Every summer, I convince myself “This year will be different! We'll spend our days hiking, trying new activities, and avoiding all the mindless screen time.” However, that ambitious goal tends to fizzle out faster than a sparkler on the 4th of July.

Before long, I find myself surrendering to the kids plopping in front of a screen for a little peace and quiet. As much as we aim for enriching, screen-free activities, sometimes you just need a break as a parent. We've all been there!

The truth is, kids are energetic little sponges for fun and learning. Without the structure of the school routine, boredom and restlessness set in rapidly. Those cries of “Mom, I'm bored!” seem to be on a perpetual loop.

Expand their audio diet!

This summer, I’m turning to podcasts as a happy medium. Podcasts engage kids’ active minds and imaginations in a more passive way than videos or games. It’s a stealthier route to entertainment that exercises their creativity and curiosity without me planning extensive activities every day. Best of all, I can entertain them while working them into daily activities like commutes, during clean up, making dinner, making those activities a lot more enjoyable! Win-win!

Here are some of the shows I'll be queuing up to keep my boys entertained (and myself sane) this summer:

For Little Kids

🧠 Brains On! (For ages 5-12) - If you want some science to slip in among the silliness

👾 Wow in the World (Ages 5-12) - News, myths, and icons for the curious kiddos

🔎 But Why (Ages 4 -10 ) - For the curious minds, diving deep into the “whys” of everything from space to hiccups.

For Big Kids

👻 Unspookable (Ages 8+) - Unspookable is a family-friendly look at the histories and mysteries behind your favorite scary stories, myths and urban legends

📰 KidNuz (Ages 7+) Basically a five-minute NPR-like news update for kids, with a quiz at the end.

🌟 Dream Big Podcast (Ages 7+) The show’s 10-year-old host, Eva, aims to “inspire her listeners to believe in their potential to achieve their biggest dreams in life.” She does this through interviews with motivational speakers, authors and athletes.

For All Kids

🎧 ... And of course, Popcorn & Brainstorm from our friends at Netflix! Get ready for some fun trivia about all their favorite shows. 👇🏽👇🏽

Fun Audio Experience for the Whole Family

Check-out Popcorn Brainstorm! Jokes & Trivia for Kids, the chart-topping Kids & Family podcast from Netflix. Featuring trivia, games and jokes from your favorite Netflix films and series, Popcorn Brainstorm explores Leo, The Dragon Prince and more!