The quarantine drove us all into a corner of overwhelming boredom, predominantly for children. As we struggle to cope and endlessly search for ways to repress feelings of weariness in our children, it is without a doubt that children will be engrossed in more screen-time than usual in the coming weeks. Excessive screen-time can be harmful towards children; it can lead to shorter attention spans and slower cognitive development. Some children’s programmes are brimming with inappropriate content and can cause behavioural problems such as aggression, violence, nightmares, and even sleep deprivation. Mind-numbing, senseless children programmes like ‘Cow and Chicken’ and ‘Spongebob Squarepants’ are full of sexual innuendos. Children attain knowledge like a sponge; this should be capitalized on rather than wasting away, brain dead in front of a screen. On a different note, with moderation and supervision, many children’s programmes are indeed informative and educational. They can even help children with spelling, learning the alphabet, instilling good moral values, and providing them with a great deal of knowledge. Netflix has many exceptional children’s programmes that are not only educational but entertaining as well; streaming programmes on Netflix is also convenient; it’s commercial-free and has introduced parental controls. We have scouted out for only the best children’s programmes on Netflix that will actually teach your child a thing or two, and screen time won’t be such a waste of time.
Ask The Storybots
This educational kid show features five robots of different colours and sizes who live inside computers, they go on fun adventures and answer questions that children may have. Episodes are entitled after the things children may be curious about, like ‘Where Does The Rain Come From?’ and ‘What Is Electricity?’. Accompanying the episodes are catchy songs, new lessons, and special celebrity guests.
If I Were An Animal
A documentary series that follows two kids, Emma and her brother Tim observe different animals, filmed in their natural habitats – Highlighting a different animal in each episode, from birth to adulthood with stunning close-up footage. Each episode takes us on an in-depth journey into the lives of the animals featured.
Dinosaur Train
A whimsical kid’s programme that will take children back in time to prehistoric days. This fun and colourful show follows a little Tyrannosaurus Rex named Buddy; Buddy was adopted by Mr and Mrs Pteranodon. The show has a very positive adoption storyline, which will allow young children to have some insight and understanding of adoption. Dinosaur Train encourages and teaches basic scientific thinking skills. Viewers will also learn about natural history, palaeontology, and life science as they take you across prehistoric jungles, swamps, volcanoes, and oceans. While this show can develop children’s inquiry skills, it will also inspire children to visit museums so they can learn more about their prehistoric friend Buddy.
Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood
The show features a 4-year old named Daniel Tiger, who brings viewers along into his world, making children feel like they too are a part of Daniel’s neighbourhood friends. Using imagination, music, and creativity, Daniel and his friends go through the episodes learning necessary social skills in life and school. Each episode consists of two stories that centre on early learning themes like Daniel learns to ask first. A great, entertaining show that will teach children moral values and to follow in Daniel’s footsteps.
The Magic School Bus (TV Series)
As Valerie Frizzle and her class journey on thrilling field trips on a flying magic school bus, they discover different periods, new locations, creatures, and wondrous science. They bring viewers around the world while enlightening their growing minds with broad scientific concepts. The magic school bus takes the class anywhere they desire, be it under the sea or even inside the human body.
Sesame street
Sesame Street is a longtime favourite by both children and adults, a variety of puppet characters presenting different lessons. Sesame Street teaches children how to count, spell, and pronounce words. Sesame street also teaches children about real-life scenarios in a sensitive way that will help children understand and prepare them for the real world. Certain topics, such as racism, death, and disorders, may spark curiosity in children. But, it can be hard explaining these topics with a sensitive touch to them, Sesame street remains to be one of the best kid shows that tackles sensitive issues very well.
Super Why!
This educational children’s programme features four friends that go on magical adventures together and become reading-powered superheroes. Viewers are transported in new worlds as the super readers jump into books that come to life. Each storyline involves problem-solving, the super readers and viewers will encounter obstacles and are to find ways using literacy skills to solve the issues faced. As viewers and the super readers overcome the obstacles, they will be awarded red glittery “Super Letters.” Super Why! is the perfect show for children ages 3 to 6, the animated series helps children learn essential reading skills, including alphabets, rhyming, spelling and pronouncing words. Super Why! is also an interactive website that will further help children engage their learned skills. The super readers will sing a song once they’ve figured out the solution and to mark the end of each episode.
The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That!
Canadian-British-American animated TV series follows adventures of The Cat in the Hat leading his neighbour Sally, Nick, the Fish, Thing One and Thing Two. They set out on journeys in The Cat in the Hat’s “Thinga-ma-jigger,” which is a cross between a plane and a helicopter that can change in sizes, fly, float, and do just about anything required for the adventures. These journeys take them around the globe to engage in scientific discoveries that could spark the interest of children to become scientists in the future. The characters in the series are bright, knowledgeable, and charismatic, making them perfect role models for children. The book itself has seen tremendous success and has become a staple of Dr Seuss’s work.