Advertise on podcast: Storytime Explorers: Stories for Toddlers, Preschoolers and Growing Minds

Watching your child feel worried about something new can be hard, especially when you know they might enjoy it once they get there. Most often, the hardest part is not knowing what to expect. In this story, Hugo is excited for his very first soccer practice, but as it gets closer, his tummy starts to feel a little swirly. Zara helps him learn a few things before he goes, but some things Hugo can only find out once he gets there. This story helps toddlers and preschoolers: Recognize worry and how it can feel in the bodyUnderstand that new experiences can come with lots of questionsLearn that they don’t have to know exactly what will happen ahead of timeSee how some questions can be answered beforehand, while others are figured out along the wayBuild confidence through experiencing something new, even when they feel worried at firstYou’ll hear Hugo say, “Some things I know… some I’ll find as I go!” A simple phrase kids can remember when not knowing what to expect feels a little uncomfortable. You can follow along @storytimeexplorers for sweet, simple ways to help kids grow through storytelling. ☀️ Explore more at storytimeexplorers.com

There’s a whole world of animals waking up after the sun goes down. For toddlers and preschoolers, that idea can feel pretty fascinating. As Leo and Ella head home at the end of the day, they spot an owl, a bat, and a raccoon, and discover what it means to be nocturnal. Along the way, they learn how nighttime animals use their senses to move, find food, and explore after dark. This episode helps toddlers and preschoolers: Understand that nocturnal animals are awake mostly at night and often rest during the dayDiscover nighttime animals like owls, bats, raccoons, moths, and lightning bugsLearn how sight, hearing, and smell help animals navigate and find food after darkExplore the early science concept of echolocation and how many bats use sound to understand what is around themCompare familiar routines like bedtime and breakfast with the very different schedules of nocturnal animalsWonder Time episodes are short stories that invite kids to notice, wonder, and explore the world. Follow along @storytimeexplorers for sweet, simple ways to help kids grow through storytelling. ☀️ Explore more at storytimeexplorers.com

Pumpkins make fall feel especially exciting for little kids. But Ella’s giant orange pumpkin didn’t come from a pumpkin patch. It started one whole year ago, with one tiny seed. In this cozy fall story, Ella the Elephant waited all year to pick the pumpkin she planted from one tiny seed. As she tells Zara, Milo, and Leo how it grew through winter, spring, and summer, she shares the imaginative story she created while she waited. This story helps toddlers and preschoolers: Follow how a pumpkin grows from a tiny seed into a sprout, vine, flower, and pumpkinPractice patience and delayed gratification as Ella waits through each seasonSee how watering, checking the soil, and pulling weeds help living things growUse imagination and storytelling to turn waiting into something playful and meaningfulA cozy reminder that some of the best things grow little by little and imagination can grow right alongside them. You can follow along @storytimeexplorers for sweet, simple ways to help kids grow through storytelling. ☀️ Explore more at storytimeexplorers.com

Construction sites are everywhere, and kids are almost always drawn to them. There's so much to watch and wonder about when the big machines start moving. In this Wonder Time episode, Zara the Zebra and Milo the Monkey hear a rumble along their favorite park trail and stop in a safe place to watch a construction team at work. They discover how an excavator digs, a dump truck carries, a bulldozer pushes, and a roller smooths. They notice how each machine plays a different part in repairing the trail beside the stream. This episode helps toddlers and preschoolers: Learn the names and jobs of four construction machines: an excavator, dump truck, bulldozer, and rollerNotice how parts like tracks, buckets, blades, and drums help each machine do its jobBuild early science and engineering skills by observing, comparing, predicting, and asking how things workUnderstand sequencing and teamwork as workers and machines complete a big project step by stepWonder Time episodes are short stories that invite kids to notice, wonder, and explore the world. Follow along @storytimeexplorers for sweet, simple ways to help kids grow through storytelling. ☀️ Explore more at storytimeexplorers.com

Birthday surprises can be so much fun, especially when friends remember what someone loves. In this story, Milo’s friends want to do something special for his birthday. Ella, Zara, Leo, and Hugo think about Milo’s favorite things: bananas, the sandbox, climbing, and swinging. Then they turn them into a birthday obstacle course, just for him. Along the way, Leo calls it a secret, and the friends learn the difference. We don’t keep secrets. A surprise is different because it gets shared soon. This story helps toddlers and preschoolers: Understand the difference between secrets and surprisesSee how thoughtfulness can help someone feel happy and lovedPractice sequencing with step one, step two, and step threeCelebrate birthdays, friendship, and playing togetherA sweet birthday story that can help families keep talking about secrets, surprises, and making someone feel loved. You can follow along @storytimeexplorers for sweet, simple ways to help kids grow through storytelling. ☀️ Explore more at storytimeexplorers.com

Birds can turn an ordinary walk into something full of wonder. From the songs they sing to the nests they build, there is so much for young kids to notice, ask about, and explore. In this Wonder Time episode, Ella the Elephant and Zara the Zebra head out on a bird walk with their binoculars. Along the way, they wonder about birdsong, nests, and eggs… and discover tiny hummingbirds, big ostriches, and birds that fly farther than we can imagine. This episode helps toddlers and preschoolers: Notice birds in their everyday environment and slow down to observe themLearn simple early science vocabulary like nest, hatch, migrate, and flockUnderstand that baby birds grow inside eggs and hatch when they are readyExplore how birds are different in size, sound, and how they moveBuild curiosity through wondering, moving, and pretend playWonder Time episodes are short stories that invite kids to notice, wonder, and explore the world. Follow along @storytimeexplorers for sweet, simple ways to help kids grow through storytelling. ☀️ Explore more at storytimeexplorers.com

Siblings can be so sweet. And sometimes… they can feel like a lot. In this story, Ella the Elephant loves her little brother, Eddie. And Eddie loves being near Ella. From breakfast to the playroom to the sidewalk outside, Eddie wants to sit close, use the same things, and do everything Ella does. It’s sweet, but it’s also a lot. When Ella takes a little space in the sandbox, she notices something: she can want room to play her own way and still love Eddie very much. This story helps toddlers and preschoolers: Notice when they need a little personal space and know that’s okayFind words for a big feeling: “I need space… and I love you too”Understand that needing space does not mean they do not love someoneBuild empathy for siblings who want to be closeFeel the sweet surprise of missing someone they loveA sibling story about personal space, sibling dynamics, and learning that needing a little room can still leave plenty of space for love. You can follow along @storytimeexplorers for sweet, simple ways to help kids grow through storytelling. ☀️ Explore more at storytimeexplorers.com

Some moments feel big, like a new place, a new face, a first try. And sometimes, even when children want to be brave, their belly feels fluttery and their feet feel stuck. This affirmation story helps children understand that feeling scared and being brave can happen at the same time. They can listen to their body, take a breath, ask for help, and try one small step when they're ready. This episode helps toddlers and preschoolers: Recognize body cues like a fluttery belly or stuck feet when something feels big or newUnderstand that feeling scared and feeling brave can happen at the same timePractice calming affirmations like “I can take a breath” and “I can go slow”Build confidence by asking for help and trying one small stepUse brave words when something feels new, big, or hard to tryWhether said out loud or quietly in their hearts, these affirmations help children feel supported, capable, and brave when something feels new, big, or hard to try. Getting ready for school? Listen next: Zara’s New Classroom and a Hug in Her Heart. Follow along @storytimeexplorers for sweet, simple ways to help kids grow through storytelling. ☀️ Explore more at storytimeexplorers.com

There’s something magical about a fairy garden made from a child’s imagination. In this story, Zara the Zebra has been dreaming about building a fairy garden of her own. Today, with Leo the Lion by her side, she brings that idea to life. They find just the right spot under the big tree, build a river and pond, add a bridge for tired fairy wings, and make a sign to welcome the fairies. This story helps toddlers and preschoolers: See how an idea can come together step by stepUse imagination to create a tiny world through pretend playPractice early learning skills, like patterns, counting, and letter soundsNotice how friends can help, take turns, and add ideas as they build togetherSee how a dream becomes something real, with a little planning and a lot of heart. You can follow along @storytimeexplorers for sweet, simple ways to help kids grow through storytelling. ☀️ Explore more at storytimeexplorers.com

Dinosaurs lived long, long ago, but many children are fascinated by what they were like, what they ate, and how we can still learn about them today. In this Wonder Time episode, Hugo the Hippo is coloring a dinosaur picture after spending the week looking through dinosaur books. When Leo the Lion notices Hugo’s drawing, the two friends begin to wonder about dinosaurs, fossils, eggs, and what made some dinosaurs so big and strong. Along the way, Hugo shares some of his favorite dinosaur facts, and Leo starts to wonder, too. This episode helps toddlers and preschoolers: Understand that dinosaurs were real animals that lived long, long agoLearn simple dinosaur vocabulary like fossil, extinct, herbivore, carnivore, and paleontologistExplore how fossils, like bones, teeth, footprints, and marks left behind in rock, help scientists learn about dinosaursNotice that dinosaurs were different from one another, including what they ate, how they moved, and how their bodies lookedBuild curiosity through drawing, pretending, wondering, and talking about favorite dinosaursWonder Time episodes are short stories that invite kids to notice, wonder, and explore the world. Follow along @storytimeexplorers for sweet, simple ways to help kids grow through storytelling. ☀️ Explore more at storytimeexplorers.com

Telling the truth can feel hard for young kids, especially when they worry someone might feel upset or disappointed. In this story, Ella the Elephant and her friends are getting ready to play superheroes when they discover their colorful scarves are all tangled together. Ella knows why, but the words feel stuck for a moment. With one deep breath and a little bravery, she tells what’s true and helps her friends figure out what to do next. This story helps toddlers and preschoolers: Notice that telling the truth can feel hard sometimesPractice taking a breath before saying something importantSee that telling the truth can be helpful, brave, and kindLearn that saying what happened can help everyone know what to do nextBuild confidence finding words in a moment that feels uncomfortableThis story shows that telling the truth can lead to support, understanding, and problem-solving, not shame. You can also borrow Ella’s phrase, “Take a breath… tell what’s true,” when the words feel stuck. If your family is loving Storytime Explorers, it would mean so much if you left a rating or review wherever you listen, or shared this story with another family who might enjoy it. You can follow along @storytimeexplorers for sweet, simple ways to help kids grow through storytelling. ☀️ Explore more at storytimeexplorers.com

There is something so sweet about the way young kids want to help. They notice when someone is busy, want to jump in, and feel proud when they get to be part of something real. It may be a small part, but to them, it matters. In this story, Hugo sees his neighbor, Ms. Betty, working hard in her garden and offers to help. When he realizes it is a big job, he calls his friends over too. Together, they pull weeds, water flowers, and help little by little. This story helps toddlers and preschoolers: Notice how helping can feel good and meaningfulSee how teamwork can make a big job feel smallerLearn that small efforts can still make a differenceExplore simple nature concepts like watering plants and how worms help the soilYou’ll hear the phrase, “Little by little… we can help,” which gives children a simple way to think about helping, teamwork, and doing one small part at a time. You can follow along @storytimeexplorers for sweet, simple ways to help kids grow through storytelling. ☀️ Explore more at storytimeexplorers.com

Trees are all around us, but we don’t always stop and think about them. This story helps kids slow down and notice how trees grow, change, and do so much around us. As Zara the Zebra and Leo the Lion walk along their favorite hiking trail, they look up at tall trees, spot roots on the trail, wonder about changing leaves, and discover rings inside a tree stump. Along the way, they learn a little more about what trees need and why they matter. This episode helps toddlers and preschoolers: Notice how trees grow slowly, little by little, over timeLearn simple early science concepts like roots, sunlight, water, and seasonsUnderstand that tree rings can help show how old a tree isAppreciate what trees give to the world, like shade, shelter, and food for animalsWonder Time episodes are short stories that invite kids to notice, wonder, and explore the world. Follow along @storytimeexplorers for sweet, simple ways to help kids grow through storytelling. ☀️ Explore more at storytimeexplorers.com

New foods can feel big for little kids, and sometimes it’s not even the taste yet…it’s just that the food is new. If you’ve ever put something on your child’s plate and watched them pause, stare, or push it aside without even trying it, this story will probably feel familiar. Milo spots a food he hasn’t tried before, wonders what it is, and takes his time getting curious. When his friends share the different ways they like broccoli and start pretending to be broccoli robots, the moment shifts. What felt new starts to feel a little silly, playful, and a little easier to explore. This story helps toddlers and preschoolers: See that new foods can feel unfamiliar at firstLearn that curiosity is enough, and trying can happen in small stepsNotice that different people can like foods in different waysExperience how play and imagination can make something new feel easierIf new foods have ever felt a little tricky in your house, this story offers a playful way to talk about them. You can even borrow Milo’s phrase, “Beep bop boop… I tried it!” to make it feel a little silly. You can follow along @storytimeexplorers for sweet, simple ways to help kids grow through storytelling. ☀️ Explore more at storytimeexplorers.com

Growing can bring excitement and frustration, sometimes within the same five minutes. One moment, your child is eager to try, and the next, they’re ready to give up. When they pause, try again, and finally do it themselves, that look on their face feels priceless. As adults, we know that learning something new, making mistakes, and trying again is something we practice our whole lives, and those early years are where it first begins. This affirmation story helps children feel safe being in the middle of learning, understand that not knowing yet is part of growing, and see that mistakes and trying again are how growth happens over time. This episode helps toddlers and preschoolers: Understand that mistakes are a normal and healthy part of growingPractice using “not yet” instead of “I can’t” in challenging momentsBuild persistence by trying again when something feels hardDevelop confidence by feeling proud of effort, even while they’re still figuring it outWhether said out loud or quietly in their hearts, these affirmations help children build patience, resilience, and confidence one small try at a time. Follow along @storytimeexplorers for sweet, simple ways to help kids grow through storytelling. ☀️ Explore more at storytimeexplorers.com