Listen to a podcast / audiobook
A great alternative to screen time, podcasts and audiobooks can invite calm and entertainment into your day without the overstimulation.
(Expand to see a list of our favourites!)
If you’re looking for a break from screens, podcasts and audiobooks are a brilliant alternative. They offer the same sense of immersion and entertainment, but without the overstimulation of a screen.
For grownups, it’s a way to enjoy some lightness and connection amidst your daily routine - with something funny, mindful, or motivational playing in the background. For kids, it can become a soothing ritual at quiet time, bedtime, or while playing, with audiobooks and podcasts designed to spark imagination.
It’s flexible, screen-free, and works for all ages - letting everyone’s minds wander, laugh, and learn together.
Here are some of our household faves:
Kids:
ABC Listen app (Australia):
- Story Time: Collection of daily calming stories by the Australian Broadcast Corporation
- Story Salad: Hosted by Play School hosts, regular improv storytelling based on 3 random words submitted by listeners
- Play School (Ears on): A playful audio adventure figuring out what the "mystery noise" is
- News time: 5 interesting news stories for kids
- Bluey Listen Along: stream audio versions of your fave Bluey episodes
Other:
You should be able to access most of these from your audio player app or podcasts app unless otherwise specified:
- Yoto Daily podcast: Bite-sized stories, fun facts and games for preschoolers & school kids
- The Listies podcast: hilarious kids comedy and music duo from Melbourne
- Little Stories for Tiny People podcast: A collection of kids stories
- Julia Donaldson audiobooks: Classic stories like The Gruffalo and Room on a Broom
- Hotel Flamingo series by Alex Milway audiobooks: cheerful and imaginative series of the main character setting out to run a hotel filled with animal characters
- Dr Seuss audiobooks: Enjoy these funny, rhyming classics like Green Eggs in Ham and Yertle the Turtle in audio format
- The Tales of Beatrix Potter: The tale of Peter Rabbit etc, includes music and song
- Roald Dahl audiobooks: classic witty, adventurous tales like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Matilda
- Bluey audiobooks: Bluey book read-alongs
Grown-ups:
- TED Radio Hour podcast: Explore the biggest questions of our times with the world's greatest thinkers
- Office Ladies podcast: Lighthearted, nostalgic fun for any fans of the US Office
- Working hard, Hardly Working podcast: Motivational interviews with aspiring individuals hosted by Grace Beverley
- Erika Taught Me podcast: Guest interviews on how to find success, hosted by Erika Kullberg - lawyer and money expert
- The Diary of a CEO podcast: Interviews with CEOs, experts, therapists and thought leaders,hosted by Steven Bartlett
- After Bedtime podcast: All things raw motherhood from the Big Little Feelings duo
- The Aware Parenting podcast: An insightful listen exploring all aspects of parenting and reparenting and attachment play from an Aware Parenting perspective
- Untangle podcast: Interviews with experts and thought leaders on mindfulness, mental health etc
- Meditation Minis podcast: 10 minute meditations
- The Verywell Mind podcast: Discussions on mental health, community care and self-care
- Why Women Grow podcast: Wholesome and relaxing listen on women's stories on gardening and self-growth, hosted by Alice Vincent
Materials
Prep
Step 1:
Choose a podcast or audiobook suitable for the listener’s age.
Step 2:
Set up a safe way to play it (speaker, headphones, or audio player).
Play
Step 1:
Find a cosy or practical spot - whether that’s the kitchen, the car, or the couch.
Step 2:
Start your chosen podcast or audiobook (our personal recommendations in the description above)
Step 3:
Listen, laugh, imagine, or learn together (or separately).
Extend
Inspired Creations: Draw or build something inspired by what you heard.
Role play: Step into the characters and weave some role play into your daily routine (e.g. go for a walk and hop about pretending you're Peter Rabbit)
Pair it with chores: Boost the enjoyment of doing chores by making it story time too
Movement breaks: Every now and then, press pause and do a wiggle and shake together
Word hunt: Listen for a specific word in the story and make a funny sound or gesture every time you hear it!
