The Children's Hour

It’s the season for sleeping outside under the stars, and The Children’s Hour kids learn more about how to avoid bears, stay safe in bad weather, and be prepared for campfires and camping from our friends Jordan Stone and Naina Panthaki at Cottonwood Gulch, and meteorologist Kerry Jones.

Why do animals travel long distances every year? On this episode of The Children’s Hour, we learn all about migration—how it works, why it happens, and which creatures migrate the farthest. From the skies to the seas, we’ll explore the incredible journeys that animals take in search of food, warmth, and safety.

This show is for mom! It’s a celebration of mothers from Children’s Hour listeners and our kids crew. We’ll also learn the history of Mother’s Day, beginning 1872 when Julia Ward Howe made the first Mother’s Day Proclamation. Plus we find out about bird moms, and hear great music honoring motherhood.

This time on The Children's Hour, we learn about frogs and toads, with Senior Zoologist of the ABQ Biopark Zoo's Amphibians and Reptiles, Josh Butler. We have a lot of questions about these ancient creatures. We also hear from the kids in the Extinction Diaries who have a warning about the shrinking populations of frogs.

In this episode of The Children's Hour, we dig into the world of roots—how they feed plants, connect trees, and even store carbon to help our planet. Artist and educator Jane Westbrook shares her passion for roots, while Robin Wall Kimmerer and Monique Gray Smith introduce us to Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults, a book about Indigenous knowledge, science, and our relationship with nature. Through stories, music, and conversation, we learn how roots keep the Earth strong and how we can care for the plants that sustain us.

Our minds help us understand, learn, and express ourselves. But not everyone thinks the same way! In this episode of The Children's Hour, we explore different kinds of minds, including neurodivergent thinkers, emotional intelligence, and artificial intelligence.

Creativity comes in many forms, and on this episode of The Children's Hour, we celebrate the artists, authors, musicians, and performers who create their own way. We meet Albuquerque street artist Maewyn Padilla, hear from legendary actor William Shatner, and chat with bestselling author Dan Gutman and young actress Celestina Harris about their creative journeys. Plus, we premiere A Balloon’s Breath, a symphony for strings composed by 12-year-old Evan Daitz, inspired by the sound of hot air balloons. Join us as we explore the power of imagination and self-expression!

What is justice, and how do courts make sure laws are fair? In this episode of The Children’s Hour, the Kids Crew talks with Maria Martinez-Sanchez from ACLU New Mexico to learn how the judicial system works, from local courts to the Supreme Court. We also explore tribal justice systems with Chief Justice Rosanna Toya, who explains how Native American nations have their own courts and laws. Join us as we discover how justice is served in different ways across the United States.

Learn all about sloths with author Georgeanne Irvine from the San Diego Zoo, and biologist Sam Trull from the Sloth Institute in Manuel Antonio Costa Rica. Find out how we can all help protect sloths. This episode comes with a digital Learn Along guide that meets and cites US national education standards.

This time on The Children's Hour we visit with the bilingual, Grammy winning duo, Lucky Diaz and Alisha Gaddis from the Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band.

Learn about fossils in a Kids Crew field trip to a secret fossil quarry in the mountains outside of Albuquerque, as well as in a chat with New Mexico Natural History Museum educator Mike Sanchez. Will we become fossilized too? Fossils teach us about the Ice Age and climate change at the La Brea Tar pits in the heart of Los Angeles. This episode comes with a Learn-Along guide and is mixed with great music.

Dr. Seuss' stories have delighted readers for generations with their fun rhymes and memorable characters. In this episode, we learn about his life, creative process, and the impact of his books. Tune in to discover the magic behind one of the greatest children's authors of all time!

This time on The Children's Hour, we celebrate the First Lady of children's music, Ella Jenkins, who died in November 2024 at the age of 100. Learn about her extraordinary life and how she created a whole new genre of music for kids and families.

We explore Black History through stories from Dr. Marsha Hardeman, Professor of Africana Studies at the University of New Mexico.

Take flight with the magnificent and mighty eagle on a field trip to the Zuni Eagle Sanctuary with Lucasti and Caibiya, and the Kids Crew meet Dr. Brian Millsap, a biologist who has spent his life studying eagles. Learn with us!

This time on The Children’s Hour, the Kids Crew get aboard the JOIDES Resolution, virtually, while the ship is at sea off the coast of Portugal. We meet Amy Mayer, the Onboard Outreach Officer for the JOIDES Expedition 397, and research fellow Saray Sanchez.

Join The Children's Hour Kids Crew in a field trip to the Santa Fe International Folk Art Market, the largest in the world! Learn what makes something "Folk Art" in conversations with artists from dozens of countries. This episode comes with a Learn-Along guide for use in classrooms.

Celebrate the best in kids music, hear about one of our favorite educational podcasts, and sample the Grammy nominees for Best Children's Release. It's all in an hour!

Get into the holiday spirit with The Children’s Hour as we unwrap the traditions and tunes that make the season magical! 🎁✨ This week, we explore how New Mexicans celebrate Christmas with a unique twist—ever heard of “Christmas” red and green chili on your food? 🌶️ The second graders from Coronado Elementary School’s bilingual classroom teach us all about the state’s iconic chilies, their history, and how they’re grown. 🌟

This time on The Children’s Hour, we will hear traditional stories that have been passed down through the generations, which we call Folktales. From a live performance of La Llorona, to some classic folktales we love, like Pete Seeger's Abiyoyo, and other storytelling songs, we dedicate the hour to our imaginations through storytelling and music.

Bear with us this time on The Children's Hour as we learn about bears from the legendary Dr. Lynn Rogers from the North American Bear Center. Find out how bears fit into our ecology, where and how they live, and how Dr. Rogers overcame his fear of bears to study wild bears.

This time on The Children’s Hour, the Kids Crew explores graphic novels. These modern day comic books can help kids become better readers, while keeping them engaged and learning. Dr. Lee Francis IV has a publishing house featuring graphic novels for all ages written by Native authors and illustrators. We also meet a science illustrator whose books help kids understand complex scientific topics. Plus we have book reviews!

This week on The Children's Hour, it's the season of gratitude, and we're grateful for some of the most important people in our lives: our grandparents. The Kids have messages and stories to share for and about their own grandparents. We'll also hear kids from Jimmy Carter Middle School in Albuquerque, NM telling stories about grandparent love and magic in action.

This time on The Children's Hour we explore a few of our favorite things. Genevieve goes to the opera, Corbit and Kodiak fly an airplane, and we visit with pet rescuers from Animal Humane New Mexico.

In this episode of The Children’s Hour, the Kids Crew dives into the captivating realm of great apes, featuring orangutans, chimpanzees, and gorillas. Special guest Michelle Desilets from Forests for Orangutans shares insights into the behaviors, lifestyles, and struggles of these remarkable animals. We also visit the Albuquerque BioPark Zoo to get an up-close look at chimpanzees. Join us for an engaging and informative adventure into the world of these extraordinary creatures!

In this episode of The Children’s Hour, the Kids Crew dives into the world of Presidential elections! With the help of New Mexico's Secretary of State, Maggie Toulouse Oliver, and State Representative Pamela Herndon, we break down how elections work, what the Electoral College is, and why voting is so important. From learning about ballots to understanding how votes are counted, this episode is filled with interesting facts and answers to questions about the election process. Even though kids can’t vote, they can still learn and inspire adults to take part in elections!

This week on The Children’s Hour, we explore how kids cope with death and grief. We'll learn what are the best things to say to someone in mourning, and what we absolutely should never say. Find out about the Day of the Dead, and how you can memorialize someone you love.

Learn about archaeology with The Children's Hour and the New Mexico Office of Archaeological Studies.

This special episode of The Children’s Hour honors Indigenous Peoples' Day with guest author Laurel Goodluck, who shares stories from her books that highlight indigenous perspectives. Laurel, who is of Mandan Hratsa and Tsimshian heritage, reads excerpts from her books, including Too Much, My Great Big Native Family and She Persisted: Deb Haaland. The Kids Crew engages with Laurel on topics like family, resilience, and cultural pride, while indigenous music from around the world weaves throughout the program, creating an enriching experience for listeners of all ages.

Coming up on The Children’s Hour, we get bugged with the Albuquerque BioPark’s Curator of Entomology, Jason Schaller who lets bugs loose at the Outpost Performance Space with our Kids Crew. We learn what makes a bug, well … a bug? Why should we love bugs? Do bugs have feelings? Learn about bugs in space, and find out how to make cricket tacos, as we explore the incredible diversity of insects on Planet Earth. Mixed with excellent music, get bugged with us!

In this special episode of The Children’s Hour, we celebrate the extraordinary life and legacy of Jimmy Carter, just in time for his 100th birthday on October 2, 2024. Join us as we explore his journey from a peanut farmer in Georgia to becoming the 39th President of the United States, and beyond, with insights into his lifelong dedication to peace, human rights, and community service. Featuring music, interviews, and stories, this episode honors Carter’s remarkable impact on the world.

The Kids Crew explore the physical, emotional, and spiritual benefits of running with blind Olympic champion runner George Mendoza, kids and adults from Running Medicine, and Gabe Vasquez whose running is helping him run for Congress.

This time on The Children's Hour, we're joined by three cave biologists who are researching life underground. Learn the basics of caves, spelunking, and hear about cutting edge research into extremophiles.

On this episode of The Children's Hour, we learn all about the Post Office from the American Postal Workers Union Local 380 President, Ken Fajardo. Mr. Fajardo has worked at the United States Postal Service for over 30 years, and explains what happens when a letter goes through the mail. We also learn about stamp collecting and how the postal service makes a big difference in elections. Plus, puzzlemaker Riya Joshi challenges the Kids Crew to a puzzle on the air. Learn with us!

This week on The Children’s Hour, we’re saying goodbye to summer. The kids crew share our favorite, and not so favorite, memories of summertime, and we’ll set some goals for the start of the school year. With a story by Bill Harley, great music, tips for a great school year, and more.

Together we can do anything, and this time on The Children's Hour we explore teamwork, improv, and how playing games brings builds community. The Kids Crew gets a workshop in improvisation as a team building exercise. Then, we learn about games kids have played for thousands of years which helped create and sustain strong communities. Learn with us!

We speak with our bodies, and some people speak only with their bodies. Communication Nation Episode 3: Other Voices, Other Sounds explores nonverbal communication, sign language, deaf culture, and assistive technology. Comes with a learning guide. Learn with us!

Communication Nation Episode 2: Mother Tongues focuses on the incredible diversity of language around us, from appreciation of the way names sound, to the restoration of endangered languages. Learn with us on The Children's Hour!

Communication Nation Episode One: Speaking the Truth - Media Literacy & Misinformation is the first of a four part radio series exploring communication to better understand one another. We can only have effective communication when we can trust our sources. We learn about media literacy and misinformation from Eisha Buch at Common Sense Media.

It’s time for the Olympic games, and our summer intern and longtime Kids Crew member, Thaniel, has written and produced a show for us about the Olympics. Thaniel covers the history of the events all the way back to ancient Greece, and through the modern displays. Get ready for the Olympics!

This time on The Children's Hour, we learn what watersheds are, and how they are impacted by forest fires. All over the world, people rely upon watersheds for drinking water, irrigating farmland, and for ecosystems. We are joined by educators from the New Mexico Watershed and Forest Restoration Institute, Natalia Shaw and Raymundo Melendez, along with educator and ecologist Dr. Krista Bonfantine.

This time on The Children's Hour we get onboard and learn about trains. The Kids Crew went on a field trip to The Wheels Museum of Albuquerque, and discovered the rich history of railroads. Learn with us!

This week on The Children’s Hour, learn about the history of the Southwest United States. Adapted from our educational podcast series: A Brief History of the American Southwest for Kids, join us for a dive into 23,000 years of American history.

This time on The Children's Hour, we go far out into space with Dr. Katie Mack, a theoretical astrophysicist whose current focus is on the timeline of the universe, from its birth through its death, billions of years from now.

This week on The Children's Hour, we learn about one of the most ancient animals to live on our planet, that is still alive today: Lungfish.

This week on The Children’s Hour, where does our tap water come from, and where does it end up when we flush or wash it down the drain? We learn about Water Treatment with the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority's education director, Erin Keck. Our water system is circular, from the Rio Grande and back again. In the meantime, it goes through pipes to homes, and down the drains when it's dirty. How do they clean it for drinking, and then clean it again after it's gross? And what role do tardigrades play?

This time on The Children's Hour, we learn strategies to keep our cool with Michelle Renee Pelletier, who teaches kids how to meditate using guided imagery. Then we'll meet Evan, a 10 year old who was taught mindfulness at school with Families 4 Peace's instructor, Scott Cameron.

Celebrate Mother's Day with a musical Children's Hour, featuring some of our favorite "Kindie" musicians honoring mothers through shoutouts and songs. We even hear from Katie Stone's mom!

It's Earth Day on The Children's Hour, and we meet Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernandez (NM) who explains how National Parks and National Wilderness areas are created. Kids can play a big part! Then, Evan tells us about the Junior Ranger program. Biologists and authors Lily and Barbara Kingsolver share about their new book, Coyote's Wild Home. Learn with us!

What's wild about your backyard? This time on The Children's Hour we explore creating a wild backyard, and what to do with injured wild animals we may find.