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If you’ve been here before or follow me on social media, you already know I’m a big activity mom. I set up crafts or invitations to play for my kids almost every day. But just because I love hands-on activities does not mean we’re a no-screen family. We’re what I’d call a low-screen family, meaning I try to keep screens limited during the day, and when we do watch something, I’m intentional about choosing calmer, low-stimulation shows.
That doesn’t mean we never turn on Disney movies or Pixar classics. We absolutely do! We just save those for special movie nights (or the occasional sick day snuggle).
On a normal day, screen time usually happens when I’m putting the baby down for a nap, trying to shower without an audience, or cooking/cleaning without the usual chaos. I do my best to avoid screens first thing in the morning and close to bedtime, those two windows tend to set the tone for the whole day.
I’ll be honest: I didn’t start out this way. When my oldest was a toddler, I didn’t really limit screen time, and I started noticing big behavior shifts that seemed connected to how much TV she watched and what types of shows they were. Cutting back was challenging at first, but so worth it in the long run.
If you’re currently trying to reduce screen time, switch to calmer shows, or encourage more independent play, here’s your encouragement: it will get easier. The more you offer other activities and hold the boundary, the more your kids adapt. At least, that’s been our experience.
These days, when we do use screens, we try to stick to low-stim or educational shows. Some are emotionally educational too, like Daniel Tiger, which has been amazing for our 4-year-old.
I also know it can feel overwhelming to figure out what shows are actually low-stim and where to find them, so I put together a list organized by streaming platform. I also included seasonal and holiday episodes you can pull up when that time of year rolls around — don’t miss those at the end!
Save This Post to Your Bookmarks!
This list isn’t just for fall, I’ll be updating it with winter, Christmas, spring, and summer/holiday episodes so you can always find low-stim, seasonal screen time without the endless scrolling.
If this was helpful, bookmark it now so you can come back anytime you need:
- A calm show to turn on in a pinch
- Holiday or seasonal episodes by streaming service
- Ideas for low-stim movie days or sick days
- Quick screen-time solutions while you cook, nurse, or reset
More episodes and updates are coming soon, so don’t lose it!
Jump to:
Disney+
Amazon Prime
Netflix
Youtube
PBS Kids
Apple TV
Roku / Tubi / Pluto
Fall Seasonal
Halloween
Winter Seasonal
Christmas
Disney+
- Bear in the Big Blue House – Such a classic I remember from when I was a kid! My 4 year old really loves this one.
- Out of the Box
- Bluey – This is maybe more of a medium stim show, but who doesn’t love Bluey?
- Little Einsteins
- Charlie & Lola
- Guess How Much I Love You
- PB + J Otter
Amazon Prime / Freevee
- If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
- Stinky & Dirty – My 2 year old son is obsessed. Perfect if your little one loves trucks!
- Tumble Leaf – A cute claymation show that my 2 and 4 year old both love to watch.
- Guess How Much I Love You
- Stella and Sam
- Franklin
- Little Bear
- Sarah & Duck
- Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood – I love how much emotional teaching is in Daniel Tiger. My 4 year old really loves music and songs too, so this is a great way to help her with new situations.
- Puffin Rock & the New Friends movie (we purchased it!)
Netflix
- Trash Truck – Another great one for your kids who love trucks. My 2 year old son is obsessed.
- Puffin Rock
- Sea of Love
- Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood (also on PBS Kids)
- Elinor Wonders Why
YouTube / YouTube Kids
- Paw Patrol Christmas Fireplace – We love to turn this on in the mornings! It’s just calming, but my kids love it.
- Zoboomafoo – A great learning show if you didn’t watch is as a kid. Lots of animals and information about them in a fun way both my 2 and 4 year old will watch.
- Kipper
- Bernstein Bears
- Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood
- Daniel Tiger
- Pingu
- Timmy Time
- Sarah & Duck
- Stella and Sam
- Franklin
- Elinor Wonders Why
- Little Bear
- Charlie & Lola
- Authur
- John Deere Kids – We love these for a super low stim relaxing day.
- Marble Races – I used to play this in my classroom after tests when I taught highschool. It’s super fun and kids can cheer on their favorite marbles.
PBS Kids App
- Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood
- Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood
- Elinor Wonders Why
- Franklin
- Guess How Much I Love You
Apple TV+
(Not many, but these sometimes rotate)
- Trash Truck
- Puffin Rock & the New Friends movie – We purchased this on Amazon, but we love it for a rainy day when we want a movie. My daughter loves this one.
- Charlie Brown
Roku Channel / Tubi / Pluto (Free Apps)
- Bernstein Bears
- Franklin
- Kipper
- Pingu
- Stella and Sam
- Sarah & Duck
- Little Bear
- Timmy Time
Fall Seasonal Episodes
Bluey
- Season 1 Episosde 43 Camping
- Season 3 Episode 23 Family Meeting
Tumble Leaf
- Practically every episode is fall, but especially:
- Season 2 Episode 5 Bountiful Berries
- Seasonal Episode Fall Feather Fiasco
Little Bear
- Season 1 Episode 23 Falling Leaves
- Season 4 Episode 11 Autumn Goodbye
Franklin
- Season 1 Episode 13 Franklin’s Canoe Trip
- Season 5 Episode 3 Franklin and the Bus Patrol
Guess How Much I Love You
- Season 1 Episode 6 I’m a Big Jump
- Season 2 Episode 9 Pumpkins, Pumpkins
Trash Truck
- Season 1 Episode 8 The Leaf Pile
- Season 1 Episode 23 Camp-In
Sarah & Duck
- Season 1 Episode 37 Pumpkin Moon
- Season 2 Episode 18 Leaf Charms
Bear in the Big Blue House
- Season 3 Episode 6 Harvest Day
- Season 1 Episode 9 Bear’s Secret Cave
Daniel Tiger
- Season 1 Episode 30 Thank You Day
- Season 2 Episode 12 Daniel’s Allergy Season
Out of the Box
- Season 1 Episode 19 Seasons
Stella and Sam
- Season 1 Episode 4 Leaf Jumping
- Season 2 Episode 7 Pumpkin Patch
Elinor Wonders Why
- Season 1 Episode 3 Windy Day Dinners
- Season 1 Episode 3 Leaves, Leaves Everywhere!
Kipper
- Season 2 Episode 11 The Autumn Day
- Season 1 Episode 6 The Picnic
Timmy Time
- Season 2 Episode 13 Timmy’s Autumn Fun
- Season 3 Episode 1 Timmy’s Snowball
Winter Episodes
Little Bear
- Little Bear’s Winter Wonderland
Stinky & Dirty
- Season 2 Episode 1 Snow Problem / Sleigh Riders
- Season 2 Episode 27 Sno Cone Sliders / Trading Wheels
Bear in the Big Blue House
- Season 3 Episode 10 In the Middle of the Winter
Zoboomafoo
- Season 1 Episode 8 Snowday
- Season 1 Episode 2 Hot and Cold
Kipper
- Season 1 Episode 4 Kipper and the Snowy Day
Puffin Rock
- Season 1 Episode 13 The First Snow
Elinor Wonders Why
- Season 1 Episode 5 The Science of Staying Warm
- Season 1 Episode 11 Snow Friend
Daniel Tiger
- Season 1 Episode 33 Snowflake Day!
- Season 1 Episode 34 A Snowy Day / Tutu All the Time
- Season 5 Episode 16 The Neighborhood Snowstorm
Christmas Episodes
Paw Patrol Christmas Fireplace – We love to turn this on in the mornings! It’s just calming, but my kids love it.
Bluey
- Season 1 Verandah Santa
- Season 2 Christmas Swim
Bear in the Big Blue House
- Season 3 Episode 6 A Berry Bear Christmas
Out of the Box
- Season 1 Happy Holidays!
Kipper
- Season 3 Episode 13 Christmas Eve
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
- If You Give a Mouse a Christmas Cookie
The Berenstain Bears
- The Berenstain Bears Christmas Tree
Trash Truck
- A Trash Truck Christmas
Halloween Episodes
Bluey
- Season 3 Episode 38 “Ghostbasket”
- Season 3 Episode 42 “Costumes”
- Season 3, Bluey Minisodes “Pumpkin Patch”
Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood
- Season 2 Episode 1 “Dress Up Day”
- Season 2 Episode 1 “Katerina’s Costume”
- Season 2 Episode 6 “Trick or Treat”
(These often air together as a mini Halloween block.)
Charlie & Lola
- Season 3 Episode 20 “What Can I Wear for Halloween?”
- Season 1 Episode 1 “I’m Not Sleepy and I Will Not Go to Bed” (has costumes/dress-up)
Bernstein Bears
- Season 1 Episode 4 “Trick or Treat”
- 1978 Sprcial “Spooky Old Tree” (mild spooky adventure)
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
- Season 1 Episode 12 “Trick or Treat / Mystery!”
- Season 2 Episode 4 “Curious Cricket / Halloween Invitations”
Franklin
- Season 2 Episode 8 “Franklin’s Halloween”
- Season 6 Episode 4 “Franklin and the Pinecone Pass” (fall festival themes)
Little Bear
- Season 3 Episode 3 “Goblin Night”
- Season 3 Episode 4 “Moonlight Serenade” (costumes, nighttime fun)
Stinky & Dirty
- Season 2 Episode 7 “A Stormy Halloween”
Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood
- Episode 1763 “Learning About Costumes”
- Episode 1479 “Mister Rogers Talks About Make-Believe and Masks”
Pingu
- Season 5 Episode 20 “Pingu and the Costume Party” (costumes/fall vibes)
Charlie Brown
- It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (on Apple TV+)
Finding Balance in Screen Time
I hope this list helps you find a rhythm that works in your home. There really is no one-size-fits-all approach to screen time, every family is different. The right balance depends on your kids’ personalities, your routines, and the kind of help or support you do (or don’t!) have.
As a mom who doesn’t have family nearby and often solo parents, I’ll be the first to say: some days involve more screen time than others. And that’s okay. There are also plenty of days when the TV never even gets turned on.
Grace Over Guilt
Balance doesn’t mean perfection, it means being intentional and flexible with what your family needs that day.
If you’re looking for easy ways to encourage more play and cut down on screens, here are some great options:
- 52 Toddler Activities Ebook
- Activities Both My 2- and 4-Year-Old Can Do
- Building Skills Through Easy Activities
You’re Doing Great
Truly, you’re doing an amazing job.
xx, Ciara
