ABF Creative, the award-winning producer of Kids & Family podcasts, is proud to announce its innovative ‘Mini Pods’ initiative in partnership with education technology company SonarCloud. This initiative replaces traditional school bells with 60-second educational podcasts, currently in over 120 New York City public schools, with plans to expand to Chicago and Los Angeles in the upcoming school year. More importantly, this initiative aspires to fund classrooms in underserved communities through future podcast brand partnerships.
The ‘Mini Pods’ initiative integrates short, educational content into the daily school routine, promoting literacy and engagement among students. Launched in February, this program has already made a significant, garnering 20 million impressions and averaging nearly 5 million impressions per month. The initiative has received hundreds of positive reviews from educators, highlighting improvements in literacy and comprehension among students.
“Podcasts enhance literacy by allowing students to follow along with a transcript, improving comprehension, and confidence, especially beneficial for English Language Learners,” says Anthony Frasier, CEO of ABF Creative. “Our partnership with SonarCloud, which turns any school PA system into a cloud-enabled device, allows us to bring this innovative educational tool to schools across the nation.”
Beyond transforming school announcements, ‘Mini Pods’ support flexible learning environments and diverse content delivery. With educational podcasts covering various subjects such as history, science, and literature, students benefit from engaging and flexible learning opportunities that cater to different learning styles. This initiative is cost-effective and sustainable, with minimal equipment required for production and the ability to reuse content over multiple years.
“Replacing traditional school bells with educational podcasts is more than a sonic change—it’s a gateway to continuous, engaging, and interactive learning,” states Jesse Baptiste of SonarCloud. ABF Creative aspires to partner with organizations such as AdoptAClassroom.org and DonorsChoose to donate a portion of future brand partnerships to funding classrooms in underserved communities.
This initiative demonstrates the potential of podcasts to contribute to educational funding, providing much-needed resources to schools in need. Anthony Frasier, recently named ADWEEK Audio Awards Innovator of the Year, adds, “Our goal is to integrate educational narratives into the daily school rhythm, enriching each learning moment. This initiative reflects our community’s diversity and heralds a new era in storytelling, learning, and impactful connections.”
For more information on this transformative initiative and partnership opportunities, visit https://www.abfc.co/mini-pods/.
About SonarCloud: SonarCloud revolutionizes educational spaces with its sound management platform, offering customizable bell sounds and advanced safety features. For details, visit www.getsonarcloud.com.
About ABF Creative: As a leader in kids and family podcast networks, ABF Creative redefines storytelling in audio content with cultural depth and emotional impact. Collaborating with brands like Ben & Jerry’s and Wondery, they are at the forefront of audio entertainment innovation. Visit www.abfcreative.com for
more information.
Media Contact
Amy Goldberg, ABF Creative, 1 9733685895, amy.goldberg@abfc.co
Audio tech content start-up ABF Creative, is launching Charm Words Español, the first-ever Spanish-language daily affirmations podcast for children. Charm Words Español–which starts streaming December 5th, 2022–is an iteration of Charm Words, ABF’s award-winning daily affirmations children’s podcast.
Charm Words was ABF Creative’s inaugural release in the company’s mission to develop mindfulness content. The podcast offers family-friendly, psychologist-approved daily positive affirmations meant to teach children mental health and self-awareness tools such as combating negative thoughts, self-esteem, conflict resolution, and much more. “Through various resources such as curricular-based activities, each episode of Charm Words takes a holistic and creative approach to a mindset that promotes emotion management,” says ABF Creative’s CEO, Anthony Frasier.
The Charm Words series, streamed by over 20,000 families a month, is the first of many mindfulness podcasts expected from ABF Creative. The success of the popular podcast, and the launch of its Spanish-language counterpart, shows ABF Creative’s potential as a leader in family audio content. Charm Words and Charm Words Español are prime examples of how ABF Creative is innovating and reimagining audio by creating content that fosters cultural and emotional impact. “Charm Words is the first of many. It’s never too early to start teaching kids the power of positive thinking,” Frasier says. “What better way to do so than with a daily habit-building podcast just for children.”
To fill the void of children’s mindfulness programming and mainstream adolescent learning, ABF Creative’s content development is very intentional. “We believe mental health is just as important for children as it is for adults,” says Wanda Reynolds, ABF Creative’s Chief Content Officer. That statement was held upon the launch of the original version of Charm Words. The acclaimed reception of the podcast prompted ABF Creative to double down by creating a culturally adapted version. Reynolds says, “Expanding Charm Words to the Spanish language will only increase access to these critical mental health tools, specifically to children of color.”
While there is no shortage of children’s programming, most of it is created for and by White, Middle-Class Americans. Lack of diversity can profoundly affect children of color, and it does not represent the world. “Spanish is the second most spoken language in the world, and Latine is the fastest growing group in the U.S. So, we knew we had to launch Charm Words Español to reach more children and parents,” says Reynolds. According to Edison Research, 33% of U.S. Latinos say they have ever listened to a podcast mostly in Spanish, up from 24% in 2020. “With the growth of Latine podcast adaptation and consumption, launching Charm Words Español for the Hispanic community and other families of color is not just an opportunity, it feels like our duty,” says Frasier.
With the hopes of reaching even more cultures and translating to more languages, ABF Creative will continue to spread Charm Words, Charm Words Español, and its other family-focused content to underserved families and children everywhere.
Charm Words is available now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and all other podcast streaming platforms, with Charm Words Español available on those same platforms starting December 5th, 2022. To learn more about ABF Creative visit ABFCreative.com.
ABOUT ABF CREATIVE
ABF Creative is an award-winning kids & family podcast network and production company that Innovates and reimagines storytelling by creating audio content that is anchored in narrative and fosters cultural and emotional impact. The minds behind “African Folktales with Miss JoJo,” “Raising The Game: The Untold Story of Jerry Lawson” and “The Adventures of Cairo,” ABF Creative uses a proprietary podcast production framework to deliver world-class audio entertainment. ABF Creative partners include Ben & Jerry’s, Wondery, Audible, Headspace, and Vox Communications.
Choosing the right movie for your little one should not be taken lightly. The best kid friendly scary movies should strike a balance between comedy and family-friendly fear. If you go off the bat, be prepared to hear lots of screams in the middle of the night. Here are 7 kid friendly scary movies that offer doses of adrenaline without being too violent.
Side Note: If you are looking for a kid friendly scary stories podcast look no further than our Camp Redrumpodcast. Take a break from the screen and dive into the world of Eli Jackson a janitor who got stuck in a time loop at an abandoned summer camp from the 1980’s. Every episode is like watching a movie with your ears!
Scooby-Doo and the rest of the gang return with a spine-tingling comic. They want to solve one last mystery before going separate ways – it appears to be a haunting mission. This time, the intrepid investigators explore a haunted house inhabited by ghosts.
The gang lures a werewolf into a trap. They clean the mystery machine to capture more monsters, including the creeper, snow ghost, and Spooky Space Kook. As the machine goes backward, it prompts Fred to give chase before discovering it was just a dream. As it turns out, Fred decides to come from retirement, although shaggy and Scooby refuse. The duo makes Daphne and Velma never solve another mystery. The story follows from there.
Kids can expect unusually animated scares – zombies often roam the island, clawed cats with popping eyes, howling, and more. There are narrow escapes, chases, and special effects.
Nightbooks (2021)
This is a book-based fantasy horror movie with lots of scares. The story is about Alex, a boy obsessed with scary stories. When no one shows up to a Halloween birthday party, he runs into an apartment building to burn his work. However, the elevator takes him to a different floor with one open room. After getting in, the little boy can’t get out – he’s imprisoned by a diabolical witch in her city apartment.
Every night, the witch wants to hear stories. Now, Alex has to write new ones in her colossal library. If he fails to produce a new story, she threatens to kill him. But with the help of Yasmin (another kid in Natasha’s story), Alex believes he has a chance to escape. These two kids run into things like poison and caves with sculls.
Parents don’t have a lot to worry about Night books. This movie has little cute messages about self-esteem and friendship. That will make your little buddy glued to the screen.
Monsters Inc. (2001)
Monsters Inc. is an animated computer comedy film that introduces kids to a world of monsters. In the beginning, your child may be scared by the movie’s concept but will soon figure out the monster is a softy who takes care of a little girl.
The animated feature is Toy Story. These are monsters that scare but don’t harm kids. They are terrified of a child’s touch. There’s one moment when a monster is afraid of being trapped on a chair, and the child tries to steal her screams. Another one gets a child sock and panics. Young kids should understand what the monsters in yellow can do to them.
The monsters in the movie vary in terms of size, shape, and creepiness. Some have one eye; others have crab legs. Others are furry with horns, and a few are invisible.
At one time, some monsters and a girl ride the roller coaster style – with a few near falls. The girl hits the monster with a bat, but the monsters start beating the other with a shovel. Then, they enter a doorway that leads them to a secret room. A snowman appears, and the monsters decide to put their teeth to the test. Then, they hear some children crying.
The monsters will scare your kids but also pack the right amount of horror to keep the little ones at the edge of their seats.
Muppets Haunted Mansion (2021)
This movie features two stars Pepe and Gonzo, who stay in a haunted mansion all night. The two spend an entire night at the Great McGuffin, a castle of a legendary magician. Then, some guests meander through labyrinthine doors, hoping to rub shoulders with some celebrities. Then, some blood-chilling events occur. What have Pepe and Gonzo gotten into this time? Will they stay in the Muppet Haunted Mansion or stay alive in the most dangerous place on earth?
As gonzo goes to the room, Pepe is entranced by the ghost who plans to kill her past husband. Gonzo is trapped in room 999 and faces the biggest fear of doing dangerous stunts. As he turns old, his reflection taunts him. He later realizes that he can be old by being gonzo. Then, the room de-ages and releases him.
The host congratulates gonzo. But after learning that Pepe was in trouble, Gonzo refuses to leave without him. The moral lesson of the story is that Muppets are a family despite their differences.
The Muppets Haunted Mansion movie is kid-friendly. While children under four years may find the movie scary, there are funny moments for most kids to watch. Just make sure the little ones are not too curious to look under the bed.
Coraline (2009)
This is an animated movie with thrilling sound effects. It’s great for kids that like 3D effects. The film is guided by the storybook by Neil Gaiman. One feature that makes Coraline unique is that so much love has gone into the visuals.
The ghosts in Coraline like to replace eyes with grotesque images and sewn-on buttons. Also, the touch of spookiness is creepy and terrifying.
Coraline is neglected by her parents and moves to a new house. At night, she can find parallel worlds where everyone has buttons instead of eyes. Another mother invites Coraline to stay, but she refuses. Her only trick is to lure her.
Wybie (Coraline’s neighbor) gives her an old doll from her grandmother’s attic. Surprisingly, the spy-like creature looks like Coraline. The hand-crafted doll lures them into presenting the wonderful things they feel could be missing. Coraline finds himself in the middle of life she has always wished for. She has parents that cook for her and gives more pleasing versions to the neighbors.
As Coraline revisits the parallel world, she realizes things don’t appear as they should. She soon finds herself struggling and later returns to real life.
Goosebumps (2015)
Goosebumps is the king of kid friendly scary movies. Goosebumps is a live-action comedy with some action and humor. This movie is certainly meant to scare kids aged 5 to 7 years. It balances scary moments and some comic relief. For particularly sensitive children, this movie balances characters and imagery.
The plot is about a teenager who moves with the daughter of young adult horror. And the imagery demons are set free. After moving to a new town, Zack Cooper meets a next-door neighbor, Hannah. He learns that Hannah has a mysterious dad, an author of the best-selling Goosebumps series.
As it turns out, there’s a reason why Stine is so strange and a prisoner of his imagination. Stine protects the readers by keeping them hooked on the books. Then, Zach unleashes the monsters from the manuscripts as they terrorize the town. It’s up to Hannah, Zack, and Stine to put all the monsters back in their books.
Zach moves to New York where his window mother is a principal of a local high school. He’s bored and decides to visit Hannah. The creepy father (Stine) threatens Zach not to get close to his daughter. Zach believes Hannah’s father is abusive and breaks into the house to seek Hannah. Soon he learns that Zach is a famous writer of popular stories – the movie continues from there.
Goosebumps is not your usual bedtime horror story; it will keep your kids up all night. It suits folks looking for some flight factor and goose bump sensation.
Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride (2005)
The storyline of this movie dates back to the 1800s. It features a man (Victor) and a woman (Victoria) in a Village. Although they like each other, Victor is nervous about the ceremony. He finds himself in a forest practicing the lines, but a tree brunch drags him to the land of the dead. It belongs to Emmy who gets murdered after eloping with her love. The young man is compelled to marry someone he has never met. She wants Victor. But victor must get back to victoria before she marries Barkin’s Bittern. At this point, Victor must choose between the two brides. Who will he marry?
Emily introduces her new husband to other corpses wandering in various degrees of decay. But since victor is still breathing, that doesn’t concern those sitting in a bar setting. They still bear the weapons that caused their demise.
This movie introduces characters in their afterlife spirits. At one point, the dead meet and enjoy a happy reunion. Victor learns that the real power of love is not in appearances. He wanders around the afterworld for several minutes.
Corpse Bride features comically -twisted characters and a sense of cheek-in-fun.
While there are some nods to tongue-in-cheek jokes, this is an awesome movie for the whole family. There are references to maggots, bones, and death. The Halloween moments are great for the kids.
Wrap up
The best kid friendly scary movies will give your kids a thrill without scaring them for life. Our favorites hit that sweet spot for kids of all ages. They pack the right amount of fun to ensure the kids are ready for bed.
Side Note: If you are looking for a kid friendly scary stories podcast look no further than our Camp Redrumpodcast. Take a break from the screen and dive into the world of Eli Jackson a janitor who got stuck in a time loop at an abandoned summer camp from the 1980’s. Every episode is like watching a movie with your ears!
Studies show that meditation is becoming more important for kids than before. Teaching your kids to care for or look after their minds is equally important as educating them about their bodies. Introducing your kids the meditations early with limiting screen time and having healthy relaxing routines will be vital to promote their mindfulness.
Meditation helps children to calm their minds and adopt healthy coping mechanisms in difficult situations. Despite social media’s negative effects and influence, you can get the appropriate meditations and podcasts to enhance your kid’s awareness and mindfulness. This article outline effective and short meditations for kids to promote mindfulness.
Side note: If you are looking for a quick way to automate a mindfulness practice with your kids check out our Charm Words podcast. Charm Words…
You require a bell or Tibetan Medicine Bowl that can sound loud for this meditation game. Allow the kids to randomly walk in the room and instruct them to stand still and close their eyes once the bell or medical bowl is over. Let them listen to this sound carefully and start moving about after the bowl’s sound has disappeared. You can repeat this game and procedure several times to promote the kid’s mindfulness.
Silent Bell
This meditation involves you sitting knee to knee with the kids in a circle. While sitting, pass a bell around the kids in the circle, giving each child an opportunity to ring it and listen to the sound. After finishing the circle, start passing the bell to the kids without allowing them to ring.
When having the second phase, show the children how to pass the bell slowly and gently. This meditation works as magic to prepare the kids for a relaxation session. Repeat the session several times to ensure that all the kids understand that they shouldn’t ring the bell. You can also consider passing the bell by standing and walking up to the person not sitting next to you.
I See Beauty
You can consider performing this meditation technique or podcasts in nature, outdoors, or around the classroom. Guide the kids to stand at the right time and admire the beauty around them.
Allow the kids to look for something attractive in front of them and silently say, “I am enjoying the beauty in front of me.”
Then look at the back to see something beautiful and say, “I see attractiveness behind me.”
Instruct the kids to continue the same process on the left and right sides.
Walking on the Sky
Despite being a risky meditation technique, performing it appropriately will help to promote your kid’s mindfulness. Experts advise that performing the technique or meditation activity in pairs will be safe. When taking this meditation technique, have one holding a mirror under their face or hand.
Then the friend or partner should let them outside. Ensure the partner holds the mirror appropriately to enhance mindfulness. The technique enhances mindfulness as walking out resembles waking on top of clouds. Therefore, the kid will have to concentrate on getting the entire perspective to open their new world.
Ocean Breath
Your kids can take the technique while in a sitting or lying position. After getting the appropriate posture, instruct the kids to put their fingers on their ears. Ensure that one kid is hearing before you start the technique to make it effective in enhancing mindfulness among the kids.
You can now instruct the kids to take a deep in and listen carefully for any sound. The technique allows the child to hear the loud sound of the roaring ocean when having a deep sleep. The kids can continuously listen to the waves while breathing in and out. Besides enhancing mindfulness, the sound of the ocean enhances relaxation.
Bell Circle
Choose a specific circle to sit in and close your eyes. Choose one kid to hold the bell and walk out of the circle softly and gently without ringing the bell. However, the kid can ring the bell by the person of their choice and hand them the bell before taking the sitting position. Continue with the game for a few minutes until everyone opens their eyes.
After everyone opens their eyes, you’ll realize that everyone in the circle changes positions while the circle remains the same. Experts reveal that walking around gently and silently helps enhance mindfulness among kids. Furthermore, it helps in calming and focusing the kids.
Finding the Center
Instruct the kids to either stand or sit and lean. The kids can lead while tilting on the back, forward, left, and right. Tell the kids to continuously keep leaning until they can find the center of their body. The center comes where the body finds or feels more balanced. You can use the technique to promote mindfulness as the kids try to find the appropriate center.
After all your children find a balancing point, tell them to close their eyes to continue with the process. The kids should try to feel the center running from their feet to the spine and eventually on the head. Allow the children to breathe to this specific center and reveal how they’re feeling.
Buddha Board
It’s a special board where you use water to draw or write. However, the water will evaporate from it after approximately a minute, erasing your words or pictures. You can use the board to illustrate to your kids that nothing last forever, and they must be mindful. During the session, allow every kid to draw anything they like on the boards to see how this can last. However, ensure the previous creations evaporates before and create sufficient space.
Animal Paradise
It’s a popular game that allows kids to remember and practice the different animal poses. Besides remembering these poses, the game encourages self-control, quiet time, and stillness. For this game to be effective, you’ll require a Tibetan bowl and huge free space for the kids to move freely.
You can select a particular Yoga animal or allow the kids to have a turn picking session for the animals. Afterward, allow them to move in the room freely, making sounds resembling the animal. Instruct them to freeze in the animal pose and stay quiet until the bowl or bell stops sounding.
Oh So Quiet
It’s an essential meditation technique that encourages the kids to be mindful and stay still for a long time. The strategy is key to developing the children’s concentration and listening skills. Eye pillows and the Tibetan singing bowl will be effective for this meditation. Instruct your kids to lie down and put their hands by sight or eyes with the eye pillows.
Tell the kids that they must listen appropriately when you ring the bowl. After the bowl stops singing,’ all the kids place their arms on the belly before you ring it again. They should gently place their hands on their sides after they can’t hear the singing bowl. You can repeat this procedure several times.
The Third Eye Yoga Diamond
It’s an essential podcast or meditation to promote your kid’s mindfulness. When having this meditation, ask the kid to lie on the flow and place a glass pebble, crystal, or small stone on their forehead. Instruct the child to focus on the stone or crystal, imagining its color, and feeling its weight, coolness, and warmth.
The magic stone will be vital in making the kid more relaxed and calm as the magical qualities seep into the body, slowly feeling every part. You could try different poses if you had enough with crystals or stones. Ensure you perform the practice without dropping it and maintain the same heightened awareness.
Sleeping Elves and Fairies
It’s a common meditation technique that involves having some relaxation music or podcasts and carrying some fairy dust. Get the kids to rest or lie in a Child’s pose, resembling an elf or a fairy. Walk around the location while tapping the kids gently on their backs using your fingertips and covering their faces with magical fairy dust. This procedure will give the children with magical powers to be mindful and stay still for a long duration.
Still Water
The still water meditation technique offers the best way to promote mindfulness for your kid. This effective technique involves instructing the kids to lie completely on the floor. Furthermore, the kids should step to the other side after feeling like someone is moving.
Instead of saying ‘don’t move,’ the kids must learn about the act of being still. Ensure you repeat the game several times for the kids to understand or catch the moves or procedures. The still nature of the game makes it more effective and fun to enhance mindfulness among the kids.
Bottom Line
Like adults, meditation and podcasts are appropriate ways to enhance mindfulness in kids. You can use the proper techniques to engage the kids in various mindfulness practices. However, experts advocates for choosing more active engagements to make it easy to get the best from the kids.
Remember taking too serious or boring techniques won’t provide the best results. Above are the appropriate meditations and podcasts that can help your kid be mindful and bring their focus back. Besides enhancing mindfulness, these techniques and podcasts enhance relaxation and mental wellness.
Side note: If you are looking for a quick way to automate a mindfulness practice with your kids check out our Charm Words podcast. Charm Words…
ABF Creative is launching an audio subscription service for multicultural kids and families on Apple Podcasts titled ABF Fam.
ABF Fam costs $4.99 a month or $34.99 a year. Subscribers to ABF Fam will get early access to new episodes of African Folktales with Miss Jo Jo and ABF Creative Originals like Charm Words, Story Village with Aunti Oni, and other yet-to-be-announced podcasts. Select podcasts in the near future will also have content exclusively available on Apple Podcasts via ABF Fam.
“The lane is wide open for trusted multicultural premium podcast content for kids,” Anthony Frasier, the CEO of ABF Creative, said. “Every kid matters, no matter what background and we want to make sure they have access to the best media out there. We created ABF Fam as a way for parents to have a safe, culturally representative, ad-free environment for their kids on Apple Podcasts. ”
A report released by Common Sense, “The Inclusion Imperative: Why Media Representation Matters for Kids’ Ethnic-Racial Development,” highlighted that “Almost 6 in 10 (57%) parents say that the media their child consumes has prompted conversations about diversity, and an even larger percentage of parents say it is important that their children are exposed to content that helps them learn more about their own culture, religion, or lifestyle.” In addition to that, “78% of parents want their children to be exposed to media that teaches them about cultures, religions, and lifestyles that are different from their own, underscoring the importance of narratives and storylines that represent the diversity of a multicultural America.”
The new multicultural podcast subscription service for kids comes a month after ABF Creative and Wondery’s partnership on Adventures of Cairo was awarded Common Sense Media’s distinguished Selections seal of excellence to recognize outstanding kids and family centered podcast programs. In 2021 ABF Creative’s African Folktales with Miss Jo Jo won the Webby Award for diversity and inclusion.
To access ABF Fam just visit one of our ABF Fam-listed podcasts or search ABF Fam on Apple Podcasts.
