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Not All Screen Time is Bad! Here’s Our Family’s Recommended Screen Time Choices
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items We do a lot of screen time, but we try to be intentional with what our kids watch. Here are some of our favorite activities or shows included in our screen time.
Sections
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Low Stimulation TV Shows Our Kids Enjoy
Educational TV Shows for Young Children
Nintendo Switch Games Our Kids Enjoy
Nex Playground is Addicting
Low Stimulation TV Shows Our Kids Enjoy
We've been on the hunt for low stimulation shows after learning how the fast scene changes, flickering lights, bright colors, loud sound effects, and excitement affects our children's moods and behaviors. Here are a few we love!
Tumble Leaf has unique animation which took some getting used to, but now we all love it. And the intro song is really catchy and cute too.
Tumble Leaf
Bluey isn’t just a kids’ show. This show has stolen all of our hearts and we love the Heeler family!
Bluey - Disney+
Trash Truck hasn’t been on in a while in our house, but I remember the days my little boy would watch trash truck for hours. Sweet show.
Watch Trash Truck | Netflix Official Site
Puffin Rock is a great low stimulation option for screen time if you need your kids to have some down time for resting and don’t want high energy and loud shows.
Watch Puffin Rock | Netflix Official Site
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie was one of my favorite books as a kid, and my children get a kick out of this little tv series.
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie (TV Series 2015–2021) - Episode list
My kids learned about SuperBook at school, so I trusted it enough to try it, and if they ever ask to watch it, it’s an immediate yes. Always approved.
Watch Superbook Full Episodes for Free
The Magic School Bus is one I never watched as a kid, but it’s a cute education show that doesn’t have all the high speed, volume, and energy.
The Magic School Bus
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A super sweet and low stimulation show on Netflix our kids enjoyed when they were younger.
Watch Not Quite Narwhal | Netflix Official Site
I couldn’t understand when my girl came home asking to watch a show about a spider, then we tried Lucas the Spider and it all made sense. Moms, if your kids want to watch this, it’s mom-approved! Ha
Watch Lucas the Spider
I haven’t seen this one myself because we don’t have the service, but I’ve heard amazing reviews about Stillwater and kind of wish we had it. It looks super sweet for our littles.
Watch Stillwater
Educational TV Shows for Young Children
We prefer for our kids to watch education tv shows when they're watching. Here are some that we've loved over the years since preschool to their current elementary ages.
Storybots on Netflix is a new favorite for my kids. They love learning about new random things they’d never otherwise find out about.
Ask the StoryBots | Netflix
Wild Kratts was something my boy found on his Amazon Fire tablet years ago, and he still watches these guys and learns so much still.
Wild Kratts
Numberblocks on Netflix is super cute and addicting. Haha. My kids will sing the songs and respond to the questions and get immersed in this fun and educational show!
Numberblocks | Netflix
Dinosaur Train on PBS Kids was a fave of my toddler boy. I don’t know how we ever stopped watching it but he sure loved it!
Dinosaur Train | PBS Kids
Magic School Bus is a super popular educational show!
The Magic School Bus
Emily's Wonder Lab is a new one my kids have gotten hooked on. It’s wildly fun and kind of has a reality/game show style approach to learning science and stem concepts.
Watch Emily's Wonder Lab | Netflix Official Site
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This is on all the list of the top educational shows you can out your kids onto! Introduce them to Sesame Street at a young age, mamas.
Sesame Street Live
Once you see Daniel Tiger a few times, you’ll understand why parents love for their kids to live this preschool and young child tv show. It’s low stimulation AND educational!
Daniel Tiger
My kids just recently found this show and were instantly hooked! They’re elementary age though, not preschool. The story follows some grade school kids around who “investigate” and my kids have honestly learned a lot!
Watch The InBESTigators | Netflix Official Site
Highly educational (and gorgeous footage) to introduce your kids to the world we live in. Highly recommend!
Watch Planet Earth
Nintendo Switch Games Our Kids Enjoy
We've have a Nintendo Switch for about 3 years now, and these are some of our family's (or some are just my son's) favorite video games
We’ve had this Nintendo Switch for about 3 years and our son can’t get enough. We have to limit screen time of course, but there are so many games in a wide variety of styles. They love them all!
Nintendo Switch 2020 Animal Crossing Bundle
Animal Crossing is a fun open-ended social and building game. It’s just fun to build a community and accomplish tasks. From fishing, to catching butterflies and scorpions, and diving for oysters and seaweed. Build houses, a museum, shop and sell at t...
Animal Crossing: New Horizons - Nintendo Switch
Minecraft is a game my son started playing, and now (surprisingly) even my 6 yo daughter has taken interest in. It's a game of building and imagination, where they play surprisingly well together building their little worlds and blasting the ground t...
Minecraft - Nintendo Switch
My son played Monster Jam a lot as a 6-7 year old boy. He has moved on now, but this was a fave for a while.
Monster Jam Steel Titans 2 - Nintendo Switch
Lego City Undercover is one of my 9 yo son's favorite Switch games. We love all things Lego anyway, but this is a really fun take on video games, seeing things break apart into lego blocks, or watching them pick up studs. Definitely fun!
LEGO City Undercover (Nintendo Switch)
Mario Kart is a classic! Our family plays this one occasionally still, and we prefer to play the battles instead of just the races. We have found ways to play where we don't compete against each other, which is really helpful for my 6yo daughter who ...
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for Nintendo Switch
This is a recent addition to our game stack. We've not played it a whole lot yet. It does seem to have a bit of a learning curve when you're accustomed to the previous games and how they operate. It is a bit odd maneuvering, etc. but it is definitely...
Super Mario Bros.™ Wonder - Nintendo Switch
My 9yo son is all about all of the Lego games for his Nintendo Switch, and the Ninjago movies made him want this one too.
The LEGO Ninjago Movie Videogame - Nintendo Switch
One of our first games on the Nintendo Switch was PAW Patrol: On a Roll! Our kids were 4 and 6 at the time I think, and it was easy enough for my 6yo to learn, but my 4yo just didn't care for video games at all honestly. However, once she got interes...
PAW Patrol: On a Roll - Nintendo Switch
Super Mario Odyssey is more of a “world” style game like the original Nintendo Mario we played in the 90s. However, it's 3D and way more modern and complicated! Haha. BUT! My boy picked it up and learned pretty quickly. He's about the only one who pl...
Super Mario Odyssey - US Version
Big Brain Academy is one I bought to try to get them to do a little smart activity on the video game. We haven't used it much, but it was fun when we did.
Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain - Switch
Yoshi's Crafted World is truly an awesome game! I love it! It's fun for the littles and I really love the graphics. Its just unique and cute! It's simple enough for the kids to play, and also has some more challenging aspects that make it fun for us ...
Yoshi's Crafted World - Nintendo Switch
This is another one that we got at the beginning of learning the Switch. Easy to learn, play, and have fun with. Definitely recommend.
Paw Patrol: Adventure City Calls (Nintendo Switch)
Mario Party Superstars is another one that we play as a family of four. Whenever all four of us sit down to play together, this is usually the one we do. We can play a “board game” style where there's a full game with rounds, or we can just play mini...
Mario Party Superstars - Nintendo Switch Video Game
Luigi's Mansion is super fun! It's even great as a two player game. We've played and beat the game twice! The only one who hasn't played yet is my 6yo girl who just watches us - but I think it's above her level.
Luigi's Mansion 3 - Nintendo Switch Game
Lego video games for the Switch are one of my son's favorites - and this 2K Drive game is no exception! He loves all kinds of car games, and lego games, so this is the best of both worlds!
LEGO 2K Drive - Nintendo Switch
Lego games are my son's favorite on his Switch - and he loves this super hero version. It's confusing to me, because you can switch characters in the game, but he has no problem, so apparently that's just my old mind that can't understand it! Haha.
Lego Marvel Superheroes 2 (Nintendo Switch)
We do not have this lego game for the nintendo switch yet, but I know it will eventually be added to his stash!
Lego Jurassic World NSW Switch Non-US
My daughter was obsessed with the Grinch last Christmas so we got her this Nintendo Switch game. It's pretty easy for her, and she found it to be quite fun! We need to bring it back out since the holidays are back.
The Grinch Christmas Adventure (Re-Release) Switch
One of our family's favorite games is Minecraft Dungeons. I am shocked at myself honestly. I thought it was an awful game to start with - zombies and skeletons, etc. However, everything is very pixelated like old computer art, and nothing shows blood...
Minecraft Dungeons Standard - Switch Digital
Nex Playground is Addicting
If you haven't heard of or seen the Nex Playground yet, you really need to check out this unique spin on video games. The system has a camera that watches your body movement so you don't even use a controller to play. It's amazing!
The Nex Playground was an investment we made just before school got out for summer - as an alternative screen time option where the kids have to be active to use it. It was a complete game changer this summer when they were active, practicing shootin...
Oh, and it's a very safe and closed system where you don't have to worry about your kids interacting with strangers over the internet. So much peace of mind with this system!
Oh, and it's a very safe and closed system where you don't have to worry about your kids interacting with strangers over the internet. So much peace of mind with this system!
Nex Playground - Active Indoor Play System
The Nex Playground does include 5 games and a bunch of mini games - but if you want the full access pass, it's an annual membership to purchase separately. You definitely need it! When they add new songs to the dance games, update with seasonal add-o...
Nex Playground 12-Month Play Pass - [Digital Code]
Here’s a link to the list of Nex Playground current games - all included with the play pass annual subscription! There’s no need to buy newly released games and I LOVE THAT!
Nex Playgound | Game Catalog
I would recommend reading some Nex Playground owner reviews - most everyone is completely satisfied with this unique and active gaming system!
Has anyone played with the Nex Playground console? Worth it for ...
You can follow Nex on Facebook for information about releases and more fun info.
Nex
Playground is kidSAFE+ COPPA certified, which means the entire platform—and all our games—meet strict safety and privacy standards for kids under 13. And thanks to our commitment to keeping the internet a safe place, we’re also members of the Family ...
Safety & Privacy
All you need to know about the Nex Playground system, and you can buy at this link too.
Nex Playground | The Active Play System for Kids and Families
Reddit thread on thoughts of value for certain age kids
Has anyone played with the Nex Playground console? Worth it for stepkids 8F, 10F & 13M?
This dad has a video review of his thought of the active system vs the others, after 1 year of use!
Nex Playground 1 Year Later - Would I Still Recommend?
Parents.com has an article or review of the Nex Playground you might want to check out.
The Gaming System That Won Over My Whole Family