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.