The Best Shows to Watch With Kids to Boost Their Creativity
Here are some shows to jumpstart imaginative play after your family is done with the new "Bluey" episodes.
The good news is that new episodes of the highly imaginative Australian cartoon show Bluey begin streaming on Disney+ this week. The bad news is there are only 10 of them; at seven minutes an episode, the season will be over in a little more than an hour.
What will your family watch after you've caught up on the continuing adventures of the Heeler family? We've got a few suggestions, from a show about the power of flowers to a vegetarian cook who lives inside a tree stump.
Lego Masters
If you watch this reality competition, prepare to open your wallet after the credits roll because your kids will want a lot of Lego bricks (I speak from experience). Hosted by Lego Batman himself, Will Arnett, the show features teams of two building a creation based on the week's theme and then getting judged by Amy Corbett and Jamie Berard, two managers at Lego. While there's always drama and unusual contestants in reality shows, this show's appeal comes from its emphasis on telling stories with each build and finding quick and creative solutions to win.
Where to stream: Hulu
The Tiny Chef Show
This stop-motion Nick Jr. show recently started its second season, and it's easy to see why it's been such a hit. The furry green herbivore, who resides in a tree stump, inspires kids to make their own food in the kitchen, and his celebrity friends (Kristen Bell and RuPaul say hi) help him find ways to get his creative juices flowing. The titular character's unbridled joy for everything is also contagious.
Where to stream: Paramount+ with Showtime
Ask the Storybots
There's plenty of programming to educate youngsters on the world's inner workings, but only a few of them feature actual kids. On Ask the Storybots, the titular characters try to answer questions from kids, like "Why is the sky blue?" and "Where do french fries come from?" Then they put the answer in a catchy music video. (I've caught myself humming a few of them from time to time.) I love how the show encourages children to find the answers to their questions instead of spoon-feeding them the solution.
Where to stream: Netflix
The Big Flower Fight
A flower on its own can be beautiful, but sculpting these colorful petals together into something else entirely is stunning. That's the idea behind this reality competition, a Great British Bake Off for the botanical set where coconut husks become the legs of a moth or lilies are transformed into a bodice with contestants we actually want to spend time with. As we're continually inundated with news of the effects of global warming, it's great to watch a show that gives creative people a reason to plant something in the ground to stop it in its tracks.
Where to stream: Netflix
Science Fair: The Series
"If someone thinks that high school science fairs are just about volcanoes, they've never been to a science fair," says one of the students highlighted in this new National Geographic reality series about students from around the world competing in the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). High schoolers must collaborate, be passionate about the science they're communicating, and never quit, even if the motor they're constructing breaks down 13 times (which happens to one frustrated but determined scholar), making for a fun and inspiring watch.
Where to stream: Disney+
Junior Bake Off
I give shows like Waffles and Mochi credit: They know how to get kids interested in how food gets on their plates. On the other hand, they rarely show them what they can do with all that knowledge. Junior Bake Off, a spin-off of The Great British Bake Off aimed toward the pre-teen set, actually inspires my kids to go into the kitchen and create something. Of course, my wife and I typically must finish what they started, but still, I admire their initiative.
Where to stream: Netflix
Making Fun
Jimmy DiResta makes it clear in the first minute of his reality show that he hates kids. Still, the no-nonsense celebrity maker and former toy designer is more than happy to make nonsense inventions for youths, with creations ranging from a dino taco toilet to a guitar boat. It's fun to see DiResta interact with his charges as they think up the most absurd and imaginative ideas, even though his gruff demeanor may frustrate parental viewers. Filmed during the pandemic, DiResta's pint-sized clients only see their creations materialize over a video screen, which sucks a bit of fun from the proceedings, but the show proves that you can build anything if you put your mind to it.
Where to stream: Netflix
Emily's Wonder Lab
Creativity and curiosity intersect inside Emily's Wonder Lab, a colorful show where kids create art with simple science. The best part is that watching the show isn't meant to be a passive experience, as viewers are encouraged (with their parent's permission, of course) to perform their own STEAM-based experiments.
Where to stream: Netflix
Mark Rober's Revengineers
Yes, someone gave YouTube's favorite former NASA engineer his own show. He and his team of creative do-it-yourselfers craft booby traps to teach those who annoy others a lesson, including that guy who never turns off his phone in the movie theater and those who drive and text. If you've ever seen Rober's videos, he doesn't set limits on what his STEM and STEAM-based solutions can do, which is a great mindset when undergoing anything creative.
Where to stream: Max, Discovery+
Play-Doh Squished
Three teams of adults and kids must sculpt something special for three themed challenges. Hosted by Modern Family star Sarah Hyland, the show is about more than just the dough that gives the show its title. Physical challenges will also remind parents of a particular age group of the game show Double Dare. A panel of rotating celebrity judges decides the winner—and as in Lego Masters, they're looking for creativity and storytelling.
Where to stream: Freevee