Can podcasts rescue kids from screen addiction? New study suggests a refreshing solution

In an era when screen addiction among children is fast becoming a household worry, a new study is offering a refreshing alternative to the mindless scroll: podcasts. According to a report by EdSurge, podcasts may not only offer a break from screen-heavy routines but could also support child development, creative play, and family bonding in ways few other media formats can.

When Storytelling Goes Audio
For many parents, the question isn't whether screens are a problem—it’s how to manage them. Purdue University professor Deborah Nichols remembers long car rides from Kansas City to Lawrence with her young son and a worn-out Disney cassette of Bambi. “We can still say the lines,” she recalled, decades later. That shared audio experience, Nichols believes, left a lasting emotional imprint.

Fast forward to today, podcasts are doing what cassette tapes once did—except with far greater reach and ease of access, thanks to smartphones and smart speakers. The Education Development Center (EDC) conducted a study across 110 low-income U.S. families to understand how children interact with podcasts. The findings? Children weren’t just listening; they were dancing, drawing, imagining characters, and reenacting scenes. It was, in effect, screenless stimulation with real developmental benefits.

Naomi Hupert, director of the Center for Children and Technology at EDC, emphasized that podcasts ignite imaginative thinking, help introduce new vocabulary, and promote collaborative play. “It’s expanding their thinking ability,” she said, noting that children engaged more deeply with audio content than with passive screen-based media.

Screens Aren’t the Enemy—Mindless Content Might Be
While much discourse centers on limiting screen time, experts are now urging a shift in the narrative. Kaitlin Tiches, a medical librarian at the Digital Wellness Lab at Boston Children’s Hospital, suggests we look beyond screen hours and focus on what kids are consuming.

For instance, an hour spent watching a loud, hyper-stimulating cartoon isn’t equivalent to an hour listening to an educational podcast while drawing. “We need to reframe the conversation,” Tiches argued. “It’s not how much time they are spending on it but what they are doing with it.”

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry recommends limiting screen time to about one hour per day for children. However, given the ubiquity of screens in daily life, this may be more of an ideal than a reality. That’s why audio content—unseen yet engaging—could offer a practical middle path.

The Shared Experience Factor
One of the key advantages of podcasts, researchers say, is their potential for shared family experiences. Listening to a podcast together during mealtime or car rides can become a bonding ritual, akin to the “family dinner effect” where conversations flourish without the distraction of phones or TVs.

“Listening collectively provides that shared experience you don’t get when you’re scrolling on your own phone,” said Nichols. The communal aspect of listening offers not just entertainment, but an opportunity for emotional connection and real-time discussion.

Sherri Hope Culver, director at Temple University’s Center for Media and Information Literacy, believes the boom in children’s podcasts mirrors the adult trend and reflects parents’ desire to find safer, more interactive media options. “It feels like it's enabling your creative brain to play,” she noted.

More Than Just Background Noise
Podcasts are proving to be more than a distraction from screens—they’re a meaningful engagement tool. Whether through imaginative play, enhanced vocabulary, or thoughtful conversation, audio storytelling taps into something deeper: the power of listening to learn.

In the age of screen fatigue, it turns out the most powerful tool in your parenting arsenal might just be playing from a speaker, not a screen.