When we were kids there weren't many educational television shows or movies to choose from. We had a handful of excellent programming on PBS (and that was enough for us, right?) but not many movies, and certainly not anything we could 'stream' on a whim. But today is an entirely different story, so I've compiled a few choices to help steer you in the right direction.
Disclosure: this is a collaborative post. Some of these shows were originally featured in my article, Five Educational Preschool Shows Even Parents Will Love
There are so many educational TV shows for children of all ages (way more than we had as kids!). If you're having a family movie night or television time, it's easy to find an educational program streaming somewhere!
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| photo credit: Unsplash A. Dummer |
Educational Television Shows
Creative Galaxy
Creative Galaxy follows the adventures of alien artist Arty and his sidekick Epiphany as they search the galaxy to solve problems with art, music, and dance. Not only can kids see how the arts are important in everyday life, but they can also join in by doing a simple craft project at home, with instructions provided by Arty. The adorable animation, upbeat music, and unique storylines are something that all parents can appreciate. To watch, get the fire stick which contains apps, streaming, and more items… geared towards ages 4 and up.
The Magic School Bus Rides Again
You can't get much more classic than Ms. Frizzle! Everyone's favorite science teacher has been entertaining and educating kids for decades. Why not share her with your family? It would even be fun to follow up with some at-home science experiments after watching Ms. Frizzle in action (or check out some of her infamous awesome books from the library). Stream The Magic School Bus Rides Again on Netflix. Geared towards kids ages 6 and up.
Ask the StoryBots
Netflix’s quirky animated series, Ask the Storybots, is one of my all-time favorites. The Storybots (colorful, pieced-together robots) help answer life’s big questions, such as, “how do computers work?” and “why can’t I eat dessert all the time?” It’s fun to see what questions the Storybots attempt to answer in each episode, and adults will love the celebrity voices that make special cameos, too. Ask the Storybots is perfect for kids ages 3-8 and streams on Netflix.
Emily's Wonder Lab
“Stay curious and keep exploring!” That's the motto of Emily Calandrelli and her junior scientists as they experiment and hypothesize in Netflix's original series, Emily’s Wonder Lab. It's a live-action kids series where host Emily Calandrelli shares an awesome new science experiment or activity in every episode. Packed with fun experiments on how to make rainbow bubbles and slime, Emily's Wonder Lab is the perfect hands-on educational series for young kids as each episode features a new science experiment parents can replicate at home to safely engage the whole family. Discover what makes STEAM fun with these visual demonstrations that will blow your mind! The series is executive produced and hosted by Emily Calandrelli. Episodes run about ten minutes each and are followed by an at-home experiment that kids can try on their own. Find it on Netflix, geared towards ages 8 and up.
Classic Family Movies
I love recommending old-school family movies, especially ones that might not immediately come to mind when you're looking for family films or movies with an educational twist. Here are a few of my favorites from years past.
Robots
'See a need, fill a need!' is a classic line from this family movie about acceptance, ingenuity and never giving up on your dreams. Robin Williams and Ewan MacGregor make an awesome voice cast addition, too. Available for streaming on Amazon. Recommended for ages 5 and up.
Chicken Little
Chicken Little is a classic family favorite, and the underlying lesson about perseverance is a great discussion point for families. There are so many family movies to watch, and sometimes it's hard to know which one is right for your children. Sites like common sense media can help you determine if the movie you're choosing is right for your family. Chicken Little is streaming on Netflix. Recommended for ages 7 and up.
The Lorax
Not only does The Lorax contain a power message about the environment, the catchy songs, colorful computer animation and presence of Betty White (as Grammy) in the cast will delight both young and old alike. Follow up by reading the classic storybook of The Lorax by Dr. Seuss. Recommended for ages 5 and up.
You can check out more fun movies, television shows and reviews on my Movies & TV page!
