Need to get back to nature this Earth Day? Here are all the best movies and TV shows to captivate the kids and teach everyone the importance of saving the planet.
Heading outside to enjoy nature and outdoor play is the best way to mark Earth Day. However, if Singapore’s stormy weather scuppers your plans, you can still help to teach the kids about the importance of saving the planet. We’ve compiled a list of the best eco friendly books for kids, and there are loads of fun craft ideas and upcycling options for rainy weather play too. But if you need to make a coffee and the kids are enjoying a few minutes of screen time, make it count with these fun and informative movies and TV series that will educate as well as sneak you some minutes of peace!
Fun and eco-friendly movies and TV shows for kids and families
1. David Attenborough – A Life on Our Planet, Life in Colour, Wild City Series, Our Planet and more!
David Attenborough – possibly the world’s leading advocate for nature and protecting life on our planet – voices so many amazing programs that will not only inform and entertain, but inspire everyone with wonder for the natural world. A Life on our Planet is particularly moving and offers a vision for the future that we can hold in hope for our children.
A Life on our Planet, now streaming on Netflix.
2. 22 vs Earth
Ever feel like your kids are too focused on material things? In the adorable prequel to the Oscar-winning Disney and Pixar film Soul, 22 vs Earth imparts an important message to us Earthlings to appreciate nature and the small things in life, such as enjoying the breeze. A great one for kids and adults to watch together (the message is universal!) and as an added bonus, the incomparable Tina Fey is the voice of 22!
22 vs Earth, available now on Disney +
3.The Biggest Little Farm: The Return
Get back to nature with this National Geographic Earth Day special streaming on Disney +. Based on the 2018 award-winning feature documentary film, watch the story of John and Molly Chester. They abandon their urban life in Los Angeles to grow delicious food in harmony with nature in Ventura County. Sounds like a dream, but it’s not all smooth sailing! Follow them as they transform their land into Apricot Lane Farms, a beautiful and complex world that reflects our planet’s biodiversity. This is a great one to help kids understand how things in nature are interconnected, from the health of the soil to the seeds that are planted and how our food gets from the farm to our tables.
The Biggest Little Farm: The Return, streaming on Disney + from April 22
4. The Lorax
One of the most well-known and well-loved stories of the importance of preserving nature for all, the forest-dwelling Lorax has to stop the short-sighted Once-ler from ruining the environment for profit in this adaptation of the Dr. Seuss classic. Bonus: it features the voice of Taylor Swift no less!
The Lorax, download now from Apple TV
5. You vs Wild with Bear Grylls
Older kids and nature lovers will really enjoy this interactive choose-your-own-adventure series on Netflix, with real-life action hero Bear Grylls once again surviving in the wild. As the kids journey through rainforests, bushland, rivers and mountains with Bear, there’s a subliminal appreciation for nature and wild animals delivered with a hearty dash of excitement!
You vs Wild, stream now on Netflix
6. Polar Bear
Things get icy and dicey in this Disney nature special that tells the story of a polar bear whose youthful memories prepare her to navigate motherhood in an increasingly challenging climate. One for the whole family, learn about the harsh challenges polar bears face, and how we can help the environment. Narrated by two-time Academy Award nominee Catherine Keener (“Capote” and “Being John Malkovich”) everyone is sure to enjoy this Arctic adventure!
Polar Bear, streaming now on Disney +
7. My Octopus Teacher
This one is a tear jerker, and will really bring about an appreciation for nature and this incredible creature, the octopus! The film tells the deeply moving true story of South African naturalist Craig Foster and his friendship with \ an octopus he meets during diving sessions in False Bay.
My Octopus Teacher, streaming now on Netflix
9. Go Jetters
This super cute series for littlies joins four explorers on global adventures. The Go Jetters – Xuli, Kyan, Lars and Foz – travel the world with their friend and mentor Ubercorn, a disco-dancing unicorn. Together they save the world’s most famous landmarks from the mischievous meddlings of their nemesis, Grandmaster Glitch. A great one for learning about geography! Added bonus: check out the Go Jetters website for lots of clips, games and activity sheets for more indoor fun this Earth Day!
Go Jetters, streaming now on Netflix
Now go and enjoy that coffee while the kids have some guilt-free screen time!
