Streaming services are built with adults in mind. Content is made in tandem with what's popular, or what could be popular, with mature audiences. The success of streaming services, in particular Netflix, is largely in part due to content aimed at adults. That said, Netflix’s secret weapon wasn’t solely in adult-centered content, but by borrowing a page from Nickelodeon’s playbook. The company is known for its educational productions on its specialized channel for children called Nick Jr, which aired shows like Blue’s Clues and Peppa Pig.
Netflix’s Kids, the section aptly named for its kid-focused content, has plenty of educational shows to choose from. These shows aren’t categorized by age, but shows like CoComelon and Gabby’s Dollhouse are meant for toddlers, whereas My Dad the Bounty Hunter and The Magic School Bus are for older children. Children’s educational TV is distinct due to teaching children about sharing, trying new things, and the beginnings of phonics, grammar, and math. Regardless of their intended audience, Netflix is home to a plethora of great educational shows for children. Here are the 10 best TV series to check out for your growing kids.
10 CoComelon
The infant-centered show CoComelon has taken the world by storm. JJ and his friends, who are both human and animal babies and toddlers, sing nursery rhymes paired with animated stories. Like other animated shows for babies, the series is brightly lit and repetitive. According to Active Babies Smart Kids, repetition is how babies learn new skills. For example, babies learn that some toys make certain sounds or their parents smile when they do something. All of these skills are learned and encouraged through babies repeating these things. The creative team of CoComelon knows this, which is why each episode follows the same format and performs the same song.
9 Gabby’s Dollhouse
Gabby is a young child with long brown curly hair who loves kittens! She can be unaware of her surroundings, but she is confident in herself. In many ways, Gabby is a lot like the kids who watch the series: still figuring out their world and really loving towards animals. The episodes of Gabby's Dollhouse focus on Gabby and her kitten friends going on adventures after opening a box with a surprise inside. In addition to Gabby loving kittens and being confident, the creative team behind the series incorporates popular aspects of children's screen time into the show. Unboxing videos are popular with children, especially if a toy is involved.
8 Octonauts
Science fiction is a multi-faceted genre, especially for children. Yet the series Octonauts takes things to a new level by incorporating elements of Star Trek and infamous oceanic explorer Jacques Cousteau into each episode. The Octonauts are a team of animal oceanic explorers led by Captain Barnacles, who is a polar bear. His second in command is Lieutenant Kwazii is a cat and is also the lead crypto-zoologist. The onboard medic, a penguin, is named Peso. Captain Barnacles and his crew set out to help other Octonauts whose vehicles have been damaged or broken down. Along the way, they encounter animals in need of help or in their natural habitat. The series is popular with children for the animal-centric and underwater themes.
7 Storybots: Answer Time
The Netflix Original series Storybots: Answer Time is about five monochromatic robots who answer big questions from little children. Friends Beep, Boop, Bing, Bang, and Bo aren't just physical search engines though. They spend each episode singing, dancing, and explaining their responses. Questions the Storybots answer range from inquiries about nutrition to the inner workings of machines children interact with or see frequently. Storybots is so popular with children that they have a YouTube series, books, and music collections that are accessible to all children.
6 Not Quite Narwhal
The popular Netflix series Not Quite Narwhal is based on a book of the same title. According to Simon & Schuster, the book is written by Jessie Sima and is about unconditional acceptance. Kelp, a Narwhal, has always felt out of place with his family until he discovers something magical: he's actually a unicorn! The animated series on Netflix maintained the spirit of the book as Kelp and his unicorn friends learn about social-emotional skills and radical acceptance. Shows like Not Quite Narwhal are important for kids of all ages simply because kids need to build strong socio-emotional bonds with each other and adults.
5 Waffles + Mochi’s Restaurant
Since leaving the U.S. Capital, former First Lady Michelle Obama and her husband have made plenty of TV shows by partnering with comedians, philosophers, and more TV personalities. While serving as First Lady, Obama focused on childhood nutrition and fitness with her program Let's Move! With the series, Waffles + Mochi's Restaurant, Obama and her puppet friends learn about nutrition, kitchen safety, and other elements of cooking that are kid-friendly. They have partnered with Partnership for a Healthier America to encourage more nutritious eating. On the Waffles & Mochi website, parents and children can access recipes and other information to earn points to donate to food banks that help families in need.
4 My Dad the Bounty Hunter
The futuristic adventure series My Dad the Bounty Hunter has put a positive and funny spin on science fiction. Terry tries to conceal his job as a bounty hunter, who goes by Sabo Brok, from his family. Yet his children, Lisa and Sean, discover this secret and end up joining their father on his adventures. My Dad the Bounty Hunter is full of action, heart-warming father and child moments, and social commentary. The series is perfect for children and parents alike as Terry is voiced by Laz Alonso and his wife, Tess, is voiced by Yvonne Orji from Insecure.
3 The Magic School Bus
During the 90s, two shows made science accessible to children. One of these shows was The Magic School Bus, an animated series about a teacher and her students who went on adventures to learn about everything from the circulatory system to volcanoes. Miss Frizzle (Lily Tomlin), the classroom chameleon Liz, and a school bus that can transform into any vehicle with the push of a button go on field trips. The series inspired a Netflix original show called The Magic School Bus Rides Again with SNL alum Kate McKinnon voicing Felicity Frizzle, the younger sister of former Miss Frizzle who is now Professor Frizzle.
2 Meekah
Blippi is a popular toddler-focused TV series. Blippi and his friends like to go on adventures and ask questions along the way that inspire curiosity. The series is so popular that one of the characters has her own spin-off. According to ANB Media, the character named Meekah was such a success that she's getting her own series. Meekah is a live-action series that takes the curiosity of Blippi and applies arts, crafts, and building to solve problems Meekah encounters along the way.
1 The Wiggles: Ready, Steady, Wiggle
The Australian children's musical group known as The Wiggles has been around for over 30 years. In the early-2000s, they made their way to North America and took over children's TV. Currently, The Wiggles are made up of four people: Anthony, Lachlan, Simon, and Emma. In
The Wiggles: Ready, Steady Wiggle
, the quartet use song, dance, and crafts to help teach children about hygiene, helping friends, and other concepts children learn at home or school.