Movies, TV Series, Shorts, and more

For Ages 4 and older


Here you will find a list of age appropriate media for children around age 4 or older.

In this age range, you will find the movies/show/shorts are all very gentle, with very little to no conflict or peril for characters. Most of the recommendations here are shorts (defined as a single contained movie of less than an hour length) or Series (defined as a string of episodes - which can be of any length, but are usually half an hour or an hour). There are a few mini-series (episodes, but less than 6 total are available), and only a small handful of full-length movies (defined as a single film over an hour long).

Generally, children at age four have limited attention spans, and with developing brains that should not be exposed to rapid camera changes or extremely fast-paced frantic action. As such, none of the recommendations here have those qualities. There is no lower age category, so a few of the suggestions listed might end up being too young for your children, but all the recommendations are better than average quality and are worth trying at least once.

Each recommendation has a review link (for summary, warnings, and other details). In addition to a review link, each film has a link to the web site JustWatch.com, which will give suggestions on where to find the film for streaming (whether free, as a rental, or for purchase). We have no affiliate links nor make any money on these recommendations.

As a disclaimer, this list is by no means perfect. Please use discernment and heed the warnings in the reviews if you are at all concerned about a particular recommendation. Also, while everything in this list has been viewed at least once, not every single episode of a series will have been watched and it is possible that offensive material has been overlooked.

Age 4+

Harold and the Purple Crayon

(2001 Series) REVIEW

NumberBlocks

(2017 Series) REVIEW

Feast

(2014 Short) REVIEW

Tumble Leaf

(2013 Series) REVIEW

Water Path for a Fish

(2016 Short) REVIEW

Guess How Much I Love You

(2012 Series) REVIEW

The Grasshopper and the Ants

(1934 Short) REVIEW

LeapFrog: Talking Word Factory

(2003 Series) REVIEW

The Little Bird and the…

(2012 Mini-series of shorts) REVIEW

For the Birds

(2000 Short) REVIEW

How to Swim

(1942 Short) REVIEW

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

(1977 Movie) REVIEW

WallyKazam!

(2014 Series) REVIEW

Good Night, Gorilla

(1998 Short) REVIEW

Mickey’s Trailer

(1938 Short) REVIEW

Mr. Roger's Neighborhood

(1968 Series) REVIEW

Piper

(2016 Short) REVIEW

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

(1966 Short) REVIEW

Scaredy Squirrel

(2011 Short) REVIEW

Creative Galaxy

(2013 Series) REVIEW

Burrow

(2020 Short) REVIEW

Fantasia 2000

(1999 Movie) REVIEW

Little Einsteins

(2005 Series) REVIEW

Luxo Jr.

(1986 Short) REVIEW

Burn-E

(2005 Short) REVIEW

Little Bear

(1995 Series) REVIEW

Puffin Rock

(2015 Series) REVIEW

Harry, the Dirty Dog

(1987 Short) REVIEW

Winnie the Pooh

(2011 Movie) REVIEW

Timmy Time

(2009 Series) REVIEW

Word World

(2007 Series) REVIEW

The Wise Little Hen

(1934 Short) REVIEW

LeapFrog: Storybook Factory

(2005 Short) REVIEW

The Doozers

(2014 Series) REVIEW

La Luna

(2012 Short) REVIEW

Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood

(2012 Series) REVIEW

Frosty the Snowman

(1969 Short) REVIEW

Blue’s Big Musical Movie

(2000 Movie) REVIEW

The Stinky and Dirty Show

(2016 Series) REVIEW

Dug Days

(2021 Mini-series of shorts) REVIEW

Frozen Fever

(2015 Short) REVIEW

The Band Concert

(1935 Short) REVIEW

Sofia the First

(2013 Series) REVIEW

Paddington 2

(2017 Movie) REVIEW

Goofy in How to Stay at Home

(2021 Mini-series of shorts) REVIEW

Team Umizoomi

(2010 Series) REVIEW

Clifford Puppy Days

(2003 Series) REVIEW

Hawaiian Vacation

(2011 Short) REVIEW

Curious George

(2006 Series) REVIEW

The Tortoise and the Hare

(1935 Short) REVIEW

Lou

(2017 Short) REVIEW

Doc McStuffins

(2012 Series) REVIEW

Trash Truck

(2020 Series) REVIEW

We’re going on a Bear Hunt

(2016 Short) REVIEW

Corduroy

(1984 Short) REVIEW

Olaf’s Frozen Adventure

(2017 Short) REVIEW

Sheriff Callie’s Wild West

(2013 Series) REVIEW

Wild Kratts

(2011 Series) REVIEW

Small Fry

(2011 Short) REVIEW

The Snowman

(1982 Short) REVIEW

Lifted

(2006 Short) REVIEW

Octonauts

(2010 Series) REVIEW

Sesame Street

(1969 Series) REVIEW

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie

(2015 Series) REVIEW

The above recommendations range from “Everyone needs to go see this Right! Now!” to “Eh, it’s not bad. You can do worse, but it’s skippable.” But nothing on the list is outright awful. Please use parental discretion, preview any shows you are concerned about, and use the Review section to see warnings and other information.