Screen time is convenient, but continues to be linked to developmental concerns when overdone. Reading remains the gold standard, but for many families, finding the time and energy to sit down and read aloud can be difficult.

Increasingly a third option is finding its place in everyday family life: listening to podcasts together.

Emerging research suggests more families are turning to podcasts because they fit naturally into the in-between moments of daily life: in the car, while cooking, or while winding down for bed – where hands are busy, but attention can still be shared.