring together people from all walks of life...no matter where you came from or where you’re going.
Stories span generations, building a bridge between young and old.
And stories are one of the very best teaching tools we have in our toolbelt — whether you’re a parent or a teacher.
Kids learn social-emotional awareness, communication skills, language development, and critical listening through hearing stories told.
Today we’re going to discuss why podcasts are an incredible resource that take the power of storytelling and makes it accessible to the masses — and give a few recommendations for those who want to dip their toes in the world of audio and see what’s out there.
How Podcasts Take the Power of Storytelling and Make it Accessible to Parents and Teachers Everywhere
So, let’s start with the most important point — podcasts are inexpensive and can be listened to on any smart device.
Those are the main reasons they’re so accessible.
Thanks to technology, podcasts can be streamed by anyone with an internet or data connection. Or, they can be downloaded and listened to when you don’t have wifi or data available.
This means kids can listen at home, in the car, in the waiting room at the doctor’s office (headphones definitely recommended!), or at school. Audio is portable. Kids can listen anywhere.
Parents and teachers can use podcasts to get kids excited about learning and to supplement their teaching on any subject.
They also are perfect for screen-free entertainment.
There’s something for everyone — junior scientists, budding artists, amateur detectives, kids who love to move, jokesters, and even tweens on the hunt for their next great adventure.
And because technology is what it is, the quality of the audio available to us is nothing short of amazing.
Nowadays, podcasts have narrators that draw you in. They have realistic sound effects. At times, they even have a full cast of talented actors playing each part to perfection.
If you close your eyes, you can just see the story unfolding in your mind.
What an incredible exercise this is for a child’s imagination!
Because of the affordability, ease of use, and high-quality production, podcasts are a wonderful way to bring the art of storytelling to a much wider audience than ever before.
Recommendations for Parents and Teachers Who Want to Introduce Podcasts to their Kids and Students
If you’ve never used podcasts at home or in the classroom, we’ve got a great list to get you started.
And if you’ve used podcasts before, but need to refresh your current playlist, these recommendations will work for you too.
This list contains some of our very favorite podcasts — ones where the story is compelling and the audio quality is top-notch.
Keep in mind, this is just a sampling of the many fantastic podcasts available on Pinna.
If you haven’t yet, be sure to explore the platform and see what’s on there. You won’t be disappointed.
We’re going to start with a list of serialized podcasts. These shows are episodic in nature and the story continues with each segment. They are every bit as entertaining as TV, except they’re screen-free (#winning).
You’ll find your kids begging for just “one more episode”. And you can’t help but oblige them because you’re just as eager to keep listening as they are.
- Dream Breachers
- Origins Unknown
- The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel
- Opal Watson Private Eye
- Hero Hotel
- Season Isle
- Tara Tremendous: The Egyptian Curse
- Tara Tremendous: The Secret Diaries
- The Ghost of Jessica Majors
- Emma-Made Lemonade
- Mackaroy Uncovered
- Magus Elgar
- Spooky Troop: The Last Halloween
- Spooky Troop: A Very Scary Christmas
Next up, we’re going to show you some podcasts that celebrate the art of storytelling by doing just that — telling you stories.
The content in each one of these differs. The target audience varies. Some are meant for younger kids, some are meant for bigger kids, and some are classics that can be enjoyed at any age. The thing they have in common is this — every single one of them is top-notch entertainment families can enjoy together.
- Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest
- Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls
- Julie's Library
- The Creeping Hour
- Story Time with Benny & Buddy
Lastly, though we’ve been talking about the benefits of podcasts, we’ve got a few audiobook recommendations as well.
Audiobooks share many of the same attributes as podcasts and we love them just as much! Here are a few you and your kids will love.
- Book of Dragons
- My Life in Dioramas
- The Battle of Darcy Lane
- Through the Mickle Woods
- Little Miss President
We’re all ears!
How will you be celebrating World Storytelling Day this year? We’d love to hear from you! Find us on all our social platforms – Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest – or email us at contact@pinna.fm.
