Squiz Kids

It was the most expensive, ambitious — and disastrous — expedition in Australian history. And somehow, it’s also one of the most famous. In this From the Vault Squiz Kids Shortcut, we rewind to 1860 and follow the ill-fated journey of Robert O'Hara Burke and William John Wills, who set out to become the first white explorers to cross Australia from south to north. What followed was a trail of poor planning, bad decisions, ignored advice — and heartbreaking consequences. Listen carefully — there’s a Squiz at the end.

How many generations have lived — and how do we even count that? In this Squiz Kids Science Short, Christie explains how scientists use generations to measure time, why humans have racked up around 12,000 of them, and how today’s population explosion makes our moment in history a very unusual one. A quick, mind-bending look at humanity’s place in deep time.

A fun kids vs adults news quiz to test who’s been paying the most attention to the week in news. For the full episode transcript, click here.

Your daily kids news podcast. Back to school screen-time advice; China’s sad horse goes viral; the great jellyfish beach invasion; and the policeman who became a frog. An army—a smack—of giant jellyfish has slimed its way into Port Phillip Bay, closing beaches and giving swimmers the ick. A toy horse meant to bring joy is accidentally frowning—and everyone loves it! Scientists in the US taught rats to drive teeny cars to get cereal snacks—and found out they actually enjoy it! A police officer in the US was accidentally turned into a frog… by a computer! AI misheard a movie in the background and got things hilariously wrong. For the full episode transcript, click here.

Your daily kids news podcast. Mexico goes KPop crazy; The Demon goes down to Alcaraz; blazing bushfires to blasting blizzards; and Aussie kids make a movie Australia’s melting in a mega heatwave while the US is turning into a snow globe! From frying eggs on footpaths to shivering in warming shelters, it’s a wild weather ride across the globe. Mexico’s president is on a mission: bring BTS to town! With one million fans hoping for just 150,000 tickets, it’s KPop mania. A brand-new Aussie movie made with kids, not just for them! "Imagine" brings big dreams and bold futures to life, thanks to young Indigenous students. Imagine Movie Trailer 2026 For the full episode transcript, click here.

January 27 marks International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz in 1945. And following the violent attack on Jewish people in Bondi in December, we felt it was important to pause, remember, and explain what this day is really about. In this Squiz Kids Shortcut, we carefully explore who Jewish people are, what the Holocaust was and how it began, and why remembering matters today. This episode is not about blame or taking sides. At its heart, it’s about people, shared humanity, and understanding how words, lies, and discrimination can lead to terrible consequences if left unchecked. Handled gently and thoughtfully, this Shortcut helps young listeners understand a difficult part of history, why it’s remembered each year, and how empathy, kindness, and speaking up can help make sure something like this never happens again. For the full episode transcript, click here.

From Sydney to the stars, Katherine Bennell-Pegg is blazing a trail.Australia’s very first astronaut joins Christie under the Squiz Kids Spotlight to talk training for space missions, chasing big dreams, and why STEM is for everyone. Along the way, we cover zero-gravity, space missions, and how you go to the toilet in orbit. It’s fascinating, funny, and full of down-to-earth wisdom from someone aiming for the skies.

School’s back for some of you this week, and so is Squiz Kids! To help you start the year feeling informed and ready, this Squiz Kids Catch-Up episode wraps up the biggest news stories from the summer holidays — all in one easy, kid-friendly listen. From major events in Australia to big global headlines, plus sport, pop culture and moments that brought people together, we break it all down so you’re back in the know before the first bell rings. Squiz Kids Today is back this week with daily news, weekly Shortcuts, quizzes, Science Shorts and more — seven days a week of fun, free, factual audio for curious kids. Let’s kick off a great year ahead!

First released in 2023, this Squiz Kids Shortcut is back. January 26 has been known by many names over time: Landing Day, Foundation Day, Invasion Day and Survival Day. It began as a celebration for freed convicts, became a public holiday nationwide in 1994, and today means very different things to different Australians. In this episode, we explore how January 26 became Australia Day, why it’s a day of celebration for some but a day of mourning for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and what people around the country do to mark the occasion, from Survival Day events to citizenship ceremonies and Australian of the Year awards. Thoughtful, informative, and designed to help kids understand multiple perspectives, this is your Squiz Kids Shortcut to Australia Day. Australia Day Events 2026 Australian of the Year nominees 2026

In this Squiz Kids Science Short, Christie explains why our planet is very slowly slowing down, what that means for the length of our days, and why you won’t notice any extra free time just yet. Then we imagine the wild science-fiction scenario of Earth suddenly stopping — with help from Newton’s First Law — and discover why a spinning planet is essential for life as we know it.