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18 Top Educational Shows for Kids
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You'll feel better about the kids' screen time with these super smart shows. Binging encouraged.
By Amy Mitchell
Jose Luis Pelaez IncGetty Images
Screen time for kids gets a really bad rap. And we can all agree that too much of it isn't great. It's true, parents are guilty of parking their kids in front of cartoons to get a few items marked off the to-do list (or just to get supper on the table!). But thanks to all the best educational shows for kids out there, we can all feel better about our little ones' television and tablet intake now more than ever.
We've curated the top educational shows for kids that are tailor-made for their curious, growing minds. All ages—from elementary-aged children and preschoolers to toddlers and even babies—will stay engaged and entertained while learning science, reading, math, history, and more, all in a super fun way. They may even learn a life lesson or two. Through lovable characters, smart storytelling, and loads of humor, these popular learning shows will capture their attention episode after episode. Parents will feel nostalgic over Sesame Street and Bill Nye the Science Guy, while newer shows like The Who Was? Show on Netflix are sure to become family favorites.
So in between viewings of the best kids' movies on Netflix, funny family movies, and the best animated movies on Netflix, hit play on one of these 18 educational TV shows for kids. They'll be fully entertained, and you may learn a little something, too! Binging encouraged.
1
Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum
PBS Kids
Are you ready for an adventure? Ready to go back in time? Experience both, plus meet historical figures (imagined as kids!) all along the way with Xavier Riddle and friends.
Ages: 5-8
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2
Number Blocks
Netflix
Easily digestible 5-minute episodes teach simple counting lessons with a cheerful cast of colorful blocks. Catchy songs and dialogue accompany bright, creative animation.
Ages: Toddlers
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3
The Who Was? Show
NetflixNetflix
Based on the popular book series of the same name, each episode features a pair of very different historical figures, for example Gandhi and Benjamin Franklin, Isaac Newton and Amelia Earhart, Galileo and Queen Elizabeth.
Kid actors bring the personalities to life in amusing, entertaining, sketch-comedy style skits. Beware of the catchy theme song!
Ages: 8-12
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4
Sesame Street
Bill PierceGetty Images
Since its first episode in 1969, Sesame Street has been entertaining and teaching a diverse audience of children. Lovable characters like Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Oscar the Grouch, and Bert and Ernie teach letters, numbers, and valuable life lessons. Sesame Street is the classic show for kids, as well as a nostalgic trip down Memory Lane for parents.
Ages: Preschool
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5
Odd Squad
PBS
Using their sharp math skills, the agents of the Odd Squad tackle, well, really odd cases. No incident is too strange for this crew, which makes each episode a real nail-biter.
Ages: 5-8
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6
If I Were an Animal...
NetflixNetflix
Peek into the lives of animals in their natural habitats, like a hedgehog as he searches for a place to hibernate, a baby giraffe's first steps, a pair of polar bears who leave their den, a penguin as it heads out to sea, and more. The show is narrated by sweet child voices, making it all the more suitable and relatable for your little ones.
All ages (preschool especially)
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7
Sid the Science Kid
PBS
We're guessing your kiddos are curious, right? Well, meet their new BFF, Sid. He starts each episode with an everyday question like "Why are my shoes shrinking?" or "Why do bananas get mushy?" and spends his day answering it through a scientific lens. There's no shortage of catchy tunes and lots of humor to keep kids engaged.
Age: Preschool
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8
Super Why
PBS
“Reading is power!” is the motto of this super cute show featuring a team of fairytale superheroes. The two-way dialogue between the show’s dynamic characters (Whyatt, Princess Pea, and Red Riding Hood) and children makes for a sweet interactive experience.
Age: Preschool
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9
Ask the Storybots
NetflixNetflix
For the Storybots, "answering questions is their business and pleasure." They investigate and find the information to answer each episode’s title question like, "Why do we have to recycle?"; " How do cell phones work?" and "Why do people look different?"
Ages: 3-8
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10
Bill Nye the Science Guy
Rex RystedtGetty Images
From 1993-1998, Bill Nye covered topics like life science (humans, living things), physical science (chemistry, physics), and planetary science (earth, space) on his namesake series.
(He is the science guy, after all.) You can still find episodes of this popular show more than 20 years after it wrapped.
Ages: 7-10
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11
Little Einsteins
Disney JuniorDisney
With their trusty sidekick Rocket, the Little Einsteins embark on adventures to explore nature, culture, and more, all with a soundtrack of classical music. A cast of diverse animated characters work together as a team to solve challenges. The theme song is particularly catchy!
Ages: Preschool
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12
Wishbone
Amazon Prime
Airing from 1995-1997, this popular television show followed an adventurous Jack Russell terrier named Wishbone as he becomes characters from classic literature, from Jane Austen to Shakespeare.
Ages: Elementary ages
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13
Baby Einstein
Baby Einstein
Since the late '90s, parents around the world have claimed that their kids are smarter because of Baby Einstein.
With a toy line, books. and other baby products to accompany the sweet, colorful videos, kids are engaged both on and off screen.
Ages: Babies and toddlers
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14
Brainchild
NetflixNetflix
This clever show touches on topics like germs (“a lot of things that you might think are clean are actually full of germs”), space (“how big is the universe?”), thinking (“why do some thoughts just pop into your head?”), and even deep dives into subjects like social media and emotions.
All ages (although parents should screen more mature topics)
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15
Ready Jet Go!
PBS
Kids are fascinated by all things space—the moon, stars, and sky. Introducing Jet Propulsion, an animated "alien" boy, who knows first-hand what it's like out there in space. Ready Jet Go! offers an introduction to earth science and technology that will inspire future astronauts and astrologers.
Ages: 3-8
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16
The Magic School Bus
Scholastic Kids
The Magic School Bus aired from 1994 to 1997 and is somewhat of a cult classic. The show, based on the best-selling book series of the same name, follows the eccentric Ms. Frizzle and her class as they set off on field trips via virtual bus ride. Students set off on wacky adventures while learning all about science.
Ages: 6-12
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17
The Magic School Bus Rides Again
NetflixNetflix
There’s a new teacher in town! And it’s Ms. Frizzle’s little sister! The Magic School Bus Rides Again offers the same entertaining adventures as the original popular show it's based on. The show promotes imagination and innovation as the students go on truly magical adventures in each episode.
To the bus!
Ages: 6-12
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18
Wild Kratts
PBS
Animated brothers Chris and Martin take kids on a wild journey to amazing animal habitats around the world. Their sense of adventure will appeal to thrill-seeking kids who are curious about animals.
Ages: 6-8
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13 Best Online Education Programs for Kids
We all want the best for our children—in both school and life.
We at CodaKid understand this, and that is why we scoured the web for the best online educational programs for kids.
Given the incredible advancement in technology and the exponential growth of the web, online educational games for kids are abundant and relatively easy to find. There is a wealth of online opportunities available for your kids to develop their skills if you just know where to look.
What is the best part of online educational programs for kids? They can be done from the safety of your home!
From completely free resources to free-to-try internet academies, here are 13 of the best online educational programs for kids:
Table of Contents
CodaKid — Online Coding for Kids
Rounding out this list of best online educational programs for kids is our own platform, CodaKid: an online resource full of award-winning online coding courses targeted specifically for young learners aged 8 and up.
Winner of a Parents’ Choice GOLD Award and a CODiE Finalist for Best Coding and Computational Thinking Solution, CodaKid is an online coding academy that teaches kids how to create games, apps, Minecraft mods, Roblox games, and Unity projects with real programming languages and professional tools. We have affordable monthly and yearly subscriptions for access to the courses. What’s more, you get access to a team of friendly teachers who can help your child during their coding journey, at their own pace.
As mentioned earlier, we believe coding has become a critical must-have skill for students in 2020. Tech industries are constantly expanding, and giving your kids the tools to succeed in those industries will open up incredible opportunities for them. By teaching kids real-life programming you are equipping them for the future.
CodaKid’s online classes are all self-paced and include live support from engineers, giving your kids all the guidance and encouragement they could need.
By making computer programming fun and engaging through game design, we hope for CodaKid students to develop real-world skills like tenacity, patience, problem-solving, and rationalization.
Find out why CodaKid is loved by so many kids and parents by starting a free trial today!
ABCMouse.com — Full Online Curriculum for Ages 2-8
Winner of the Mom’s Choice GOLD Award, Teachers’ Choice Award, and Parents’ Choice GOLD Award, ABCMouse is a “global education initiative” that aims to help kids start strong in their academic journey. They offer intuitive and interactive tools to strengthen the foundational education of young learners.
With over 850 lessons spread out over 10 levels, ABCMouse’s online curriculum is extensive, engaging, and highly educational. Initiated by Age of Learning, Inc., this subscription-based online educational program for kids uses videos, games, printables, songs, and other online interactive media to help early learners succeed in their school programs.
Kids can enjoy over 9,000 online activities from the comfort and safety of their own homes.
PBS Kids — 360-Degree Approach Towards Reaching Kids
Do your kids love the Wild Kratts? What about Arthur, Curious George, or Jet—from Ready Jet Go? Then they’re going to love learning via the PBS KIDS website. With hundreds of incredibly unique and colorful games featuring beloved characters from the PBS Kids channel, this platform teaches your child the fundamentals of critical thinking, imagination, and problem-solving in the most entertaining and enjoyable way possible.
PBS KIDS strives to make a positive impact on children using curriculum-based entertainment. Their 360-degree approach to imparting education makes full use of interactive, intuitive online media. By leveraging technology and characters that young learners are already familiar with, they hope to inspire in them a love for learning and a thirst for knowledge.
Kiz Phonics — Phonics Activities for Pre-K to 2nd Grade
Phonics is a method used to teach reading and writing by developing “phonemic awareness”—the ability to hear, identify, and manipulate the sounds of a language. It’s meant to help learners master the sound of letters so that they can eventually master words.
Kiz Phonics makes use of this technique to teach young children—specifically, kids aged 3-8—how to identify the words they read by sounding them out; in other words, through phonics.
It’s important that children start learning how to read at home rather than in school. A safe, familiar environment is more conducive to learning, and building a strong foundation in literacy early on will give them a significant advantage in a classroom setting. Kiz Phonics, as an online educational program for kids, gives parents the tools they need to start strengthening that foundation as early as possible.
ReadWriteThink — Extensive Interactive Resources for Grades K-12
ReadWriteThink’s mission is to “provide educators, parents, and afterschool professionals” with high-quality tools, materials, and strategies for different academic courses.
With lesson plans, student interactives, printables, and even mobile apps for language arts and literacy, ReadWriteThink is definitely a comprehensive resource platform worth visiting.
The different resources are tailored for educators, parents and afterschool professionals teaching grades K-12. They’re professionally designed, intensively tested, and—best of all—100% free.
Reading and writing can be incredibly difficult when they don’t automatically come naturally to a student, so the quality of the instruction and learning materials can make or break a child’s education.
#MetKids — The Metropolitan Museum of Art, for Kids
“Made for, with, and by kids,” MetKids is a branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s website that is tailored specifically to introduce children to the colorful world of art and art history. With fun, creative media like behind-the-scenes videos, DIY projects that they can try at home, and even a fully interactive map of The Met, kids can discover love and appreciation for art.
The #MetKids blog offers fascinating art facts and art history tidbits written in a fun, engaging way. They also have a “the time machine” that lets kids explore different time periods, learning the culture, inventions, and innovations of that time in different locations.
With this online platform, The Met hopes to encourage the inner artist in every child by inspiring an inclination for creativity and color.
For additional resources of creativity make sure to check out CodaKid game design courses by signing up for a free trial!
Fun science experiments you can try at home? Quirky quizzes? Homework help resources?
The National Geographic Kids’ website has something to satisfy even the most curious of little minds! Your children can browse stunning photos of nature at its most beautiful or watch videos of baby animals in their natural habitat. They can also discover in-depth stories of different people, places, and cultures through interactive media and fun games.
Although the website is more of a colorful, multimedia resource and lacks a specific, structured curriculum, National Geographic Kids still deserves to be called one of the best online educational programs for kids. Perfect for kids as young as 3 and as old as 14, it utilizes technology and leverages the very best of interactive media to bring users a learning experience they aren’t likely to forget.
Little Pim — Online Language Learning Subscription for Kids
With over 25 awards and international press coverage to its name, Little Pim is one of the best online educational programs for kids to learn a language. It’s known as the “most comprehensive foreign language program for kids” and offers a whopping 12 foreign languages to choose from!
Think your child is too young to learn a new language? Think again.
According to the Little Pim website, the best time to learn a language is under the age of six.
At this age, children are open and receptive to learning new things.
Mastering a language as foreign and complex as French, Chinese, or Italian can be made fun and enjoyable with Little Pim’s Entertainment Immersion Method®. This patented technique engages learners by appealing to a child’s natural inclination—and love—for play. It encourages recognition through repetition. The more your child interacts with their professionally-prepared activities and mediums, the more they learn and absorb.
Being multi-lingual can open so many doors for your children, granting them access to incredible opportunities. By inspiring love and mastery for different languages early on, Little Pim makes it possible for students to broaden their horizons.
SumDog — Personalized Maths & Spelling Practice that Students Love
For students from kindergarten to eighth grade, SumDog is a cutting-edge site that offers interactive content and intuitive media to help kids with math and spelling.
Tailored to engage learners from a wide age range through multi-player games and free, easy-to-use online tools, Sumdog is proven to accelerate academic progress.
SumDog’s personalization feature is where this online program truly shines. Their platforms utilize an adaptive learning engine to help guide different students’ learning pace and discover their individual strengths and weaknesses.
SumDog can be used at home and at school, affording students the help they need at both common critical places for educational growth.
SplashLearn — The Complete K-5 Math Learning Program Built for Your Child
Also known as SplashMath, SplashLearn is an online platform specifically geared towards younger students in grades K-5 who need additional help with math. It aims to boost students’ performance through fun, interactive methods like online games, math apps, printables, and even digital classrooms. Their mission is to “boost confidence” and “increase scores” to help young learners get ahead.
SplashLearn offers what they call personalized learning paths to help students catch up, enrich their learning, or just practice and improve their current skills.
With mastery in over 350 math skills available, SplashLearn is incredibly comprehensive and covers most of the bases. By using fun interactive games, rewards and experiences, children will feel more motivated than ever to practice and master their mathematical skills.
Khan Academy — Providing Free World-Class Education for Anyone, Anywhere
Yet another personalized online resource for a myriad of subjects, Khan Academy is a powerful educational program that provides free tools for students to learn anything, anywhere.
Utilizing intuitive technology and professional feedback, Khan Academy has created videos, global classrooms, and other interactive online content for a wide variety of subjects. Learn anything from basic math to AP calculus, science, and engineering to economics and finance.
They offer a computing course that teaches coding for kids—a valuable skill that any student can benefit from—and even in-depth test prep for SAT, LSAT, GMAT, and more.
Through their partnership with institutions like NASA, The Museum of Modern Art, MIT, and The California Academy of Sciences, Khan Academy also offers specialized content for students and teachers that you won’t find elsewhere.
Coolmath — Making Math Enjoyable
Whether your kid loves math, hates math, or just needs help passing their math class, Coolmath is a website worth checking out. With math games and step-by-step lesson guides for pre-algebra, algebra, and pre-calculus, Coolmath is one of those online educational programs for kids that caters more to casual, at-your-own-pace learning than strict, curriculum-bound study.
Founded in 1997 by a certified math teacher, the goal of this website is to make math fun and enjoyable for kids of all ages.
The games on this site are an enjoyable mix of math fundamentals and good old problem solving, meant to give users a mental workout. It doesn’t teach coding for kids, but it definitely encourages logical thinking!
Scratch — Imagine, Program, Share
As a kid-friendly coding program that encourages users to “create and share,” Scratch is an incredibly gentle introduction to coding for kids. Specifically geared towards children aged 6-12, Scratch aims to inspire children to think creatively and reason systematically by teaching them the basics of coding. They implement tools, techniques, and interactive content to help familiarize children with common programming languages in a fun and enjoyable way.
On the subject of coding, we personally feel it’s become less of an optional hobby and more of a critical, highly beneficial skill to have. Aside from the fact that the computer engineering industry is growing more and more each year, coding for kids instills in them universal skills like problem-solving, discipline, and creativity.
As a free educational programming website, Scratch is primarily used by kids. However, it can be used by anyone interested in learning how to code. They use an easy-to-use visual block interface that saves beginners from the grief and frustrations of writing out code. Rather than sweat the details, this easy-to-use interface helps them focus instead on the basics of game development, graphic design, and animation.
CodaKid’s award-winning Scratch program has 14 courses, 40 quests, and 90 challenges with mentors who are professional programmers that guide you every step of the way! Try it for free!
Conclusion
There you have it, the 13 Best Online Educational Programs for Kids:
- CodaKid
- ABCmouse.com
- PBS Kids
- Kiz Phonics
- ReadWriteThink
- MetKids
- National Geographic Kids
- Little Pim
- Sum Dog
- SplashLearn
- Khan Academy
- Cool Math
- Scratch
Be sure to try our award-winning courses today at no cost!
Do you know of other good online educational programs for kids? Comment below!
training programs for the development of first-graders
Types of programs for elementary school
Traditional and developmental systems of education are distinguished in pedagogy:
- Traditional.
Training is built according to the scheme "we study - we fix - we check." This system is used both in the beginning and in subsequent classes. - Developmental. Training is built according to the scheme "we study - we independently draw conclusions - we practice." As a rule, it is aimed exclusively at elementary grades and is not used in middle and high schools.
Each system has a variety of curricula. Consider the most popular.
Source: freepik.com
Program L.V. Zankova
📌 Developmental curriculum for primary school
Fundamentals of the theory - works of L.S. Vygotsky. According to the program, one should not be afraid of mistakes - they learn from them. The schoolboy jumps above his head, but his own, and not someone else's. Disadvantages of the system: a fast pace of learning and a high level of difficulty is not suitable for every child.
D.B. system Elkonin - V.V. Davydova
📌 Developing curriculum for elementary grades
Daniil Elkonin and Vasily Davydov are Soviet scientists.
According to their program, students in elementary school are not graded, it is assumed that students must independently assess the level of their knowledge.
Most of the parents in this program are afraid that due to the lack of grades, the level of knowledge will be low. Elkonin and Davydov assure that learning is more effective if the student is not demotivated by subjective scores. By the way, elementary Waldorf schools adhere to a similar methodology - children are not graded there either.
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“School of Russia”
📌 Traditional curriculum for elementary grades
“School of Russia” is the most popular curriculum. Complies with GEF and is used in most schools. The main goal is spiritual and moral development, which is formed in specially created conditions. The main vector is aimed at the adaptation of the child in the team.
Training under the program is aimed at adaptation in a team, accumulation of knowledge and skills for further training.
But feedback from parents is not always positive. Many note that the world around us can be greatly reduced, and the four-year program is too long.
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"RITM"
📌 Traditional curriculum for elementary grades
"RITM" stands for development, individuality, creativity, thinking. The program combines the traditions of the national elementary school K.D. Ushinsky and the achievements of modern psychology and methodology. The features of this curriculum in the primary grades of the school are variability and an extensive information and educational environment. It is believed that every child should learn to think creatively and independently, as well as to reveal their individuality. The system consists of completed subject lines of textbooks, which are included in the federal list, except for the ABC and Literary Reading.
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Primary school of the XXI century (Vinogradova system)
Vinogradova is a doctor of pedagogical sciences and the creator of a training program for first grade children.
The program is aimed at strong students. To pass it successfully, you need to come to the first class with a certain level of preparation. This program is based on the theory of L.S. Vygotsky, as well as the ideas of Elkonin and Davydov. UMK is included in the Federal list of textbooks recommended by the Ministry of Education and Science. It is believed that the goal of a teacher working on this teaching method is to teach a child to learn.
Perspektiva
📌 Traditional Primary School Education Program
The author of this Primary School Education Program is Lyudmila Peterson, a Russian teacher, mathematician and Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences. In addition to Perspektiva, she developed a popular mathematics course in Russia for preschool and school age. Peculiarities of WMC Peterson are personality education and spiritual and moral development. It is assumed that educational materials are structured so that the child's curiosity is not lost, but constantly nourished and turns into a need to learn new things.
"Harmony"
📌 Traditional education program for elementary grades
Educational program for elementary grades "Harmony" is based on two principles: humanization and developing education. A feature of the EMC is the dynamic assessment of the success of each child, which is reflected in the portfolio. The concept of the program was proposed by Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences N.B. Istomin. For successful learning under the program, the child must already be able to actively communicate, think logically, and have an objective interest in knowledge. Preparation of preschoolers for "Harmony" falls on the shoulders of parents.
“School 2100”
📌 Traditional primary education program
This primary education program is called “the concept of the educational system” because it has not one, but a whole team of authors: Sh.A. Amonashvili, A.A. Leontiev, L.G. Peterson, R.N. Buneev, E.
V. Buneeva and others. It is based on the “pedagogy of common sense” by A.A. Leontiev. The features of the program are called continuity at all stages of education from kindergarten to university, consistency in the use of acquired knowledge and continuity in the sequence of educational tasks. Work on the program continues at the middle level. As a result, the authors see a child capable of self-development, owning a picture of the world and bearing responsibility for himself and his education.
Planet of Knowledge
📌 Traditional primary school curriculum
The fundamental principle of this program is variability. TMC consists of two parts:
- all schoolchildren should know the basic level;
- difficult level consists of non-standard tasks for curious students who want to increase their knowledge.
According to this elementary school program, the student must strive for new knowledge and enjoy learning.
To do this, you need to create comfortable conditions. Therefore, the first year of study is considered adaptive - young students are not overloaded and are allowed to smoothly join the process. The advantages of the program are the variability of levels and tasks, the education of the desire to acquire new knowledge. The disadvantages include preschool education - the child must be able to read and count.
Promising Primary School
📌 Traditional Primary Education Program
This Primary School program was developed in 2006 along with the first GEF. As in the Planet of Knowledge program, the entire learning process is based on the child's desire to learn. For simplicity of reasoning, constant book characters were invented - Misha and Masha. So children in elementary school learn the material visually.
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