Educational Shows To Watch With Your Children
Educational Shows to Watch With Your Children
I am always looking for ways to get my children interested in learning and making it fun and entertaining. Recently, I have been snuggling down and watching a lot more television with my children. I even am allowing some of it to be considered a homeschool lesson, and let me tell you why it is because they are fully engaged and are learning. Plus, they don’t count it as homeschool, so there is no argument when we spend some quality time catching up on these shows. You know you want to know all about these educational shows to watch with your children, but before I share all about them, please take a moment and pin this post to your education or homeschooling board.
Most of the shows I will discuss are for children aged out of preschool shows. These shows do not disappoint. They are bound to have you hooked as well. Many of them can be found on streaming services like Amazon and Netflix. Let’s jump into it, and for added viewing fun, check out our tips for a successful family movie night which you can try with these amazing shows as well.
Annedroids
We just finished this series, and let me tell you, all three of us are so disappointed that it is over. There is so much to love about this show from Amazon. With its genius female scientist protagonist (yes, for girls in STEM!). This show also celebrates diversity, gender identity, adoption/foster care, homeschooling, modern families, and so much more. It is a funny, interesting, and poignant show without relying on stereotypes. It is a brilliant show that counts towards our science class!
Just Add Magic
We have watched this show over and over again. All of us, including my 7-year-old son, loves this show as well. Three smart and creative girls find a magic cookbook to create spells that cook up what they need more than what they want. They learn life lessons like the value of friendship, honesty, and selflessness. It is a fun show that has a mystery element that we all love. It leaves you on the edge of your seating begging to know what will happen next. While this show is over, there is a spin-off with 3 new protectors. They did a great job transitioning their audience to the spin-off as well.
Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street
Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal street can be compared to a positive pre-teen Twilight Zone. They tackle issues like being the little guy, grief, and the value of friendship through a fantastical lens. Each episode holds a lesson like how being weird is cool or how to be a good friend. However, it never comes off as cheesy or predictable.
Dino Dana
Looking for a show that will get your children excited about paleontology? This show has amazing CGI and equally amazing storylines, including dinosaur education, life lessons, and inherent kindness and curiosity models that children and adults can appreciate. With a female protagonist and blended family, this show also celebrates diversity.
Magic School Bus Rides Again
If you grew up with the original Magic School Bus, which you can watch on Netflix, nostalgia is bound to hit you like a ton of bricks when you snuggle up with the kids to watch this one. I absolutely loved the Magic School Bus as a kid, and I still enjoy watching it with my kids. It is real science taught entertainingly. What is not to love? This new series doesn’t disappoint, as Ms. Frizzle’s sister takes on a new generation.
Carmen Sandiego
Learn about geography, history, art, and more as a master thief who uses her skills for good. Carmen Sandiego travels the world foiling V.I.L.E.’s evil plans — with help from her savvy sidekicks.
Bill Nye Saves the World
In this wacky talk show, the popular educator explores scientific topics in the everyday world, including climate change, video games, and space travel.
You vs. Wild
This interactive series, you’ll make key decisions to help Bear Grylls survive, thrive, and complete missions in the harshest environments on Earth. This show is like a game and so much fun. The kids loved taking risks and “making” Bear do some unthinkable things to survive in the wild.
Brainchild
Have a child who wants to know how everything works? From the universe creation to the famous 5-Second rule. This educational series introduces several scientific topics to young audiences in a relatable way.
Anne with an E
If you are a fan of Anne of Green Gables, check out Anne’s more modern version in the Netflix series Anne with an E. While it isn’t exactly like the book, it is definitely darker and carries more modern themes like feminism, sexual orientation, racism, and so much more. This Anne doesn’t lose her lovability. You and your tweens/teens will fall in love with Anne and her story.
Brain Games
An excellent show combining science and biology, Brain Games focuses on how brains process information related to topics like stress, addiction, competition, food, trust, and language. Using interactive games and hidden-camera experiments, Brain Games makes learning about the science and biology of the human brain fun and approachable.
Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey
A 13- part adventure across the universe of space and time, hosted by renowned astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, exploring humanity’s heroic quest for knowledge and the laws of science.
Bob Ross: The Joy of Painting
He’s the soft-spoken guy painting happy clouds, mountains, and trees in about twenty-six minutes of television.
Ken Burns: The War
A seven-part series brings World War II to life through the harrowing accounts of soldiers and others from “typical” American towns. (All of Ken Burns’ documentaries are great supplements to your history curriculum.
Numbers
Numbers bring to life the genius mathematicians who discovered new theories and frontiers in math in a way that has never been seen before to show the beauty of math.
A Plastic Ocean
When he discovers the world’s oceans brimming with plastic, a documentary filmmaker investigates the pollution’s environmental impact.
Mister Rogers
It is the perfect family show that all ages can appreciate. Something about Mister Rogers is so calming, and he teaches many social-emotional skills and so much more.
Boy Meets World
While many parents will remember this show fondly, they might not immediately see the educational value. However, when you think back to the storylines, this show was an approachable way for kids to learn about the real-life interpersonal struggles that people of all ages have and how they navigate their way through them.
Diary of a Future President
Not only is the future female, but it is also Latina! Go through the “President’s” childhood through her journal and learn what it was like to grow up as a headstrong little Latina. This show celebrates diversity and covers many issues tweens go through growing up in this generation. Such as the loss of a parent, being a good friend, going through puberty, doing what is right, starting to date, sexual orientation, bullying, frenemies, and so much more. At the same time, it may sound like a heavy show.
The Baby-Sitters Club
The Baby-Sitters Club is back for a new generation on Netflix. The show’s diverse cast gives young viewers positive role models to relate to while tackling tough issues like gender identity, divorce, and racism. The smart, loyal, entrepreneurial characters are also a welcome break from “mean girl” personas that can sometimes be common in shows targeted to adolescents and pre-teens.
These shows aren’t only educational they are fun!
These shows celebrate diversity, talk about real things in our children’s world, and are entertaining. Of course, please do your due diligence and watch an episode or two before you watch it with your child, but most of these shows are perfect for the tweens and even younger in your life. They not only will be perfect for them to watch but for you all to watch as a family, opening the door to big juicy conversations. We are still exploring the world of streaming, but these are just some of the shows we have enjoyed and learned from. What are your favorites?
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