I am fairly open-minded when it comes to children’s programming because the writers typically try to fold in some type of worthwhile lesson, but as you know not all shows are created with high standards. Some are complete trash, some are annoying and hard to stomach, and others have no substance at all {Barbie, ugh!}. Yes, I know… limit screen time, don’t use it as a babysitter, get outside and be active, yadda yadda yadda. We are very mindful about it in our house, but let’s be honest… a little TV time gives all of us a moment to chill and recharge during an otherwise busy day or weekend.
There are five non-mainstream shows that we’ve really enjoyed as a family because they are kind, funny and well-written, so I thought I’d share! In full disclosure, we cut the cord on cable a long time ago {Roku for the win!}, so they are available on either Amazon Prime or Netflix. I would estimate the age level to be about 3-6, with some leeway on either side depending on your child.
Stella and Sam {Amazon Prime}: These adventurous siblings are the cutest, nicest characters ever. {Probably because they’re Canadian!} The series is based on a lovely children’s book series by Marie-Louise Gay. Stella is the older sister of Sam. She’s open-minded, positive and creative in the way she helps him understand the world and work through troubles that arise. They have a wild imagination and much of it takes place outside, which is super fun, colorful and quite pleasant to watch.
Charlie and Lola {Amazon Prime}: We’ve got another book inspired set of siblings here. Charlie is the level-headed, responsible big brother of little sister Lola who is silly and marches to the beat of her own drum. The episodes are short so they waste no time getting right to the point in helping kids understand complex emotions, different types of people and real-life situations. Charlie is patient and Lola is a free-spirit and together they always figure things out with no shortage of fun along the way.
Tumble Leaf {Amazon Prime}: This show is a little quirky but so easy to love. It’s colorful, fascinating and really engaging. Fig the Fox is the main character with a whole parade of woodland creatures he hangs around with. They begin each episode with an object dug up by a crab who tosses it into a little treasure chest that Fig calls “The Finding Place”. It always leads him on some type of whimsical, nature-filled adventure that showcases friendship, science and the beauty in differences.
Treehouse Detectives {Netflix}: I am a big fan of forensics and true crime, so this one speaks to my soul as basically Forensics 101 for kids. From a missing measuring cup to bothersome bees, these cute little animal pals crack the case every time by collecting clues, evaluating the situation and digging around until they figure out what happened. They use their little noggins and follow the facts until the answer to the backyard mystery is revealed. All it takes is a little teamwork and intuition!
True and the Rainbow Kingdom {Netflix}: This one took me a minute to appreciate, but once I gave the neon-colored cartoon world a chance, I sort of fell in love. In each episode, a little girl named True and her kitty sidekick, Bartleby, work to solve a problem in the kingdom. True relies on her instincts and reasoning skills to find a solution. True is also gifted three magical “wishes” each time that help her along the way. It’s creative, surprisingly witty and makes us all giggle when we least expect it.
We have also loved watching educational classics like The Magic School Bus, Zaboomafoo, Mister Rogers, and my husband’s favorite Animaniacs. What shows do you enjoy when screen time is allowed in your home? I’d love to hear your suggestions!
Bonus Pro Tip: Check the Common Sense Media website if you’d like some insight on a program or movie before you let your kids watch it. It’s a great parent resource. It has a good rating system that you can narrow down by age and preference. The goal is to make sure you know what your kids are watching before it’s too late.
What are your go-to streaming shows for kids?
My son loves True (he used to call it Frooky, after the princess’ dog) and Tree house Detectives. We only have Netflix and Hulu. He currently loves Robocar Poli. On Netflix he loves Curious George.
That’s great! Frooky is the best… he’s sweet, sarcastic and witty, lol I’ll have to check out Robocar Poli! We’re currently in a new My Little Pony phase over here. Curious George is always a solid bet too. Silly monkey! Thanks so much for reading and sharing Michelle!