KETSIREE TURY
- Jul 6, 2022
- 6 min read

15 Educational Shows for Kids

It takes a village, they say. Well, my village is mostly just me. As an "expat" living in the US with no family or an affordable helping hand, I heavily rely on educational shows for kids to entertain, educate, and "watch" my children. I have to say watching TV is extremely useful, if you control what your kids are watching. By limiting the time, as well as doing other activities like reading, drawing, board gaming, sometimes wrestling and tickling, these educational shows do way more good than harm. As much as there is TV watching inside the house, we do plenty of other activities outside. Check out my Instagram.

"Watching TV" nowadays is a different activity than what it used to be. It is no longer about endless commercials and mindless junk shows (although there's more of those than ever.) My eldest quotes from his TV learnings just as much as from the books. These educational or edutainment shows for kids are what I would happily let my children watch for hours on end, then I will say "Turn the tv off, take a break, it's not good for your brain."

Note that I am more relaxed with what kind of show my eldest watches since he goes to school full-time, so his TV watching is more recreational than educational. However, since he has a little brother, I let him know that some of the shows he watches should ideally benefit his brother as well. Let's see if I have covered some of your favorites, and hope you can discover some new ones to add onto your list of Educational Shows for Kids.

1. Ask the StoryBots

Educational Shows for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Learn about educational topics including space, dinosaurs, shapes, colors, emotions and more. The show also features various guest celebrities like John Legend, Ed Norton, Snoop Dogg, and Christina Applegate. Ask the StoryBots is definitely one of my personal favorite edutainment shows.

Watch Ask the Storybots on Netflix. You can also search for some episodes on YouTube.

Age Group: 2-9 years old

2. Wild Kratts

Wild Kratts follows the wild adventures of animated characters of the brothers Chris and Martin Kratt. The show encounter wild animals and present entertaining stories, each with its own adventure, mystery, and fun facts.

Watch Wild Kratts on PBS Kids, on regular TV program and on their PBS Kids YouTube channel.

Age group: 2-9 years old

3. Super Wings

Jett teams up with the Super Wings to deliver packages to children around the world. Children can learn about countries, geography, along with the different cultures and diversity. Together, they tackle new challenges, teach kids problem-solving skills, and the importance of teamwork.

Watch Super Wings on Amazon Prime , and some content is on their Super Wings TV on YouTube.

Age group: 2-7 years old

4. Octonauts

Explore the new underwater worlds with the Octonauts. Whenever there is trouble, the team of undersea explorers are ready to dive into action to rescue the sea creatures and protect the ocean. Learn about real marine animals in their natural habitats. The Octonauts now expanded their exploration onto land in Octonauts: Above & Beyond!

Watch Octonauts on Netflix and their channel on YouTube.

Age Group: 3-8 years old

5. The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!

The show promotes children's literacy in science and follows the magical adventures of Nick and Sally, who travel the world with the Cat in the Hat and Thing One and Thing Two. As they travel in the Cat's the Thinga-ma-jigger, children can learn about natural science, as they visit the rainforest, the bottom of the sea, and all places in between.

Watch Cat in the Hat on normal program on PBS Kids, Netflix, and Amazon Prime.

Age group: 2-7 years old

6. Storyline Online

Listening to a story being read to by Chris Pine? Sign me up! I mean it's not for me, it's for the sake of my children. The award-winning children’s literacy website, Storyline Online®, streams videos featuring celebrities reading children’s books. Readers include Oprah Winfrey, Kevin Costner, Kristen Bell, Betty White, Wanda Sykes and dozens more.

Watch Storyline Online on Youtube.

Age group: 2+ years old

7. Story Time from Space

A story time read by astronauts from the Space Station, in actual outer space, in zero gravity. Isn't that just so out of this world? The stories told vary in age group, but the cool factor is ageless. And the inspiration kids could get from it? Priceless. Story Time from Space is a project run by the Global Space Education Foundation.

Watch the Story Time from Space on YouTube

Age group: 2+ years old

8. Emily's Wonder Lab

Emily’s Wonder Lab takes kids through lively experiments and entertaining activities to get kids excited about STEAM! fun with activities, demonstrations and at-home experiments that'll blow your mind! Emily’s Wonder Lab, hosted by engineer, space expert and Emmy-nominated TV science host Emily Calandrelli.

Watch Emily's Wonder Lab on Netflix

Age group: 4+ years old

9. Nat Geo Kids

You may know the popular children's magazine, National Geographic Kids but did you know they also produce learning shows for kids? Nat Geo Kids channel offers fun and educational content like animals, cool science, funny pets, how things work, and so much more. My son's favorite show is Weird but True! You can also visit the National Geographic Kids website for more games, photos, and videos.

Watch Nat Geo Kids on YouTube

Age group: 4+ years old

10. SciShow Kids

Join Jessi, Mister Brown, Squeaks the Robot Lab Rat, and friends at the Fort as they conduct experiments, research new questions, and talk with experts to learn all about science! There's always something new to learn and discover with SciShow Kids for everyone in the family! Many of the episodes are structured around the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) curriculum - awesome scienceee!

Watch SciShow Kids on YouTube

Age group: 4+ years old

11. Magic School Bus and Magic School Bus Rides Again

The Magic School Bus follows Ms. Frizzle and her class as they set off on field trips on a magical bus - that can transforms into a plane, submarine, spaceship or even a surfboard! The Magic School Bus transports Ms. Frizzle and her students on extraordinary adventures and teaches them about science. The newer Magic School Bus Rides Again show follows similar science-filled edutainment concept, this time featuring Ms. Frizzle's kid sister Fiona and her students.

Watch Magic School Bus on Youtube and Netflix and Magic School Bus Rides Again on Netflix.

Age group: 5+ years old

12. Smithsonian Channel

We have quite a few Smithsonian books at home so I looked up to see if there was a Smithsonian channel, and of course there is! Smithsonian Channel is suitable for inquisitive kids and adults alike, featuring awe-inspiring stories, powerful documentaries and amazing entertainment. The award-winning educational programs include popular topics such as air and space, history, science, nature, and pop culture.

Watch Smithsonian Channel on YouTube.

Age group: 5+ years old

13. Colossal Questions

The show answers kid's most pressing questions like, "Why do tigers have stripes?" "Why is the sky blue?" "What's really inside a hotdog?" and "Who Invented Homework?" If your kid is always asking why and is full of curiosity, have them watch Colossal Questions. You're so welcome.

Watch Colossal Questions on YouTube.

Age group: 5+ years old

14. Deep Look

This is a personal recommendation from my son who has a strong interest in the animal kingdom. If your kiddos are into animals or life science, chances are they will enjoy the show too. Deep Look is a science video series that explore big science by going very, very small. The show uses macro photography and microscopy to see science up real close, 4K resolution to be exact.

Watch Deep Look on YouTube.

Age group: 5+ years old

15. We Build It We Break It

This is a show I stumbled upon while finalizing this list of 15 Educational Shows for Kids. We Build It We Break It is a show where kids come together to build mind-boggling creations and then figure out equally fun ways to destroy them. If encouraging your kids to brainstorm and invent something is your cup of tea, then this show will give you a much needed break. The concept reminds me of Mythbusters!

Watch We Build It We Break It on YouTube.

Age group: 5+ years old

I hope you find this list of 15 Educational Shows for Kids useful, and now have a happy list of educational programs to share with your spouse, the grandparents, and/or caretakers. If you like this article and think it maybe useful to others, please feel free to share it. You can support me by visiting my Amazon store or shop my personal list of Play & Learn products. Thank you : )