Here are the best shows for 5 year olds to watch right now, from presenters tackling mammoth challenges to brave teams of animal rescuers.
So whether your child likes gentle animations or more chaotic capers, we’ve got it covered.
And it’s fair to say they’ll be so gripped, you’ll even get to have a cup of coffee in peace.
Best shows for 5 year olds
Paw Patrol
What’s not to love about a group of puppy heroes? This colourful animation follows 10-year-old Ryder and his team of fearless pups as they help those in need in Adventure Bay. Playful pups Marshall, Rubble, Skye, Chase, Rocky, and Zuma are all rescue dogs in training and in later seasons they’re joined by friends, Cap’n Turbot, Robo-Dog, Everest, and Tracker. The energetic canines are so popular they even made it onto the big screen with Paw Patrol: The Movie. This was followed by the 2023 sequel The Mighty Movie. Surely it's one of the best shows for 5 year olds?!
Why watch: It teaches children we’re all individuals and if we play to our unique strengths we can achieve anything.
What our five-year-old says: “I like Paw Patrol because they rescue animals.”
Where to Watch: Nick Jr and Netflix
Number of seasons: 10
Average episode length: 30 minutes
Bluey
Bluey is an energetic six-year-old Blue Heeler puppy from Brisbane, with a huge curiosity for the world. She lives with her mum and dad, Chilli and Bandit, and little sister, Bingo, who regularly joins Bluey on her adventures. The whole show is based on Bluey and Bingo's use of imaginative play and how there is joy to be found even in the most unexpected of places.
Why watch: For a children's cartoon, Bluey gives its audience a lot of valuable life lessons. It's funny, imaginative and will get you talking afterwards.
What our five-year-old says: “I want to hang about with Bluey - she's brilliant!”
Where to Watch: BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime, Disney + and Apple TV
Number of seasons: 3
Average episode length: 7 minutes
The Loud House
It’s loud and chaotic but there’s lots of fun to be had at The Loud House. The show focuses on 11-year-old Lincoln Loud, who has 10 sisters — all very different but equally annoying. He may struggle to get his voice heard at times but, deep down, it’s a household full of love and proof that siblings do love each other really.
Why watch? The show has a lot of heart and ultimately puts family at the front and centre of everything.
What our five-year-old says: "I feel sorry for Lincoln sometimes but his sisters are so funny."
Where to Watch: Nickelodeon, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Apple TV and Google Play
Number of seasons: 8
Average episode length: 22 minutes
Shaun the Sheep
The cartoon sheep that captured the nation's hearts in the Wallace and Gromit film A Close Shave, is leading the flock in his very own series. The eponymous Shaun lives at Mossy Bottom Farm with the rest of his buddies and each episode tries new and varied ways to inject excitement into their lives. Sheepdog Bitzer is often drawn into the madness, as the gang try and avoid being caught out by the farmer. Shaun the Sheep is one of longest-running animated TV series in British television, and has inspired two feature-length movies.
Why watch? There's an important message in every episode, the claymation is really clever and the scenery and music really add another element to it all.
What our five-year-old says: “Shaun is a little bit naughty and cheeky, but he makes me laugh a lot."
Where to watch: BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime, Apple TV and Netflix
Number of seasons: 6
Average episode length: 8 minutes
Peter Rabbit
Beatrix Potter’s little blue-coated rabbit has been enchanting children since 1901, but in recent years he’s jumped off the pages and onto our screens, a bit more sassy and streetwise but essentially the same mischievous bunny we all love. Kids still enjoy watching Peter and his friends Benjamin and Lily facing real dangers but somehow managing to outsmart incompetent villains. And he’s another hero who’s made it onto the big screen with two movies.
Why watch? Peter is funny and naughty, and what child doesn’t want to see a cheeky bunny get the better of a grumpy human?
What our five-year-old says: “Peter Rabbit is good because once a fox tried to eat the rabbits and Peter Rabbit saved them.”
Where to watch: BBC1, Nick Jr and Amazon Prime
Number of seasons: 3
Average episode length: 23 minutes
Numberblocks
Maths is an essential skill, but can be tricky for little people to get their head around. Numberblocks is here to make numbers easier... and fun! The BAFTA-nominated series follows the adventures of the Numberblocks - colourful characters who are named after a number and made up of the equivalent amount of blocks. It breaks maths down and uses catchy songs to help develop young viewers learning on everything from basic counting, adding and subtracting, to more complex topics such as square numbers.
Why watch? The cute Numberblocks characters can really help develop confidence around numbers and develop an understanding of how they work.
What our five-year-old says: “Numbers aren't scary because the Numberblocks have made it better."
Where to watch: BBC iPlayer
Number of seasons: 6
Average episode length: 5 minutes
Octonauts
This lovable animation is fun, exciting and, as an added bonus, it may even teach your child a thing or two about sea creatures. Kids will love the Octonaut crew — eight talented and courageous critters including a heroic polar bear, a brave kitten and a whip-smart bunny — who explore the ocean in their undersea Octopod looking for adventures.
Why watch? It teaches children about teamwork, courage, and helping their friends. And as the creatures in the show are based on real-life marine animals and habitats, it’s educational too! Win win!
What our five-year-old says: “I like the animals. My favourite was when they helped a whale.”
Where to watch: BBC iPlayer, Netflix and Amazon Prime
Number of seasons: 5
Average episode length: 11 minutes
Topsy and Tim
Topsy and Tim is the TV spin-off of the best-selling books by Jean and Gareth Adamson. It follows the day-to-day adventures of two fun-loving twins (who are five-years-old when the series starts). Topsy and Tim love playing with their friends, helping their mum and dad with jobs around the house and having lots of fun with their grandma's beloved dog, Mossy. But things are also ever changing in their young lives. Join the siblings as they experience lots of new things for the first time - such as starting school, going camping, moving house, getting new glasses, learning to ride bikes and much more.
Why watch? Topsy and Tim's adventures can help make life changes seem less daunting for their young fans.
What our five-year-old says: "I want to be best friends forever with Topsy and Tim."
Where to watch: BBC iPlayer
Number of seasons: 3
Average episode length: 13 minutes
Blue Peter
Blue Peter has been a British childhood staple since the 1950s, and viewers of a certain age will remember making incredible creations from toilet rolls. However, the show, now fronted by Joel Mawhinney, Abby Cook, Shini Muthukrishnan, along with Henry the beagle dog and Shelley the tortoise.
The iconic show remains bang up to date and teaches children they can do anything, from taking on big challenges or raising money for charity to doing something creative.
Why watch? It’s inclusive, interesting, and inspirational, showing that nothing can hold you back from achieving your dreams.
What our five-year-old says: “I might be a Blue Peter presenter when I’m older.”
Where to watch: CBBC and BBC iPlayer.
Number of seasons: 66 years worth!
Average episode length: 25 minutes
We hope our you enjoyed our best shows for 5 year olds article, we also have recommendations for other ages...
