Due to the pandemic, many of us are choosing to stay indoors more often. Working from home is still highly encouraged in many companies and therefore many parents must juggle between completing job tasks and taking care of little ones.
It is common to use screen time to keep children occupied. But as a parent, you are always trying to reduce your child’s screen time as excessive screen time can cause problems like fatigue or eye damage. It is recommended that children should only have 1 to 2 hours of screen time a day.
In this article, we will be sharing with you 5 educational shows you can find on Netflix that last between 4 to 25 minutes so you can still keep track of their screen time usage!
1) Word Party
Word Party is one of my go-to shows for toddlers! If your child is over 5 years old, this show may be boring to them. Word Party features 4 baby animals learning words daily to describe their day.
It teaches the babies how to describe their emotions, identifying their body parts, friendships, as well as basic manners. The show uses simple language to mimic the linguistic abilities that toddlers possess.
The show also includes many songs to engage toddlers. Each episode lasts between 4 – 6 minutes which is good if you are limiting screen time.
2) Little Baby Bums – Learning Songs
As the title may suggest, this show uses songs to expose preschoolers to rhythm and rhyming. Some of the songs may be familiar to us such as “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” and “The Alphabet Song.”.
The show has an educational component by introducing basic concepts such as phonics, numbers, animals as well as colours. Each episode is also colourful and engaging which would attract your children.
The show also presents milestones that your child may reach – getting an injection or potty training. It is definitely a relatable show for preschoolers!
3) Number Blocks
Numbers Blocks is an educational show on numbers. Characters are made of blocks where they lived in Numberland. This show is mainly on numeracy skills.
The show teaches children how to count and do simple Math problems. With the music and great visuals, it is definitely a show that will make your child love Math!
Humour is also present in the show which convinces children that Math is a fun and creative activity. It is great for parents who want their children to build on their foundation of Mathematical thinking.
4) Ask The Storybots
Many parents can relate to the unlimited stream of “Whys” from our preschoolers. They are at the age of wanting to know everything and some of the questions they asked have stumped me a few times.
In ‘Ask The Storybots’, each episode covers questions that preschoolers will ask. Examples are “Why does night happen?” or “Why do people look different?”. When was the last time we actually thought of these existential questions?
In the show, 5 little robots go on an adventure to answer different questions in each episode. Answers are revealed at the end of the show in a form of a music video.
The educational series is also engaging enough for parents to watch the show together. It will certainly help with answering thought-provoking questions in the future!
5) Pocoyo
Pocoyo is quite different than all the 4 shows that I have recommended above. They do not have much visual information on the screen which can be considered “calming”. Almost all of the episodes are on a white background with Pocoyo at the front.
The show is mainly about Pocoyo’s imagination and sense of adventure. The teaching point of the show is on managing interpersonal relationships with a positive attitude.
This can be helpful for preschoolers who are already making friends at a young age. The show focuses on how to resolve problems or conflicts between Pocoyo and his animal friends. The storylines are also easy to grasp!
Final Words
Allowing screen time for children can always cause a huge debate amongst parents but I believe moderation is key.
Choosing educational shows can be useful for preschoolers as it keeps them engaged. This is why most of these children’s shows have shorter episodes to help limit excessive screen time. Children should still use books and playtime as their main source of learning!
If you do not have Netflix, many of these shows can also be found on YouTube. However, you may need to make sure that you have a good internet connection to load the show. Websites like Speedcheck can help you check on your internet speed.
As for Netflix users, you can download the episodes and save it on your phone.
We hope that this article has helped you in selecting the right educational show for your preschooler!
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