As parents, we all know that screen time needs to be kept to a minimum, but sometimes we really need its babysitting capacity. However, that doesn’t mean we want our kids to be watching mindless rubbish. After lots of digging and watching, these are our best educational Netflix shows for children.
Our Top 5 Picks are:
1️⃣. Octonauts (Age 4 – 7): This has consistently been my kids’ and my favourite show. The hilarious rescue adventures of a Polar Bear, Kitten, Penguin, and Dog have taught us more about sea creatures’ habits, strengths, and weaknesses than maybe even David Attenborough. Okay, maybe that’s too big a claim, but it’s definitely engaging.
2️⃣. Our Planet II (Age 6 – 60): The real deal, David Attenborough, may not initially appeal as much as Octonauts, but trust me, if you can get them through the first 5 minutes, it’s a winner. I suggest you sit with them for this one; it’s a great bonding activity. Perfect for a hangover or when you need to relax and are bored of the Disney Channel!
3️⃣. The Who Was? (Age 7 – 70): If you’re not sure what Benjamin Franklin did—Declaration of Independence? Libraries? Electricity?—or why Joan of Arc was intent on waging war, then this is the show for you and your child. This very funny history show covers lots of historical characters from Marie Antoinette to Genghis Khan, all without turning your children off history, but instead, entertaining and educating them.
4️⃣. Wild Babies (Age 4 – 10): Who doesn’t love a baby animal? If a David Attenborough show is too much for them, then this will be perfect. How many miles can a baby elephant walk? How does a one-day-old Cuckoo bird get rid of all the other eggs so there’s no competition? The truth is even stranger than you can imagine! All this and more will be revealed in this fantastically cute but also very informative show.
5️⃣. Billy Elliot (Film) and Project Mc2 (Age 8 – 12): These last two may not be conventionally educational, but I believe the film “Billy Elliot” counts as an educational show due to its historical references. Set during the miner strikes of the 1980s in the UK, lots of children might not even know what a miner is or how people lived back then, so it has educational merit. It also demonstrates the struggles children had in being different and breaking out of family traditions. “Project Mc2” is about a gang of girls who love all things science. Their adventures have lots of hidden scientific information. The girls work for a highly secretive group of female government operatives who are trying to protect the world. These two suggestions may work for older children who are very resistant to the more overtly educational shows.
There are many other films with fantastic educational or moral messages, such as , “Percy Jackson” (Geek Gods history), “Finding Nemo” (barrier reef destruction), “Kung Fu Panda” (people have talents they may not realise), and “Wall-E” (ecological warning with an epic soundtrack). Even “Avatar” for older children has all sorts of environmental messages.
If films or TV series are discussed, most things can have an educational bent. Personally, I love to write down five facts from a TV show and have a quiz at dinner time. This can go either way, so I’m not promising an argument-free meal time, but give it a go!