Podcasts make story time fun for kids
Podcasts offer a practical, portable tool to introduce children to literature, problem solving and critical thinking in a style many respond to best
Toddlers, silence, sitting, and listening are words rarely used in the same sentence - unless, perhaps, a negation or joke is involved.
As the mother of a three-year-old girl and 20-month-old boy, silence is something I rarely encounter these days. Throughout the day they exercise and build their vocabulary through play, songs, squabbles and (endless) questions. My husband and I read to our children daily, encouraging them to use their imaginations and learn new phrases. Our children, however, belong to the generation of digital natives. Learning through multimedia platforms such as tablets, smartphones and computers comes naturally to them, having been exposed to technology since birth.
Like many parents and schools we supplement traditional books with child-appropriate apps that are entertaining and educational. However, they rely on the user being visually engaged with the programme leading to the issue of screen-time exposure. As a broadcaster and lover of the spoken word, I listen to a lot of radio and podcasts. There are podcasts for every age group and interest, so I looked into ones aimed at children. My children were hooked immediately.
Podcasts are digital recordings (usually) published at regular intervals, such as weekly or monthly. It is possible to subscribe and have the latest episode download automatically to your device. Most podcasts are audio-only, but some also include video content. One of the biggest advantages of downloading podcasts is that an internet connection is not necessary for playback, making them ideal for travel.
Podcasts have been around for more than a decade, but it is only in the past few years they have gained a mass following. According to the Pew Research report The State of the News Media 2015, as of January this year, 35 per cent of cellphone-owning adults in the US have listened to online radio in the car - an increase of 21 per cent in just two years.
While most podcasts are aimed at adults, there is a healthy choice of quality audio programmes developed for children. Produced by companies such as Sesame Street, the BBC and specialist storytelling organisations such as Storynory, these podcasts are being used by parents and teachers to introduce children to literature, problem solving and critical thinking.