3 Creative Shows for Young Kids on Netflix or Amazon
Since having kids, our family has been watching a lot of Netflix + Amazon Video. Despite the numerous studies showing that TV is harmful to children, I’ve found TV to be a necessary evil—mostly because it provides a distraction for my daughter while I get stuff done, like taking a shower or working. I also enjoy the time I get to watch TV with her.
Seeing that I’ve probably watched hundreds of hours of different kids programming on Netflix + Amazon Video, I’d say I’m a pretty good judge of the good and the bad. I have a rubric to determine the quality of a show:
- Can I stand to watch more than 2 minutes?
- Will my 2-yr-old daughter watch for more than 2 minutes?
- Is the story creative, unpredictable and surprising?
- Is it well-crafted, beautiful and artistic?
- Does it attempt to teach a lesson in kindness, curiosity, or hard work?
Tumble Leaf
Tumble Leaf, produced by Bix Pix, is about a fox named Fig who discovers an interesting object (like a flashlight) and “figures out” how to do something with it in an interesting/creative way. The show is a work of craftsmanship, with its painstakingly tedious stop-motion work. Every element has been handmade and painted to fit into each stunning scene. Its message centers around curiosity—that there is something useful or interesting in everyday objects if we only ask questions and try things out (the basic Scientific method).
Creativity: ++
Craft: +++
Life Lessons: +
Puffin Rock
Puffin Rock follows the everyday life of a Puffin named Oona and her little brother named Baba. I love the minimal, stylized artwork, the friendly Irish accents, and the cheerful music. The show is produced by Cartoon Saloon who also produced the enchanting feature film, The Book of Kells. The show centers around relationships with those who are different from us. Oona discovers her strengths and limitations as she plays with a rabbit, owl, and seal.
Creativity: ++
Craft: ++
Life Lessons: +++
Sarah and Duck
Sarah and Duck follows a girl who explores her eccentric world. This show has the most creatively plot lines. For example, Sarah gets a bouncy ball from the ball machine but is disappointed that the ball doesn’t bounce. The machine gives her a note to come inside the machine and pick out another ball. Sarah enters the machine into a huge, magical bouncy-ball world where she discovers bouncy balls that defy gravity. Sarah is a confident, independent, and inquisitive girl who is never phased by her fantastical world—acting as if everything she encounters is normal.
Creativity: +++
Craft: ++
Life Lessons: ++
Thanks for the read! If you know parents with young children, pass this along.
