This is a selection of documentaries and TV series that you and you family may find interesting and enjoyable to watch together. Please keep in mind that we are not approving or endorsing these as suitable for particular children and you should apply your discretion as a parent/guardian as to which you are comfortable with your child watching. Any ratings given have been taken from external sources and not decided upon by school staff.
Programmes are from a mixture of streaming services, including BBCiplayer, ITV Player and All 4 (Channel 4 on demand) which do not require a paid subscription. There is a lot available however some that may be of interest have been selected and listed here.
Cbeebies – suited to younger children, perhaps nursery-P2
Maddie’s Do You Know?
Learn new things with Maddie as she explores the world around us and discovers how stuff works. From washing machines to ice cream, there's always something exciting to learn.
My World Kitchen
Pre-school series celebrating foods from a rich diversity of backgrounds.
Alphablocks
Play along with the fun and friendly letters of the alphabet as they work together to make words and tell stories using phonics.
Numberblocks
Learn how much fun counting can be with the Numberblocks - a fun-loving group of numbers who work together to solve problems big and small.
CBBC – suitable for primary aged children, some more suitable for older primary years
Newsround
The latest news presented for children.
Horrible Histories
Not a documentary, but a fun series exploring history topics in a fun way for children. NB may not be suitable for younger children, please check for suitability
Deadly 60
Steve Backshall comes face to face with the world’s deadliest animals and investigates the deadly threats to their survival
Deadly Dinosaurs with Steve Backshall
Steve Backshall is on the hunt for the most deadly animals to have ever walked the earth - dinosaurs.
Blue Peter Packed full of amazing celeb guests, epic challenges and lols galore; join Lindsey, Richie and Henry the dog for your weekly dose of live entertainment
Junior Bake Off
Series presented by Aaron Craze, in which young bakers take on the greatest baking challenge of them all.
Craft Party
Children’s programme about the wonderful world of crafting.
BBC iplayer – please check suitability before family viewing
The Blue Planet
David Attenborough narrates a natural history of the oceans
Blue Planet II
Extended special of the nature documentary series journeys from the equator to the unexplored depths, meeting the best-loved characters from the series.
Frozen Planet
David Attenborough travels to the end of the earth, taking viewers on an extraordinary journey across the polar regions of our planet.
Planet Earth II
David Attenborough presents a documentary series exploring how animals meet the challenges of surviving in the most iconic habitats on earth.
The Planets
Professor Brian Cox explores the dramatic lives of the eight majestic planets/worlds that make up our solar system.
STV player - please check suitability before family viewing
The Treehouse Stories
9 friends meet in a secret treehouse to share their favourite books. In each episode we dive into one story through a different design with top children’s books from around the world.
Scotland’s City Safari
Each week join Jennifer Reoch and a host of wildlife experts, as we meet the animals and creatures that make Scotland's towns and cities their homes.
Monster Math Squad
Follow the adventures of the Monster Math Squad as they encounter a problem in each episode that requires their maths skills.
All4 (channel 4 on demand) please check suitability before family viewing
Lego Masters
The hunt is on for the UK and Ireland's best Lego builders, as some of the most skilled brick fanatics do battle.
The Secret Life of the Zoo
Observational documentary series capturing, in incredible detail, the remarkable behaviour of the animals at Chester Zoo, and their relationships with their keepers.
Bake Off Junior
Harry Hill hosts a junior version of the baking competition, with judges Prue Leith and Liam Charles.
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From streaming services Netflix, Amazon and Disney+
Animals & Nature
Calling all animal lovers! These documentaries for kids and teens feature their favourite creatures and the environments they live in.
72 Cutest Animals Highlighting the most squee-worthy animals from quokkas to baby pandas and everything in between, these 12 episodes showcase cutest animals out there while exploring how being adorable can be a real advantage. (Netflix, TV-PG) Beary Tales When a well-known wildlife photographer discovers two orphaned bear cubs, he saves them from starvation and develops a real bond. (Netflix, TV-G) Deep Blue Dive deep into the sea to learn more about your favourite sea life. Swim with sharks and whales, waddle with penguins, and explore the weird creatures of the deep. (Disney+, G) Dolphin Reef Follow a young Pacific bottlenose dolphin named Echo as he gets to know his coral reef home. His mother Kumu is always nearby to teach him what he needs to know … and keep him out of trouble. (Disney+, G) Elephant Journey with an elephant family group as matriarch Gaia leads her herd from the Okavango Delta across the Kalahari Desert to the oasis of the Zambezi River. (Disney+, G) Great Migrations The six episodes of this National Geographic documentary took three years to film and reveal some of the most incredible journeys on Earth. Follow butterflies, birds, whales, moose, and more on their epic yearly travels. (Disney+, TV-PG)
Growing Up Wild Kids will get a real kick out of watching the baby animals (cheetahs, chimpanzees, lions, bears, and monkeys) in this documentary as they grow up alongside their families. (Netflix, G) How Dogs Got Their Shapes If your kids love dogs, they’ll enjoy learning more about every part of them. From noses to paws, ears to tails, every bit of a dog has an important role to play in making them man’s best friend. (Disney+, TV-PG) If I Were an Animal Ever wondered what it would be like to be a penguin, whale, or tiger? Find out with this docu-series, which features a different creature in each of its 13 episodes. (Netflix, TV-G) Night on Earth This brand new documentary series uses the latest technology to reveal the secret lives of animals under the cover of darkness. Six episodes take you around the world to explore by night. (Netflix, TV- PG) Ocean Odyssey: The Blue Realm Instead of watching Finding Nemo for the twentieth time, why not check out this series about the real world under the sea? 13 episodes cover every aspect of ocean life, from coastal waters to the deep floor below. (Amazon, All Ages) Penguins Join Steve, an Adélie penguin, and millions of his chilly friends as they spend an Antarctic spring building nests and raising chicks, while avoiding perils along the way. (Disney+, G) Planet of the Birds Budding ornithologists will be interested to learn more about birds around the world, and how they’ve adapted to survive and thrive in challenging environments. (Disney+, TV-PG)
Science & History
These are the documentaries for kids and teens who love space, dinosaurs, Egyptian pyramids, and much more.
A Year in Space Beloved astronaut Scott Kelly details his experiences preparing for, and then spending a full year on, the International Space Station. Kids who dream of becoming an astronaut will be fascinated by these 12 episodes. (Netflix, TV-PG) Apollo: Missions to the Moon Landing a man on the moon once seemed like a distant dream, but the 12-year Apollo Project made it happen. This is a time in history everyone should know more about. (Disney+, TV-PG) Big Pacific This series explores the many mysteries of the world’s largest ocean. It’s astonishing how much there still is to discover in this watery world. (Amazon, TV-G) Dino Hunt Dino-philes will be intrigued as paleontologists work their way across Canada, examining fossils and searching for undiscovered dinosaur species. (Netflix, TV-G) Drive-Thru History: Discovering America’s Founders This historical series was designed especially for middle and high school students, with a pop of humor that’s sure to hold their interest as they learn about the Founding Fathers. (Amazon, All Ages) LEGO House: Home of the Brick If your living room floor is littered with LEGO bricks, your kids will love finding out more about the unbelievable LEGO House in Denmark, built to celebrate everyone’s favorite building blocks. (Netflix, TV-G)
Mankind The Story of All of Us This is the story of human history. From our early days discovering fire and farming to modern times of mass transportation and production, 12 episodes uncover what it has meant to be human throughout the ages. (Amazon, TV-PG) NOVA: The Planets Journey to the planets that circle our sun, from tiny Mercury to the rings of Saturn and beyond. This up-to-date series includes recent footage of Pluto from the New Horizons probe. (Amazon, TV-PG) One Strange Rock Planet Earth is an amazing place, but none have seen it from the same perspective as the only people to have left it behind: astronauts. These 10 episodes explore the planet and all that makes it unique. (Disney+, TV-PG) Our Planet This streaming series brings unforgettable footage of our planet’s amazing places and creatures together with important truths about how climate change is affecting living everything. (Netflix, TV- PG) Salt Fat Acid Heat Kids and teens who love to spend time in the kitchen will be fascinated by this series, which delves into the basic keys to good food and the places to find it. (Netflix, TV-PG) The Best of NOVA The groundbreaking NOVA series goes back decades, with a long-standing tradition of exploring science in-depth. You’ll find topics here to intrigue any STEM scholar. (Amazon, 7+) People & Biographies Find out more about some of the most fascinating people from our past and present in these streaming documentaries for kids and teens. Amelia: A Tale of Two Sisters Amelia Earhart’s adventures have long captivated kids and adults alike. Though she disappeared over eight decades ago, her sister Muriel has ensured she’s never been forgotten. (Netflix, TV-PG) Being Elmo Kids who say they’re “too old for Sesame Street” are just the right age to shift focus and learn about the man who brought one of their favorite characters to life. (Netflix, PG) Jane Jane Goodall brought the world of chimpanzees to animal lovers around the world. This documentary takes a closer look at her own life and the impacts she’s had. (Disney+, PG) Marvel’s Hero Project The Hero Project celebrates superhero kids who’ve taken on the challenge of making the world a better place. They’ve been immortalized in their own comic book along with this series. (Disney+, TV-PG) One Day at Disney Put on your Mickey ears for a virtual trip to Disney headquarters, where you’ll learn about animators, Imagineers, and more behind-the-scenes magic. (Disney+, TV-PG)
Sports Desperately missing your sports fix? This collection of documentaries for kids and teens showcases incredible athletes of all ages. Basketball or Nothing This high school basketball team has a special reason for wanting a winning season: the chance to bring pride to their isolated Navajo Nation community. (Netflix, TV-PG)
Becoming Champions Gooooooooaaal! This series explores what it takes to become a World Cup soccer champion team. (Netflix, TV-G) The Short Game These kids aren’t even old enough to drive the carts, but they’re already taking on the toughest golf courses in the world. Aspiring Arnold Palmers will be fascinated by their experiences. (Netflix, PG) Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable Hamilton was just a teenager when the unthinkable happened: she lost her arm to a shark attack. That didn’t stop her resuming her award-winning surfing career, as this documentary attests. (Netflix, PG)