Summer break is officially here, and although these warmer months are fantastic for playing outdoors and soaking up the glorious sunshine, sometimes everyone (OK, we mean you, parents) could use a bit of a break from all that rambunctiousness. After running around all day, let kids cool off by watching these entertaining and even quasi-educational shows on Netflix. (Hey, just because school’s out doesn’t mean the learning has to end.)
Whether your child is interested in science fiction and outer space or is more into cute animated tales of friendship and adventure, Netflix’s summer lineup is sure to please viewers of all tastes and ages — thanks to shows like Lost in Space, True and the Rainbow Kingdom, Greenhouse Academy and The Magic School Bus Rides Again. Ahead, you’ll find 20 of our favorite picks currently available on the streaming platform.
Consider your after-play summer planning done. The best part? No sunscreen required.
‘A Little Help with Carol Burnett’
Need a break from animated shows? Iconic comedian Carol Burnett has your back. The Emmy Award-winning legend hosts this 12-episode talk show in which she relies on her panel of children (ages 5 to 9) for unfiltered, hilarious advice on all things adulthood. Think of it as Kids Say the Darndest Things with a Letterman twist.
‘A Series of Unfortunate Events’
This series, which is based on Lemony Snicket’s famous books of the same name, follows orphans Violet, Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire as they set out on a journey to unearth the real cause of their parents’ deaths. Along the way, they’ll run into many twists and turns as they try to dodge a man named Olaf’s (Neil Patrick Harris) nefarious plans.
‘Ask the StoryBots’
Every kid gets to an age when their favorite question is “Why?!” Allow the StoryBots — a group of silly animated robots possessing a seemingly endless bank of knowledge — to help you answer some of your kids’ most pressing questions, including the timeless kid favorite, “Why is the sky blue?” Plus, parents will enjoy voice appearances from big-name actors like Judy Greer, Jay Leno, Whoopi Goldberg and “Weird Al” Yankovic.
‘Boss Baby: Back in Business’
Our favorite little genius is back to running the show at his wildly successful business, Baby Corp.
‘Buddy Thunderstruck’
Buddy Thunderstruck isn’t just any tail-wagging dog; he’s a truck-driving pooch who loves to stir up trouble in his hometown of Greasepit. This stop-motion comedy is silly, outrageous and an all-around good time.
‘Dragons: Race to the Edge’
If you’re like us and loved How to Train Your Dragon (or OK, let’s be real; you just loved it because of the adorable character Toothless), you’re in luck. Dragons: Race to the Edge is a six-season series that explores the same themes of human-dragon friendship and adventure. Plus, actors Jay Baruchel and America Ferrera voice characters. What’s not to love?
‘Greenhouse Academy’
The teens at the prestigious Greenhouse Academy don’t exactly lead the most normal lives. In addition to dealing with typical high school drama (i.e., crushes and rivalries), these smarties find themselves tasked with overthrowing an evil plot to destroy the environment. And we thought AP Bio was hard.
‘Harvey Street Kids’
Debuting on June 29, Harvey Street Kids is a show where kids rule — literally. Welcome to Harvey Street, where kids — under the guidance of main characters Audrey, Lotta and Dot — are the sole occupants in a land filled with fun and adventure.
‘Llama Llama’
Based on the books by Anna Dewdney, this series explores Llama Llama’s daily adventures with his mother, Mama Llama (Jennifer Garner), and his friends, such as Sophia Squirrel and Billy Goat.
‘Lost in Space’
Sci-fi lovers of all ages can enjoy this Netflix original series based on the 1965 series of the same name about a family whose plan to settle on a space colony is altered after their ship goes off course. Far from human civilization, the Robinsons must learn to coexist with extraterrestrial lifeforms.
‘Project Mc2’
Who runs the world? Well, in Project Mc2, that answer is easy: girls — more specifically, a group of four teens who excel in STEM and work for the government to keep planet Earth safe.
‘Spy Kids: Mission Critical’
Who didn’t want to attend a spy school as a kid? Throughout this animated series, junior spies Juni and Carmen Cortez along with their similarly trained pals must be strategic and stealthy to outsmart the Sinister Wrongdoers Against Mankind’s Preservation. In other words, they’re actually trying to drain the S.W.A.M.P.
‘Super Why!’
Learning doesn’t have to be a snoozefest with Super Why!, a show about knowledge-hungry kids who travel through Storybook Village and gobble up lessons on reading, spelling and more.
‘The Hollow’
The Hollow follows three teens who go from strangers to fast friends as they work together to survive a strange land filled with supernatural creatures like zombies and minotaurs. Though this series is fun, be warned: It’s a bit spooky.
‘The Magic School Bus Rides Again’
Hop aboard, everybody — it’s time for an adventure. The Magic School Bus Rides Again is a spinoff of the cartoon from our childhoods in which an orange-haired teacher (in this case, Ms. Frizzle’s sister) takes her students — and viewers — on educational journeys into the ocean, woods and beyond.
‘The Who Was? Show’
Though this historical sketch comedy show is geared toward kids, parents will also get a kick out of the celebrity appearances, which include Andy Daly, H. John Benjamin, John Oliver and Ellie Kemper.
‘Trolls: The Beat Goes On!’
Every day is a party in Troll Village, where Queen Poppy, Branch and the Snack Pack live. Based on the hit kids film Trolls, it promises a lot of fun and laughter.
‘Voltron: Legendary Defender’
Now in its sixth season, this DreamWorks-animated anime-style series follows a group of teens who are on a mission to save the galaxy from the Galra Empire. But the battle isn’t an easy one. It’s only through teamwork that they can form Voltron, a mighty robotic defender of the universe who possesses enough power to keep evil at bay.
‘Beat Bugs’
By now, you’ve probably listened to the Frozen soundtrack more times than you can count. Give your ears a much-needed break with Beat Bugs, an animated series about a group of cute bugs who go on adventures and listen to The Beatles. With covers by artists like Eddie Vedder, The Shins and Sia, this is one show you won’t mind listening to again and again (and probably again).
‘True and the Rainbow Kingdom’
There’s never a reason to pout in Rainbow Kingdom, at least not with True and her cat Bartleby around to grant wishes. Check out this series when you’re in need of a smile. And if you can’t get enough, stay tuned for True: Magical Friends and True: Wonderful Wishes when they debut on Netflix on June 15.
Pin It!
Pin this and start streaming.
Leave a Comment