Behaviour

Competing

Competing shows up early in childhood: who runs fastest, who gets there first, who wins the game. For young children it is a mix of excitement and big feelings, because wanting to win and being able to lose are two very different skills. A calm, well-made series can show both sides at a pace a child can follow, with characters who try hard, sometimes come last, and stay friends afterwards.

For 4-year-olds

Four-year-olds start to care a lot about being first, and about whether the rules were followed. Fairness becomes a real topic, and disappointment can arrive suddenly and loudly. Helpful stories name the rules out loud, show a character who is upset about losing, and then show that feeling passing. Watch for moments where characters cheer each other on or repair things after a squabble, since that gives a child words and pictures for something they are working on themselves.

S01 E15

Let's Go Luna

Hoopin' Hopper

Balanced

recommended age co-watching from 3

A travelling troupe led by Luna the Moon, with her young friends Andy the frog, Leo the wombat, and Carmen the butterfly, spends the episode in Beijing. They take on the city's love of sport, shooting hoops on outdoor courts and facing a table-tennis match where Luna plays an opponent named Fong. A short felt stop-motion legend set in the Chinese countryside is woven in, and the story closes with the match resolved and the friends together before the credits and a closing logo.

See all Competing shows for 4-year-olds

For 6-year-olds

By six, a child compares themselves to others on purpose and notices who is genuinely better at something. That can sting, but it also opens the door to practice, strategy, and choosing your own goals. Stories can go further here: a character who trains and still does not win, rivalry that turns into cooperation, or the difference between playing to beat someone and playing because you love it. Humour and a real plot keep the lesson from feeling like a lecture.

S01 E04

Pinecone & Pony

The Straight and Arrow

Balanced

recommended age co-watching from 4

Princess Pinecone, an eight-year-old archer, is thrilled to meet her hero Prince Randolph at a garden party, but he is arrogant and dismissive. Stung by his taunts, she challenges him to an archery duel with her trophy at stake, and when he cheats with his falcon she cheats back using a wizard's magic arrows. On the verge of winning, she confesses to the crowd that she used enchanted arrows and does not deserve the prize. The king makes Randolph return the trophy, and the group shares cake as Pinecone decides she would rather be herself than be like the prince.

See all Competing shows for 6-year-olds

Browse all Competing shows

Explore more

Viewing guides Age 2 guide Age 3 guide Age 4 guide Age 5 guide Age 6 guide

Top lists by age 1 year 2 years 3 years 4 years 5 years 6 years

Keep exploring Browse by topic All platforms