Our post is from Ditya Viral, the teen creator and host of Story Central, a podcast that’s reaching families in 20 countries, including the United States, Canada, the UK, India, Japan, Switzerland, and more. Their podcast blends engaging storytelling with essential life skills, including emotional resilience, empathy, creative problem-solving, and even financial literacy—all designed specifically for young learners ages 4 to 11.
As a teenage podcast host, I often get asked – why audio stories? Are people using audio stories? Many wonder why I started Story Central to tell stories to children instead of absolutely any other podcast theme. But every time I speak into my microphone, creating a tale that I hope will teach a child something valuable, I remember why.
Just imagine a quiet classroom, where every student has their eyes closed, paying close attention to the audio story playing through a speaker. They’re vividly imagining the scenes narrated, bringing them to life, while focusing closely on the words they hear. Or maybe they’re at home, having fun listening to an entertaining story that doesn’t require them to look into a screen, but still teaches them something.
That’s the vision I had when I started Story Central. That’s the power of a good audio story, and I wanted to help bring that power to homes and classrooms across the globe.
Using Audio Stories: Why and How?
When using audio stories, it provide a space for children to entertain themselves while ensuring they don’t need to look at a screen – easy on the eyes, but still fun on the inside! There are also so many different genres of audio stories available online and (mostly) for free! From fairytales to science adventures, moral stories and mysteries galore, there’s something for every child!
The bountiful benefits of using audio stories:
I’ve been listening to stories my whole life – read aloud at a library or at school, through audio stories, or even animated videos online. As technology progresses, we’re quick to shift towards watching stories on screens more often, but there’s a huge difference between truly listening to a story, versus just watching it.
When you listen to a story, you really imagine it. Every detail, from a fairy’s wings to the scenic view of Candyland, is all up to you to create. Nobody is telling you if the lollipop trees are pink or rainbow, or if the dragon is scary or cute – it’s all up to you! This freedom gives children an opportunity to really be immersed in the story – an experience that is invaluable. (Just to add: Stories that are watched on a screen, such as animated tales, also have their own unique advantages – I don’t mean to put them down – but this article focuses more on using audio stories).
Here are a few reasons why using audio stories are so immensely powerful:
1. They boost imagination: As stated above, listeners are given the opportunity to really see between the lines, making their own mental illustrations. The same story could be seen in quite unique ways by each child, making it even more special to them.
2. They sharpen listening skills: In today’s world of regular short-form content, it’s easy to get distracted easily, but using audio stories provide a way for children to settle down and focus on just the words being narrated, which leads to improving listening skills.
3. They grow vocabulary: Kids start to learn words and phrases, like metaphors and idioms, through hearing them in stories. They don’t see any visuals in audio stories, so they may use context to try and understand the word, and ask others what it means – boosting curiosity.
4. They develop their speaking skills: Listening to a narrator read out a story with clear enunciation and voice modulation can build a solid base for children to develop better public speaking and communication skills as they learn from what they hear.
5. No screen time! Audio-books offer entertainment while not needing to stare at a screen… Perfect for families trying to limit screen time.
Why kid-friendly interviews, too?
When I began my podcast, my focus was largely on audio stories, but I soon realized something. Kids don’t only want made-up stories, they also want real voices that inspire them. It’s motivating to hear the experience and opinions of somebody making waves – especially when they give advice to the children listening at the end (I usually ask guests to do this on Story Central – it really gives the interview relatability for children).
When children listen to interviews – ones made especially for their age range – they feel motivated. Here are a few more reasons why they are so helpful:
1. Inspiration and role models feel closer: When kids hear about a young child who started a charity, or anyone else they can relate to, they realize, ‘If they could follow their dreams, I could too!’
2. They spark curiosity: When kids hear about a writer talking about weaving in clean-water awareness into a script, they suddenly want to know more and explore topics discussed.
3. They provide insight from various career fields: A child who has heard about the experiences of a dancer, writer, teacher, and content creator better understands the advantages and disadvantages to each career than one who hasn’t – so they can start exploring careers similar to the ones they like, being more prepared for the future.
Using Audio Stories In the Classroom:
To all the teachers reading – here are some fun and educational ways using audio stories and interviews in the classroom:
1. What comes next? Play a story, pause when the plot thickens, and let students try to predict what happens next. They can act it out, draw, or write it down, building creativity!
2. It’s your story now! After listening to the story, let a student pick a character and act like them. Other children can interview the student, allowing them to develop analytical skills as they analyze the personality and characteristics of the character chosen… all while having fun!
3. Interview of the week: Pick an interview that’s short and engaging, and discuss what students found most interesting. They could even improve their communication skills by writing a letter to the person being interviewed, conveying their thoughts and questions.
4. Breaking news! Let children write out a news article based on the story or interview they’ve just heard. Maybe it’s ‘Breaking news! Wolf blows down pigs’ houses on the street’ or ‘How to never give up’ – the possibilities are endless!
5. Debate and discussion: For older students, audio interviews are a great base to debate upon. For instance, after hearing about a teenage entrepreneur, they could discuss if childhood should be just for play, or for businesses too. This improves their critical thinking skills.
6. Act it out! Just ask students to create a play out of the stories they’ve heard, strengthening teamwork and confidence.
Using Audio Stories At Home
Audio stories and interviews are quite easy to fit into daily life. Whether it’s a short story in the car on the way to the supermarket, or a quick tale before bed, they really help kids have fun while also avoiding screen-time. Here are some creative ways to use them at home:
1. Bedtime wind-down: Audio stories are great for helping kids relax and switch off for the day. Incorporating them into a routine that children look forward to makes bedtime more fun, and a whole lot easier.
2. Inspirational mornings: Starting off the day with a motivational story or interview helps set a positive tone for the rest of the day. These can be listened to while kids get dressed or eat breakfast, and will stay with them the whole day.
3. Road-trip time! Playing a story for a kid that keeps asking ‘Are we there yet?’ works out quickly – since they don’t want the story to end!
4. Family time: Instead of bonding over a movie (although that has its own special appeal), very young children may not understand them, so you could try using audio stories for the family as everyone enjoys it together. Later, you could discuss what makes it interesting, or what you would change in the story.
5. Chores become less challenging: Pairing chores with listening time – like tidying up a room while listening to a fun story – makes kids less resistant to doing them. If it’s a part of their daily routine, they could even look forward to it!
6. Family interview projects: Encourage kids to become interviewers at home, interviewing their parents, siblings, or others. This helps strengthen family bonds, alongside increasing confidence and communication skills.
When I record Story Central, I like to imagine a child somewhere across the globe, smiling as they enjoy the story, or a classroom of children giggling at a joke made by a guest being interviewed. Since stories have always been a way to connect and create, listening to a narrated version provides all those positives, alongside boosting creativity as children make entire worlds in their heads.
That’s why audio stories matter so much. They give kids a chance to explore, and run wild with their imagination. Kid-friendly interviews, too, show them that learning can come from anywhere – even someone else’s experiences.
So, to every parent or teacher reading (or both!), I really encourage you to give them a try. Press play, listen with a child, and let your creativity take flight. You’ll be amazed by the lessons learned and the memories made after just a few minutes of listening. And if you’re ever looking for a place to start, well… Story Central is always waiting for you!
