The 15 Absolute Best Science Shows for Kids, According to Entertainment Experts and PureWow Editors

By now we all know the importance of STEM education for kids, but not every parent is a born scientist (daughter of two scientists and unabashed lib-arts major raises hand). Fortunately, it’s pretty easy to incorporate some extracurricular learning into our kids’ days with an activity most of us gravitate towards to some extent: screen time. Without further ado, here are the absolute best science shows for kids, according to entertainment experts (hello, Common Sense Media, an independent source for media recommendations and advice for families) and PureWow Editors who have watched with their kids and learned a thing or two themselves.

• Suitable For: Ages 4+
• Run Time: 23 minutes

“Octonauts isn't technically a science show, but it teaches little kids a lot about our oceans and their inhabitants. Each episode has some sort of problem with an underwater creature that the Octonaut team must help, so there are biology lessons sprinkled throughout,” explains Executive Editor Alexia Dellner, whose son loved this show so much he had an Octonauts-themed fourth birthday party. Personally, I learned quite a bit about marine life from watching this one when my kids were younger…and I can also confirm that the little (creature-specific) song-and-dance routine that occurs at the end of every episode is seriously catchy.

• Suitable For: Ages 7+
• Run Time: 14 to 26 minutes

My kids love this interactive show led by survival expert Bear Grylls—namely because it allows them the opportunity to make a series of choices that determine the fate of the host while he’s out in the wilderness. So, yes, it’s sort of like a game…but it’s also an exciting viewing experience that teaches kids about fascinating animals and insects, puts problem solving skills to the test, and imparts survival tips that might come in handy when spending time in the Great Outdoors.

• Suitable For: Ages 4+
• Run Time: 28 minutes

Here, another recommendation from Alexia Dellner, who praises the show because “each episode answers a science-related kid's question in a fun and engaging way.” Indeed, this very lively animated show features a team of very goofy robots who go on whimsical adventures in search of answers to questions that cover everything from why the sky is blue to how airplanes fly. “My kindergartener loves this one and has learned a ton from the silly antics of the colorful bots,” shares Dellner. “And I have to admit that I’ve learned quite a bit too!” Parents should know, however, that the humorous antics of the bots are noisy and there’s some slapstick violence, so the show might be too overstimulating for more sensitive viewers.

• Suitable For: Ages 3+
• Run Time: 15 minutes

This wholesome show, based on a (namesake) book series, is commended by Common Sense Media for “[getting] preschoolers interested in science [while offering] great representation with a Black girl scientist as the lead.” VP of Editorial Content Candace Davison echoes the sentiment saying that, “My daughter really got into this show during preschool…and loved seeing how Ada tackled problems she faced through her hypotheses and experiments.” Davison also calls out the diverse cast—particularly one episode that features a boy with nonverbal autism—and how it “opened a conversation about how using a tablet helped kids and adults understand their new friend's needs.” Bottomline: If you’re looking for STEM and social-emotional learning bundled into one little kid-friendly show, Ada Twist has got you covered.

• Suitable For: Ages 5+
• Run Time: 11 to 14 minutes

I loved watching this show with my two science-curious kids—namely because Emily is such a bubbly and engaging host, and the content is super approachable. Candace Davison watched it with her family and found it similarly entertaining and educational: “There's only one season of this Netflix show, but it features a bunch of fun, STEAM-based experiments that (fair warning) will get your kids asking if they can try them at home.”

• Suitable For: Ages 5+
• Run Time: 25 minutes

Another recommendation from Candace Davison, this one has been around for quite a while and has even been given a flashier update with The Magic School Bus Rides Again (see above trailer). Both the original and the more modern iteration “excel at bringing nature’s wonders to life in the most fun way possible,” says Davison, whilst cautioning that “it does kind of ruin all field trips and bus rides forever, because going to the museum can never compete with, you know, shrinking down to the size of a cell and exploring the inner workings of the body.”

I agree 100 percent, though I’d be remiss not to mention that I’m partial to the original when it comes to younger viewers, simply because it doesn’t pose as high a risk of overstimulating them. Either way, you can expect plenty of peril and adventure from this fast-paced show about a zany teacher with a magic school bus and a love of learning.

• Suitable For: Ages 6+
• Run Time: 26 minutes

Wild Kratts chronicles the adventures of two young wildlife enthusiasts—animated versions of two real-life zoologists—and the educational value is significant. It’s an excellent viewing experience for all ages, and chances are the grown-ups will pick up some new fun facts as well. “My 7-year-old still spouts the animal facts he learned—for example, the fact that a Peregrine Falcon is the fastest member of the animal kingdom with a diving speed of 200 mph. It's a bit cheesy, but loaded with info!” says PureWow’s Senior Director of Special Projects, Rachel Bowie.

• Suitable For: Ages 7+
• Run Time: 23 minutes

Here, an award-winning science show for kids that you might remember fondly from your own childhood. (Yes, millennials, you are seen!) For what it’s worth, Purewow’s Editor-in-Chief Jillian Quint is an unabashed fan: “I love this iconic show as a way to make science FUN for kids. Before Ms. Rachel and ‘Emily’s Wonder Lab,’ there was Bill Nye, offering up science facts and experiments that blow kids’ minds—and particularly in an era when science is under attack, this feels like an important lesson to instill in kids.”

• Suitable For: Ages 6+
• Run Time: <10 minutes

Nature Boom Time—a travel docuseries that’s hosted by a sibling trio who have a passion for the natural sciences—is one of my favorites for slightly older kids. The young adult hosts are enigmatic and wonderfully curious as they explore seriously cool natural attractions, which range from Petrified Forest National Park to Washington D.C.’s Cherry Blossom Festival. (I personally love watching this show with my kids because the hosts are so engaging, and their enthusiasm really inspires both a sense of wonder and a feeling of wanderlust.)

• Suitable For: Ages 7+
• Run Time: 25 minutes

Another personal favorite of mine, and one that really checks all the boxes when it comes to the best science shows for kids—particularly older elementary school and teen viewers. Brainchild is a very clever show that boasts a snazzy host, a good dose of humor and highly educational content that explores pretty nifty and novel concepts relating to neuropsychology, in particular, and a few other scientific areas as well. Best of all, parents are just as likely as their tweens to be engaged and entertained by the highly relatable sociological and psychological material.

• Suitable For: Ages 5+
• Run Time: 16 minutes

Dr. Binocs is an unidentifiable creature—a floating beard with glasses is probably the best description—and the host of this zany animated science show. Each episode explores a different science topic, with an emphasis on medical science. (Previous topics have included hygiene, viruses, hormones, sleep, but there are also a smattering of episodes devoted to plant science and other subjects, too.) The narration is both informative and colorful, with plenty of age-appropriate humor thrown in for good measure. Despite the very simplistic animation, this is one show that my kids (ages 8 and 10) don’t accuse of being “too babyish,” which I think speaks to the fact that the episodes really do pack in a lot of interesting facts.

• Suitable For: Ages 4+
• Run Time: 12 minutes

While I haven’t seen it myself, Common Sense Media gives Earth to Luna a glowing five-star review, saying that the show “encourages kids to think critically about the way things work in the natural world…[and] introduces concepts such as astronomy, motion and light refraction in simple ways that preschoolers will understand through basic experiments and imaginative plots that put the characters in the middle of the action.” In other words, you can expect a curious main character with a big imagination and an even bigger appetite for knowledge; if your kid goes along for the ride, entertainment and learning is a guarantee.

• Suitable For: Ages 9+
• Run Time: 44 minutes

I only recently introduced my kids to this science show, which is considerably more sensational than some of the other shows on the list and decidedly more mature. That said, the (adult) duo responsible for all the myth busting are highly entertaining and the content is educational—namely because it relies entirely on proper use of the scientific method to test various hypotheses. There’s some very mild swearing involved and lots of “do not try this at home” type of experiments, but overall it’s a witty and engaging watch with real educational value.

• Suitable For: Ages 10+
• Run Time: 1 hour

This award-winning science show from PBS has been going strong since 1972 and it’s still producing incredible, educational content that covers a wide variety of different topics. Some of the documentary-style episodes go into controversial territory—for example a recent episode on machines that use an algorithm to determine prescription medications based, in part, on a patient’s race—while others, like one that explores forest ecosystems to discover how they can help cool our planet, are more in line with what you would expect from a science docuseries. Every episode is sure to pique curiosity, encourage critical thinking and get some pretty interesting conversations started. That said, the episodes are long and the material is likely too dense for younger viewers who lack the attention span for a documentary format. For older kids, though, I’d call Nova must-see-TV.