Favorite Children’s Videos

From Charlie Chaplin to Japanese animation to a Canadian farm documentary, CCC parents share recommendations for kid-friendly videos. Pick up some ideas for your next family movie night. Don’t forget the popcorn!

Annie (Alex, FY) writes, “We have recently discovered and fallen in love with The Little Travelers for our weekly movie night. They are two girls from Southern California who travel around the world. The movies are stories of their adventures and they're full of sweetness, curiosity and exploration. They're really well done. We've watched Bali, Japan and Iran... Bali being our favorite. We highly recommend!”

Val (Rudy, BY) reports, “Just got a hot tip on a DVD from Farmer Stanley at the Little Farm in Tilden. There's a group out of Manitoba called Rural Route Video with a DVD called Katherine's Farm, a year in the life of a young girl growing up on a Canadian farm... Just our speed.”

Samantha (Patrick, FY) recommends both Dan Zanes concert DVDs, Eloise videos, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (“He has a big sister who did not watch these at 3, by the way”). She adds two of his favorite TV shows right now are Wordgirl and Super Why.

Ani (Ian, FY) says Ian’s top movie picks are: Toy Story, Cinderella, Up and any Pixar movie.

Amy (Ula, BY) writes, “Ula is loving Kiki's Delivery Service, Spirited Away, and Season 1 of Sesame Street, downloaded off of iTunes. She loves the song about 'Dad, D-A-D, Dad!’”

Kristen (mom of Mazi, BY and Finn, FY) recommends: Scholastic Video Collection (“tons of great books made into simple video form”) and some true classics: Charlie Chaplin, The Red Balloon and The Three Stooges.

Ellen (Josie, BY) writes, “Kirikou is a favorite. It's based on a West African folktale. Kirikou, a walking, talking, tiny newborn saves his village from the evil sorceress. Cool animation and good music too.”

Elise (Hazel Rose, BY): “Charlie and Lola have been nice to have around. They are British animated siblings who have a nice relationship. All of the Hayao Miyazaki movies that are age appropriate are well loved by both of us: Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service, Ponyo (when it comes out), and well, yes, a lot of the way age inappropriate ones, too: Castle in the Sky, Howl's Moving Castle, Nausicaa, Monoke, Spirited Away.” Elise advises that parents pre-screen to make sure these are a good fit for their kids.

Kate (Milo, BY) also chimes in on Miyazaki films, including My Neighbor Totoro and Kiki's Delivery Service. She adds, “There are a bunch of other great ones that are pretty wild and scary and probably not suited for this audience, but our kids love them: Porco Rosso, Laputa, Howl's Moving Castle, etc.”

And Kate writes, “We can't get enough of the BBC Series by David Attenborough: The Life of Birds, The Life of Mammals, The Blue Planet. Literally, Milo's first choice these days when picking something to watch.”

“Otherwise, old school Looney Tunes: The Rabbit of Seville ... Amazing animation with the fantastic scores from Carl Stalling. We love the classical music mixed in. And now our kids will listen to the Barber of Seville!”

Want to watch now? Kate suggests these classics on YouTube: Tom and Jerry play the Hollywood Bowl (Die Fledermaus), and Tom and Jerry play Franz Liszt.

What are your family’s favorite videos? Share them below!