Bedtime History: Inspirational Stories for Kids and Families
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this podcast.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Bedtime History: Inspirational Stories for Kids and Families covers broad topics, sometimes oversimplifying events. There are suspenseful stories, including that of the soccer team trapped in the Tham Luang caves in Thailand. Cultural blunders occasionally occur, such as an attempt to describe Día de los Muertos from an anthropological standpoint, and where the introduction of the story involves podcast creator Breck LeSueur reading the lyrics to a song from the Disney movie Coco. Effort and warmth can be heard in the narrator's voice, but the podcast's broad generalizations don't always hit the mark and may need further explanation from caregivers.
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What’s It About?
BEDTIME HISTORY: INSPIRATIONAL STORIES FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES breaks down the tales of historical figures, modern icons, and current events into bedtime stories. Occasionally with the help of a child narrator, creator and host Breck LeSueur talks about what people faced and how they overcame difficulties. While different episodes can touch on different cultures, such as the 2018 cave rescue of a Thai soccer team or Día de los Muertos, the stories are told from an American point of view and can feel limited for that reason. However, as the seasons evolve, so does Breck's storytelling.
Is It Any Good?
The podcast is charming, well-intentioned, and Breck's voice is friendly and parental. As the seasons in Bedtime History progress, the podcast becomes more culturally sensitive. However, an American-centric view persists and feels more evident when Indigenous or international stories are being told.
On sound, music is used to evoke tone and create transitions but can often be jarring. But when a child helps Breck tell the narrative, as they do in various episodes, it lends a homemade, familial quality to the production. It's clear Breck created this podcast with his own children in mind, and that sense of warmth is pervasive.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the stories in Bedtime History: Inspirational Stories for Kids and Families are similar or differ from other bedtime stories they've heard or grew up with. Is there a running theme? What makes a story good for winding down after a long day?
The people in Bedtime History often face great obstacles. How would you approach some of the situations that take place in different podcast episodes?
Would you want to be friends with the subjects of these stories? Why or why not?
Podcast Details
- Release date: September 13, 2016
- Genre: History
- Average Run Time: 9 minutes
- Website: https://bedtimehistorystories.com/
- Host: Breck LeSueur
- Publisher: Independent
- Pricing structure: Free
- Topics: History
- Last updated: April 6, 2022
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