Meet the creator of Cozy Critters — The podcast helping kids fall asleep fast

Prepared for a bedtime journey that helps youngsters drift off to sleep with ease? Doug Fraser, the creator and host of Cozy Critters, shares how his magical podcast is popping bedtime into a comfy journey with quirky characters like Dougie Pickles and Miss Meow Meow. A part of the Public Radio Alternate, Cozy Critters has already earned rave evaluations from households across the globe, serving to youngsters go to sleep earlier than the 10-minute episode even ends!

What impressed you to create a podcast particularly designed to assist youngsters go to sleep?

The concept for Cozy Critters was born out of a want to create a relaxing bedtime ritual for teenagers that was each enjoyable and academic. Coming from a youngsters’ publishing and podcasting background, I noticed bedtime as a possibility to spark curiosity concerning the pure world whereas offering a peaceable setting that helps youngsters wind down. Animals have a common attraction, and mixing their tales with mild sounds and narration felt like the proper recipe for a superb evening’s sleep.

Are you able to share a number of the challenges youngsters typically face when attempting to go to sleep, and the way you tailor-made the podcast to handle them?

Youngsters can wrestle with bedtime on account of nervousness, an overactive creativeness, or just resisting the transition from playtime to relaxation. I designed Cozy Critters to sort out these challenges by making a soothing environment. The slow-paced storytelling, tender voice, and nature-inspired soundscapes gently sign to the mind that it’s time to calm down. The content material is optimistic and reassuring, serving to to exchange any nerve-racking ideas with peaceable imagery.

How do you determine on themes, tales, or sounds that will likely be soothing and interesting for teenagers?

I deal with animals as a result of they naturally encourage marvel and curiosity. Every episode is constructed round a delicate “journey,” the place Dougie Pickles and Miss Meow Meow go to an animal preparing for mattress. Themes are chosen to steadiness academic tidbits with a relaxing tone (and a few jokes alongside the way in which). The sound design is vital — tender rustling leaves, distant waves, or mild purring from Miss Meow Meow create an immersive however peaceable backdrop. My objective is all the time to be partaking sufficient to carry consideration with out being overly stimulating.

What sort of suggestions have you ever obtained from mother and father, and the way has that formed the podcast’s content material over time?

The suggestions from mother and father has been heartwarming (and children all around the globe ship in animal requests each day!). They’ve shared how Cozy Critters has grow to be a nightly custom of their houses, serving to youngsters go to sleep sooner. And once they get up, they’re excited to speak about all of the animal information they discovered on the present. Dad and mom have additionally talked about that the pacing and quantity are essential, so I’ve refined these parts to make sure each episode is persistently soothing. A number of mother and father talked about they’d like longer episodes, along with the 2 story-driven episodes every week (that are about 10-Quarter-hour every), so I provide a one-hour soundscape episode. These episodes have an intro of two to 3 minutes adopted by stress-free sounds, reminiscent of a crackling campfire or a jungle treehouse. Some mother and father even use the podcast themselves to unwind after a protracted day, which is a large praise!

Are there any analysis findings that guided your strategy to creating sleep-friendly audio content material?

I draw from a number of research on sleep hygiene and the consequences of auditory stimulation on rest. Analysis exhibits that constant, calming routines assist youngsters transition to sleep extra simply, so I structured Cozy Critters episodes to comply with a predictable circulation. The usage of nature sounds and tender speech aligns with findings that these parts decrease stress and promote rest. I’ve additionally saved the episodes screen-free and distraction-free to assist set up a robust affiliation with sleep.

You’ll be able to hearken to Cozy Critters ad-free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, PodBean, iHeartRadio and on different widespread platforms, or on Yoto, the children’ speaker system.