The highway stretches before us. We’re ten minutes into the hours-long car ride, but already, our four kids clamor for a movie. My husband and I glance at each other, silently calculating if 15 hours of screen time in two days is too much. One of us admits aloud that it is. So we put on Lamplighter Kids Stories, a free podcast that emerges young listeners in stories that teach values—a podcast our children love.
In Lamplighter Kids, creator Rebecca Sanderson pulls out all the voices and anthropomorphic characters to thrill young listeners with engaging tales. Most episodes are 20-25 minutes long and provide a virtue that characters struggle through yet learn in the end. Each episode provides a definition of the virtue and concludes with reflection questions, helping young listeners apply what they’ve learned to their own lives and struggles. Stories are framed by voice-overs from Rebecca and her squirrel friend Momo, who provides comic relief and continuity.
In one of my son’s favorite episodes on responsibility, “Mighty Monster Truck Willie and Turner’s Star Squad Dream,” a young truck longs to meet his monster truck hero. When given a chance to join a work crew for the big smash rally, he must decide to follow the crowd or stand up for what’s right. In one of my daughter’s favorite episodes on acceptance, “A Horse in Unicorn Land,” a young horse moves to Unicorn Land, and one unicorn must decide if she will welcome in a new friend or stick with her magical friends. Every episode presents an age-appropriate problem with age-appropriate conflict and resolves through a main character’s growth. Characters model admirable regret, apologies, and forgiveness.
My favorite part of this podcast is that—except for one or two episodes—these stories do not scare my children. Even the best G-rated movie has intense scenes that animated characters and their young viewers must endure. Having made these stories for her own kids, Rebecca has an intuitive awareness of what her listeners and their parents long to hear—less violence and intense situations, more fun. As a bonus, they don’t include questionable language or situations, “toilet humor,” romance, excessive fighting or arguments, weapons, or politics.
One thing to note about this resource is that it does not explicitly refer to a Christian creator or Scripture. While it provides a strong foundation for good character and value qualities, this podcast just opens the door for parents to come alongside their kids with Scripture. How does this value or virtue present itself in Scripture? According to God, how do we cultivate this virtue in ourselves?
With this caveat, Lamplighter Kids Stories is a podcast I recommend to friends often. While my eight-year-old has traded in this podcast for more complicated stories, her younger siblings still ask for Lamplighter Kids often. Because of the quality and value of these stories—come car ride or rest time—we’re happy they do.
Featured image made with wirestock on Freepik
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