Friendship is a multifaceted concept that is best learned through experience. However, children can benefit from exposure to television shows and movies about friendship from a young age, especially since they are an excellent way of delivering messages in a kid-friendly format they enjoy. Today, we are sharing a massive list of shows that teach kids about friendship for all ages.
How Can Kids Learn About Friendship?
From the time they are born, children begin to observe their parents and siblings. They start to form relationships with others that may or may not last forever as they grow up.
Both joys and sorrows characterize friendships–and sometimes, just being there for one another during difficult times can help strengthen the bond between two people over time.
While it may take years of trial and error for kids to learn these lessons on their own, the fictional world of tv shows can be a fast-track for kids to learn about all the ups and downs that come along with having and being a good friend.
Considering the limited opportunities for social interactions in recent years, television shows and streaming series can be an excellent way for kids to learn how to establish, develop and navigate friendships in the real world.
In as little as 30 minutes, a Netflix or Amazon show can teach a child how to apologize, share, and even make new friends.
When kids see these scenarios play out on the screen, they can apply those same skills when faced with similar situations in their own lives.
So which shows are the best for teaching skills like empathy, trustworthiness, and reciprocity?
Glad you asked!
Here are some of the best shows with friendship themes currently available.
TV Shows About Friendship For Preschoolers
Even the youngest kiddos can appreciate the value of friendship. These are some fantastic shows to teach kids how being a good friend can help you have more fun, feel safer, and even learn new things!
Stinky and Dirty:
This original Amazon Prime show is perfect for toddlers. These two truck buddies have a lot of fun together and teach kids how to share, problem-solve, and even say, “I’m sorry.”
Sesame Street:
This classic has been teaching kids about friendship for years. Episodes are doing a great job of addressing concepts like sharing with siblings, the importance of honesty, and resolving conflicts between friends.
Pocoyo:
One of our favorite shows for babies and young kids, Pocoyo, is full of life lessons. This educational preschool show teaches kids to be patient with others, and it also illustrates the importance of sharing and apologizing when necessary.
Buddi:
Buddi is about a young girl who moves to town and learns how to make new friends. This simple concept can be complicated for kids to grasp, but this show teaches the importance of being a good friend and what that means.
Barney & Friends:
An award-winning children’s series Barney (the purple dinosaur), is a great way to teach kids about friendship with its catchy songs. The lyrics include many different themes relevant to friendship, including treating others kindly, sharing and empathy.
Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood:
This PBS show is a spin-off from the classic Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood features Daniel Tiger, who has many unique interactions with his friends on this animated children’s program. Daniel is gentle and kind, two great characteristics of a good friend.
Peppa Pig:
Popular with young kids all over the world, Peppa Pig features a lot of lessons on friendships. From learning how to express emotions like anger to understanding different personalities, this show offers a lot.
TV Shows About Friendship For Kids
For elementary school-aged kids, you’ll find that these shows can be a bit more complex and may include themes like bullying and disappointment in addition to all the positive aspects of friendship.
Franklin and Friends:
This show is great for kids and deals with many difficult scenarios that can arise in friendships. From dealing with bullies to accepting apologies, this show has a lot to offer kids who are looking for friendship lessons.
Caillou:
Caillou is about a preschooler who faces many situations that can arise in friendships. This show has been popular for years and teaches kids to be patient, share and apologize in the right situations.
Tumble Leaf:
An Amazon Prime original, this show is great for kids who are learning about friendship because it deals with both big emotions like sadness as well as more complicated concepts like empathy. Kids can relate to these characters when they’re feeling upset or misunderstood by their friends and learn how to get back on the right track.
Arthur:
The Arthur books and tv series have been around for years. There’s a character in this show with autism who helps children learn how to be patient, empathetic, and accepting of those that may not act or speak like everyone else.
Clifford The Big Red Dog:
This PBS classic shows children how to cope with all sorts of emotions that come along with having friends. This show has been around since the ’90s and still offers some valuable lessons from teaching children about patience and kindness.
Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood:
While this show may be a classic, it is still relevant and features many valuable friendship lessons. Mr. Rogers does an excellent job of teaching kids how to express their emotions in healthy ways as well as accept those who are different from them.
Curious George:
George is always getting into situations that require the help of his friends to solve. No matter how much mischief the monkey causes, his best friend (The Man in the Yellow Hat) always forgives George. The show teaches kids about problem-solving and being a good friend, especially when times are tough.
Kids will enjoy this program about the friendship between a young girl and her imaginary best friend. It teaches children how to exercise their imagination and face difficult scenarios that come with understanding friendships.
Word World:
This show has been around since the ’90s and is still relevant. This educational program teaches children how to read through fun songs and stories about words related to friendship, such as sharing and teamwork.
Dora The Explorer:
This popular Nickelodeon character was one of the first shows for young kids on television and helped pave the way for modern shows that are about friendship. Dora helps children learn how to be empathetic, patient, and kind.
TV Shows About Friendship For Tweens & Teens
There are some great programs for the oldest kids that explore more mature issues and dynamics, like the more complicated aspects of friendship that are common during adolescence.
Alexa and Katie:
This show features ordinary teens who are learning to cope with life after cancer. The main character learns how to be empathetic towards others and how to be an understanding friend.
The Babysitter’s Club:
Based on the classic book series of the same name, this show is about tweens who are learning to cope with the realities of life. Friendship problems, peer pressure, and other issues that come up in friendships are covered in each episode.
This Amazon Prime show is about tweens who use a magic cookbook to solve problems. There are a lot of lessons on friendship and kindness in this show, including how to be there for your friends when they need you the most.
Zeke & Luther:
This Disney Channel classic features two friends who don’t always get along but learn how to overcome their differences for each other.
Fuller House:
The Full House reboot is about a group of friends who learn to live together and form strong friendships. Each character has their own unique personality that can teach us more about friendship.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, shows about friendship can be an excellent way for kids to understand what it takes to be a good friend. From Clifford the Big Red Dog, Mr. Rogers Neighborhood, Curious George, and Esme & Roy – these popular programs offer various benefits from empathy promotion to learning how to cope with difficult life events by practicing patience.
There are some great options for tweens, such as Alexa & Katie, that explore more mature aspects of friendships like peer pressure or The Babysitter’s Club that deals with everyday problems that come up in relationships. The bottom line is this: if you’re looking for ways your child can learn about what makes a strong friendship, television might have the answer!