Are you a parent who’s looking for some educational and wholesome TV programmes for your under five? Perhaps your toddler just needs some chill-out time while you rest on the sofa, or perhaps you’re looking to introduce a little bit of supervised screen time in bite-size chunks. A lot of programmes out there are on iPlayer and under 15 minutes long, so it’s easier to monitor and check what you choose for your toddler (and turn the TV off at the end).
Ever heard of a water bear, symbiosis or a coelophysis? There are so many well-researched programmes that can introduce your under five to more than you might expect. So read on for our pick of educational and wholesome TV programmes.
1. Numberblocks – Most Numerical – Educational TV Programmes For Under Fives
Numberblocks is one of the most popular shows out there for pre-schoolers. It’s so good that often Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) teachers will show episodes in school to teach key mathematical concepts. Oh, and they also have great number-based songs. We challenge you to stop humming the ‘number five’ song out of your heads once you’ve heard it once! There’s also a Numberblocks magazine and other educational resources you can buy to support the learning from the programme.
“Numberblocks is incredible. So clever how they explain all the maths concepts, and Lucy especially was OBSESSED with it.”
– Lisa, Team Happity
2. Go Jetters – Most Geographical – Educational TV Programmes For Under Fives
Go Jetters will give your toddler a sense of what’s out there in the big wide world. The premise is that every episode, the Go Jetters zoom off to a specific location somewhere in the world and learn all about it. There’s also a fun section with ‘Ubercorn’s Funky Top Three’ facts, which adults can learn lots from too! So if your under five starts talking about the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, the Wieliczka Salt Mine in Poland or the Nazka Lines in Peru, you’ll know why.
3. Andy’s Global Adventures: Baby Animal Missions – Best For Baby Animals
Learn all about unusual baby animals in this ‘adventure’ series with Andy, an intrepid explorer. In each episode he travels to meet a different baby animal and learns all about them. Expect your toddler to start telling you all about painted dog pups and baby lar gibbons. If your toddler loves animals, and maybe enjoys looking at picture books, Andy’s Global Adventures: Baby Animal Missions can be a great supplement to help bring the animals to life – and maybe introduce them to some you (and they) haven’t heard of.
4. Octonauts – Best For Sealife – Educational TV Programmes For Under Fives
The beauty of Octonauts is that the episodes are set in oceans and seas all over the world. So this show will expose your toddler to knowledge about all sorts of sea creatures and their habitats, from saltwater crocodiles and waterbears to manatees and leafy sea dragons. It’s all done with a team of cartoon underwater animal explorers like Kwaz (a pirate cat) and Peso (a medic penguin) who try to protect the oceans and help different creatures.
“When our four-year-old started talking about symbiosis, we realised we’d have to pay extra attention to that particular episode!”
– Liz, Team Happity
5. Bluey – Most Relatable ‘Life Lessons’
Bluey and her family appear as cartoon dog characters and the situations they end up in are totally relatable to toddlers, preschoolers and parents too. From humorous takes on trying to leave the house on time for a playdate to simple challenges like using the play equipment at the park or getting the water fountain to operate, there’s something for everyone. Also watch out for the episode where Bluey’s sister Bingo is trying to sleep. There’s a whole dream sequence with music from Holst’s The Planets. Magical TV making at its very best.
6. My World Kitchen – Best For Cooking – Educational TV Programmes For Under Fives
This treat of a cooking show for pre-school children sees young cooks celebrate their heritage. Watch My World Kitchen and learn how to make a variety of dishes from different countries and cultures, including Algerian Borek, Nigerian Jollof Rice and Saint Lucien Jerk Sea Bass.
7. Yacka Dee! – Best For Early Language Skills
Each episode focuses on mastering one word at a time. Yacka Dee! helps encourage younger children to learn how to communicate and talk. It’s also great for your preschooler seeing other children on screen practising sounds and early writing skills.
8. The Adventures Of Paddington – Best For Storytelling About Friends And Family
Join Paddington, Lucy, Jonathan, Mrs Bird and the rest of the Brown family as they negotiate life, family and friendship. Paddington always seems to get in a bit of a sticky situation, particularly where neighbour Mr Curry (or marmalade) is involved, but he learns how to overcome these challenges with the help of others.
9. Andy’s Dinosaur Adventures – Best For Prehistory
Andy’s Dinosaur Adventures sees Andy the explorer travel back ‘to the time of the dinosaurs’ . There he encounters the behavior, habits and habitats of loads of prehistoric creatures, from coelophysis to allosaurus. There’s usually a quest involved, where Hattie his assistant is setting up an exhibition for visiting children to the ‘National’ (i.e. Natural History) Museum, and there’s a piece missing, so Andy goes back in secret to try and find it. Oh, and you can see his time-travelling clock at the actual Natural History Museum next time you’re on a visit.
There are loads of Andy adventures in the franchise, including Andy’s Aquatic Adventures (filmed at the Eden Project in Cornwall) and Andy’s Dinosaur Toybox, where he reenacts different dinosaur scenes.
10. Mr Tumble – Best For Speech And Communication
Jason Fletcher, AKA Mr Tumble, uses sign language throughout his programme. This one is great for your under five learning about communication and social skills. If your little one already attends signing classes, this help consolidate how to use sign language in a real-life context.
11. Let’s Go For A Walk – Most Nature-Play Based
Perfect for those who like being outside and in nature, this CBeebies classic (hosted by Hamza of Strictly fame) makes the usual walk down the park feel exciting and will give you loads of ideas for next time you’re out and about. So tune into Let’s Go For A Walk feel inspired. It might even encourage you to give your local nature class a try.
12. One Zoo Three – Best For Animal Care
One Zoo Three could be one for your under five if they love learning all about wild animals and how to care for them. Join the three brothers who own this family-run zoo as they share the story about how their zoo started, as well as working with the keepers caring for the animals including marmosets, ocelots and big cats.
13. I Can Do It, You Can Too – Most Skills-Based
The premise of I Can Do It, You Can Too is that it’s all about the skills young children love to learn, be it scooting, flying a paper airplane, rollerskating or Tae Kwon Do. The special appeal to under fives is that the ‘expert’ is a child who teaches and demonstrates the skill to another child who really wants to learn how to do something.
14. Bitz & Bobs – Best For Engineering
Is your under five into building things? Check out Bitz & Bobs for an introduction to science and engineering. From moving heavy rocks to making a tightrope safe, the main characters help their friends find solutions to tricky problems.
15. Colourblocks – Best For Colour – Educational TV Programmes For Under Fives
Another one from the Numberblocks and Alphablocks team, Colourblocks will help your little one with naming and categorising colour in a fun way.
16. Alphablocks – Best For Phonics – Educational TV Programmes For Under Fives
From the team who brought you Numberblocks, Alphablocks is a similar programme based on sounds and phonics. Again, written by teachers and educational consultants, you’ll discover a fun and memorable way for your child to begin to get some familiarity with different sounds. And watch out for the episodes where Numberblocks meet Alphablocks too.
17. Messy Goes To Okido – Best For Science
Warning: the theme tune of this one is a bit noisy, and Messy loves smelly socks, but the scientific concepts introduced in Messy Goes To Okido are rock solid. From floating and sinking to bones and gravity, the characters show how science works in a fun storytelling way.
18. Art Adventures With Fred & Pete – Most Arty
Is your child a budding artist? If so, head to Art Adventures With Fred & Pete for some unconventional art projects, from balloon animal safari parks to dinosaur sports day and tractor parties. There’s also Fred & Pete’s Treasure Tales where the duo go on the hunt for hidden objects and the stories behind them.
What If I’m Worried About Screen Time For My Under Five? A Word About Young Children And Screens…
We have researched all the programmes so you can be as confident as possible that your child will gain educational benefit from viewing in small doses, as well as exposing them to diversity and different experiences. However, we know that a lot of parents worry about screen time and some choose to avoid it altogether. After all, there are lots of studies out there looking at the impact of devices in particular. Just make sure you’re monitoring what your under five watches and try to stick to the WHO (World Health Organisation) recommended limit of 1 hour per day for 2-4 year-olds. Maybe set a kitchen timer or sand timer so it’s visual. Then you can be confident that you are being careful and setting limits on screen time.
This can also be more difficult if you are using a tablet to watch TV. Maybe use an actual TV that everyone can see where possible. And if you feel your under five is showing signs of finding it difficult to stop watching – or gets particularly upset when you turn it off – you can stop altogether, or just stick to once a week/at weekends at prescribed times. It can be really hard as a parent to totally ignore screens, so try not to feel guilty if you’re using them in moderation and being purposeful with your viewing.
You can find a lot of the characters mentioned in this blog at CBeebies World if you’re heading to Alton Towers.
Want to get out and about, have fun with your baby or toddler, and meet other parents?
Search Happity to find everything that’s happening for the under-5s in your local area – from music and singing classes, to messy play, arts and crafts, baby massage, gymnastics and more. Simply enter your postcode and child’s age to search, and then book your spot in a few taps. Enjoy dedicated fun time with your little one, watch their skills develop, and make friends at the same time. Mums, dads, grandparents and carers will all find something to love!
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