Tired of seeing your kids zone out in front of mindless TV shows and YouTube videos? It might be time to check out some documentaries instead. In an age when social media and virtual learning are at the forefront, screens are even more in our kids' faces than ever before. But it doesn't necessarily have to be a bad thing. Not all screen time is created equal, so instead of remedying the problem by making strict rules about how much your child is logging each day, we strongly suggest monitoring what your kids are watching instead.
There are so many excellent documentary movies and series out there, that you're sure to find some that will be of interest to your child. Documentaries aren't all boring, monotonous affairs anymore, either. Lots of filmmakers have put out some truly engaging, entertaining, and educational documentaries that appeal to children and adults alike — we promise! There are even documentaries your preschooler can get into.
To help our readers find ways to let their kids enjoy some guilt-free screen time, we've curated a list of some of the best family-friendly documentaries ever made. We've included titles for every age group, so whether you have a toddler or a teen, this list is for you. Check out all of our favorite documentaries to watch with kids now:
'Tales by Light'
This beautiful documentary series takes viewers on a behind-the-scenes journey as professional photographers and filmmakers go on the hunt for the most breathtaking photo ops. It's a really insightful show, but it's also visually stunning, which is sure to hold the interest of children of varying ages. This is a good one to watch with the entire family.
'My Octopus Teacher'
My Octopus Teacher is a fantastic documentary by filmmaker Craig Foster, who went out on an expedition in the hopes of finding self-fulfillment, and was ultimately successful. He traveled to South Africa, where he obsessively studied a singular octopus living in a remote kelp forest. They end up forming an unlikely and quite remarkable bond.
'Kindness Is Contagious'
Kindness Is Contagious is a 2014 documentary that takes a deep dive into the theory that kindness and compassion can be infectious. The concepts discussed are based on both practice and theory, but whether or not it's true that kindness is contagious, the idea alone provides a wonderful lesson for children of all ages.
'Blue Planet Now'
This docuseries takes a detailed look at how marine life across the world is handling the rapid and often dangerous changes occurring in the environment. This one is especially cool for kids who are shark fans, as there are episodes dedicated to hammerheads specifically, as well as one devoted to sharks in general.
'Fed Up'
In the documentary Fed Up, Katie Couric teams up with filmmaker Stephanie Soechtig to examine how the American commercial food industry may be contributing to high rates of obesity, poor health, and chronic illnesses. It's an eye-opening watch for adults, and an interesting one for slightly older children who are learning about nutrition.
'Living on One Dollar'
Living On One Dollar takes an interesting look at the poverty crisis. In the documentary, four friends travel to Guatemala, where they commit to living on just one US dollar a day for two months. Before long, they begin to suffer the side effects of hunger and poor nutrition, truly highlighting the dilemma that many people in third world countries face on a daily basis.
'Aquarela'
It's interesting to see the specific topics that young kids get into, and one of them tends to be water. If that's your kid, Aquarela will make for a fascinating watch. In it, filmmaker Viktor Kossakovsky travels throughout the world capturing incredible images that illustrate the power and beauty of bodies of water of every type.
'The Elephant Queen'
The Elephant Queen is a perfect film for kids who are elephant obsessed. It focuses on Athena, the matriarch of a tribe of elephants in the African savannah. Athena is tasked with protecting her herd when it has no choice but to leave its watering hole. It's a beautiful look at elephants and how they live.
'The Biggest Little Farm'
The Biggest Little Farm is a really fun and interesting film about a couple that sets about the difficult task of starting a sustainable farm on a plot of struggling land just outside of Los Angeles. The documentary follows them over the course of several years, chronicling the ups and downs of their mission.
'Hoop Dreams'
Hoop Dreams is an older documentary about two boys from an inner-city neighborhood of Chicago with big dreams of getting into college basketball, in the hopes of eventually going pro. The film follows them throughout their diverging high school careers as they strive to stay on track and meet their goals regardless of the obstacles they face.
'Minding the Gap'
This super interesting documentary follows three boys growing up in the same town in America's "Rust Belt," which runs from New York State into the Midwest. Their home lives are rough, but they find respite and forge a bond through their love of skateboarding. As they get older, their increasing responsibilities lead to dissension among them, and threaten to ruin their friendships.
'Growing Up Wild'
Growing Up Wild is another fun documentary for kids who love wildlife. It's a Disney nature film that's narrated by Hamilton's Daveed Diggs and follows five young animals as they face and learn to overcome the first challenges of their still very new lives in the wilderness.
'Becoming'
Michelle Obama's documentary Becoming is an adaptation of the former first lady's memoir of the same name. The film takes a look at her life from childhood through to her time in the White House, as she strives to meet her professional goals and make meaningful personal connections with the people around her. She's led a truly inspiring life that is sure to plant the seeds of hope and determination in people of all ages.
'Chasing Coral'
Chasing Coral is a highly informative Netflix original documentary in which divers, photographers, and scientists travel to oceans around the world to try to get to the root cause of the rapid rate of coral loss across Earth. If offers a beautiful look at the sea and the coral within it, but also gives viewers some incredible insights into how the planet is changing.
'Being Elmo'
Fans of the Sesame Street star will absolutely love this documentary in which celebrities including Rosie O'Donnell and Whoopi Goldberg offer their personal reflections on Kevin Clash. The puppeteer voiced the beloved Elmo character for nearly three decades between 1984 and 2012, so it'll have appeal for everyone in the family — from moms and dads to elementary schoolers.
'The Mars Generation'
The Mars Generation is a fascinating documentary that follows a group of self-professed nerdy teens going to space camp at the US Space & Rocket Center. As they study and train, they prove that travel to Mars may actually be a reality much sooner than most people realize. Their excitement and enthusiasm are infectious and inspiring.
'Bully'
The 2011 documentary Bully is still just as important today as it was a decade ago. In it, filmmaker Lee Hirsch follows five kids dealing with vicious bullies who torment them both physically and emotionally. The disturbing abuse is captured on camera so it may be best to save it for older kids, but it's a powerful way to humanize the act of bullying that will likely have a profound impact.
'Zion'
This bite-size documentary is an inspirational look at the life of teenager Zion Clark, who was born without legs and has spent a good portion of his life in foster care. Surprisingly, he finds his passion as a competitive wrestler, despite his differently abled body. It's only 11 minutes long, making it perfect for a quick and profound sit-down.
'The Speed Cubers'
In this brief but fun documentary, filmmakers follow Rubik's Cube tournament champions Max Park and Feliks Zemdegs as they attempt to meet their competitive goals, which test both their minds and their physical dexterity. The two form an unlikely bond as they seek competition glory, despite being rivals.
'Undefeated'
Undefeated is a motivational sports documentary about the Manassas High School football team in North Memphis as they attempt to win a play-off game for the first time. Viewers get to watch as the team, armed with a new coach, undergoes a physical and emotional transformation, eventually achieving their goal.
'David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet'
You can't go wrong with a David Attenborough documentary. The 95-year-old natural historian has visited every continent on the planet and has immense knowledge and passion for the Earth. In this documentary from 2020, he discusses everything from his personal experiences to the history of evolution, culminating in his thoughts on the devastating losses our home planet is experiencing.
