Good stuff for a 4 year old to watch

[Muddytoes1]

Dd currently having to watch tv more than I would like as I’m not very well and can’t do as much active stuff as I’d like with her. I’d like her to branch out on what she’s watching as it’s all paw patrol and this annoying Netflix program Masha and the Bear. I’d like more stuff with a strong female character like Moana which she loves too. What else out there is good and engaging and breaks away from old stereotypes? Also if there are any good iPad games that would be good to mix it up a bit. Thanks for your suggestions!

My daughter loves PJ masks but there's only one female (owlette). Little Princess, Charlie and Lola and Horrid Henry cartoon.

On the iPad she enjoys Teach your monster to read, dominoes and puzzle apps

Blaze and the monster machines is quite educational, as is Dora the explorer/ Diego, and a lots of the stuff on cebeebies.

Studio ghibli is your friend if you want strong females.

At that age my daughter loved My neighbor totoro.
Kikis delivery service.
Arietty.
Ponyo.

Plus they are nice n calm n not breaking into song n dance every 5 ninutes

Mine likes Blaze and the monster machines, vampirina (which is about being different and being helped by your friends), PJ Masks.

She used to love number blocks and alpha blocks but has fallen out with them a bit.

As we also have a 1 year old we also watch Woolly and Tig and Milkshake monkey, which she professes not to like but always asks for particular episodes.

Thank you! Will check out some of those! She used to love Dora the explorer but I think they have taken it off Netflix now. @thismeansnothing not heard of any of those - do you watch them on YouTube?

My DS is that age and likes things like Room on the Broom and Stick Man, which we watch on Amazon Prime video. They’re a bit longer and nice and calm.

Can’t help with the “strong female characters” aspect, but a lot of his friends are into Octonauts and he also still likes Peppa and Hey Duggee (the latter is available through iPlayer).

On Nextflix my 3.5y DD likes to watch:

'Spirit - Riding Free' (I don't mind this one so much it has some good storylines)
'Chip and Potato'
'Peter Rabbit'
'How to Train your Dragon'
'Super Monsters'
'Hey Duggy'
'My little Pony'

As well as 'Masha & Bear' and 'Paw Patrol'

Pepper Pig is banned in out house! (I can't stand it!!!)

@muddytoes1

Not sure if they are on Netflix or YouTube. We have them on DVD

Mine likes Story Bots, it's educational and has great songs in it.

Mine is currently watching the cbeebies pantos. All are on iplayer. The tale of mr tumble is skipped though. She loves the Shakespeare's too. All about 40 mins long.

Studio ghibli films are lovely. Dds favourite is arietty. Shes dressed as kiki the witch for the last 3 Halloweens! Also films like brave and tangled are good for strong female leads.

Hope you are better soon.

My 3.5 year old is really enjoying Green Eggs and Ham on Netflix. And also Klaus, an alternative telling of how Santa got started. Really good.

Do you have Prime, or could you sign up for a month while you’re not well? There’s a beautiful short film on there at the moment called A Snowy Day, which DD is obsessed with. We’re also watching a lot of Arthur Christmas. And she likes a movie called Ballerina (not as bad as it sounds!).

Get better soon. Looking after kids when you’re poorly is really hard.

My Little Pony
The new reboot of She-Ra and the Princesses of Power is a slightly complicated narrative for 4 but is a good watch!

Mine loves Shaun the Sheep, and we're going to try watching some of the Wallace and Gromits with him too. Brave is also great.

I've heard good things about Hilda for female leads. And Sarah and Duck. Brave is also great.

Mine loves
Spirit
Mia and me (a bit grown up for her really but she loves the unicorns)
She ra
All the cbeebies pantos are on the iplayer
Super monsters
Chip and potato
My little pony

Thanks so much for the suggestions! That’s great and yes we do have prime, had forgotten about stick man etc, they are fab!

Tangled and Brave had heard we’re good though had heard Brave a bit scary. So you reckon ok for a 4 yr old?

There are some great shows on kids Amazon Prime, DS likes team umizoomi (maths programme) and chloe's closet (role play/imagination)
On cbeebies he really likes Melody (lovely music)
And great British Bake off!

He's scared of most movies apart from the Thomas ones and Kikis delivery service. Disney would be way too exciting for him!

Team umizoomi, blue planet documentaries etc, Paddington all go down well here.

Actually can not believe that anyone suggested Charlie and Lola and Horrid Henry though

The voice kids, crystal maze reruns and gladiators reruns always go down well on Now tv too

I know it sounds unlikely, but the Disney fairies films are great. Not dark like other Disney films and lots of focus on courage, friendship etc. My DD adored them at 4.

My 4 year old ds loves rescue riders on Netflix. It’s based on how to train your dragon & has a good mix of make & female characters.
Get well soon 💐

cbeebies...top favourite was always Go Jetters, aged 4, and this lasted (there's a female pilot called Xuli who is a tough cookie, in a good way).
And also 'Do You Know?' with Maddie Moate, whose programmes are great and we are now quite into her YouTube films and channel as well. V glad my DD discovered that there was plenty more to see than jus the cbeebies series.

Oh yes, I would also say that DD found the cinema overwhelming and too scary for quite a while (i.e. about 3 more years!)