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Being sick

Getting sick is one of the first big physical experiences a young child has no words for yet. A sore throat, a fever, a day on the couch instead of at school: it all feels strange and a little frightening. A calm, well-made episode about illness gives children a story they recognise, shows them that bodies get better, and hands them language for what is happening inside them.

For 2-year-olds

At two, being sick is mostly a feeling in the body without a name for it. A toddler notices that something hurts, that a grown-up stays close, that the day looks different. Look for a slow episode where an adult comforts, tucks in and stays nearby, with plenty of quiet moments. Simple, repeated words like 'tummy', 'warm' and 'rest' help your child start to name what they feel.

Ready Eddie GO!

Ready Eddie GO!

Headlice

recommended age co-watching from 2

The episode centres on Eddie having head lice and treating them.

Me & Winnie the Pooh

Me & Winnie the Pooh

Pooh Bear Has the Hiccups

recommended age co-watching from 2

Pooh spends the episode dealing with the hiccups from eating too fast.

Donkey Hodie

Donkey Hodie

Cheesy Con

recommended age co-watching from 2

Donkey sprains her hoof and has to rest it for the episode.

Me & Winnie the Pooh

Me & Winnie the Pooh

Pooh Bear's Boo Boo

recommended age co-watching from 2

Pooh gets a boo-boo on his knee and is cared for with a bandage.

Bing

Bing

Atchoo!

recommended age co-watching from 2

The entire episode is about Bing having a cold and staying home to recover.

See all Being sick shows for 2-year-olds

For 3-year-olds

Three-year-olds are starting to connect cause and effect: I feel warm, so I stay home today. They also play out what they experience, checking ears and handing out pretend medicine. Look for episodes that show the small rituals of a sick day, staying in bed, drinking something warm, a visit to someone who helps, and where getting better happens in visible steps. Being able to predict what comes next takes away a lot of the worry.

Jessica's Big Little World

Jessica's Big Little World

Sick

recommended age co-watching from 2

Jessica has a temperature and stays home in bed to recover.

Pocoyo

Pocoyo

The Big Sneeze

recommended age co-watching from 2

Ellie has a cold and keeps sneezing throughout the episode.

Jessy & Nessy

Jessy & Nessy

Why Is It So Windy Today?

recommended age co-watching from 2

The balloon sneezes repeatedly and the children ask if he has a cold, though he explains he just gets sneezy.

Curious George

Curious George

Cat Mother

recommended age co-watching from 3

Hundley is allergic to the kitten and sneezes repeatedly through the episode.

Izzy's Koala World

Izzy's Koala World

Rosie's Rescue

recommended age co-watching from 3

Rosie is dehydrated and lost, and Izzy explains 'We help sick koalas get better.'

Peppa Pig

Peppa Pig

Hiccups

recommended age co-watching from 2

The whole episode revolves around George's hiccups and attempts to cure them.

Izzy's Koala World

Izzy's Koala World

Muffin Moves In

recommended age co-watching from 3

Muffin is recovering from injuries to her eyes and legs throughout the episode.

Izzy's Koala World

Izzy's Koala World

Twinkle's Rescue

recommended age co-watching from 3

The koala is treated for sore eyes and given medicine while recovering from green ant stings.

The Hive

The Hive

Postman Buzzbee

recommended age co-watching from 2

Postman Spider is hurt and told to rest his sprained ankle until Monday.

Curious George

Curious George

Camp George

recommended age co-watching from 3

Marco caught a cold and missed camp, and his sister Cecilia falls ill too.

See all Being sick shows for 3-year-olds

For 4-year-olds

By four, curiosity often outweighs fear. Children want to know why a body gets sick, what a thermometer does, and why the medicine tastes odd. This is a good age for episodes where someone helps a friend who is unwell, or where the child character asks questions and gets a real answer. Watch for stories that treat the patient with respect and let them have a say, so your child sees that being sick does not mean losing control.

Puffin Rock

Puffin Rock

Spot the Ladybird

recommended age co-watching from 4

Una feels unwell and stays home to rest rather than joining the outing.

Bluey

Bluey

Hospital

recommended age co-watching from 2

Bandit plays the role of a patient with various ailments that the doctors must diagnose and treat.

Puffin Rock

Puffin Rock

A Special Seashell

recommended age co-watching from 4

Baba is unwell and stays home in the burrow to get better.

Doc McStuffins

Doc McStuffins

Knight Time

recommended age co-watching from 2

Sir Kirby is diagnosed with 'filthy, icky, sticky disease' and treated until cured.

Doc McStuffins

Doc McStuffins

Ben/Anna Split

recommended age co-watching from 2

Ben's torn huggy patch is treated and heals after a night of rest.

Doc McStuffins

Doc McStuffins

Rescue Ronda, Ready for Take-off

recommended age co-watching from 2

Rhonda is treated for a twig lodged in her propellers as if she were unwell.

Llama Llama

Llama Llama

Home with Mama

recommended age co-watching from 2

Llama Llama has a fever and cold and must stay home from the carnival.

Doc McStuffins

Doc McStuffins

A Bad Case of the Pricklethorns

recommended age co-watching from 2

Boppy feels light-headed and woozy from losing air until Doc treats him.

Doc McStuffins

Doc McStuffins

A Good Case of the Hiccups

recommended age co-watching from 2

Millie has repeat-itis, likened to a case of the hiccups.

Octonauts

Octonauts

The Walrus Chief

recommended age co-watching from 3

The chief has a twisted flipper that hurts when he walks and needs bandaging before it gets worse.

See all Being sick shows for 4-year-olds

For 5-year-olds

Five-year-olds can handle more explanation: what germs are, how the body defends itself, why washing hands matters. They also start worrying ahead, about a shot, a doctor's visit, or someone else in the family being ill. Episodes that explain the body clearly and calmly give that worry somewhere to go. It helps when the story shows the waiting part too, since recovery rarely happens in one scene.

Molly of Denali

Molly of Denali

Steam Bath Ch'oondaii

recommended age co-watching from 2

Mom has a lingering head cold and ginger clove soup is brought to help her recover.

Doc McStuffins

Doc McStuffins

Engine Nine, Feelin' Fine!

recommended age co-watching from 2

Lenny feels tired with a sore head and is diagnosed with dehydration.

Doc McStuffins

Doc McStuffins

The Right Stuff

recommended age co-watching from 2

Stuffy's leaking stuffing is treated like an injury needing a checkup and repair.

Helpsters

Helpsters

Cody Gets a Cold

recommended age co-watching from 3

Cody catches a cold, sneezes, and needs a day of rest to get better

Doc McStuffins

Doc McStuffins

Tea Party Tantrum

recommended age co-watching from 2

Susie is diagnosed with 'eyes wide-itis' and treated until she feels better.

Doc McStuffins

Doc McStuffins

Out of the Box

recommended age co-watching from 2

Little Jack is treated as a patient who cannot function until he is examined and fixed.

Bluey

Bluey

Bumpy and the Wise Old Wolfhound

recommended age co-watching from 2

Bingo is unwell in hospital and the puppy Bumpy stays sick for many days.

Dora and Friends: Into the City!

Dora and Friends: Into the City!

Buddy Race

recommended age co-watching from 4

Alana's twisted ankle keeps her on crutches for the whole episode.

Doc McStuffins

Doc McStuffins

Run Down Race Car

recommended age co-watching from 2

Ricardo is treated as unwell with a playful 'no vroom vroomatosis' diagnosis.

Doc McStuffins

Doc McStuffins

That's Just Claw-ful

recommended age co-watching from 2

Hermie needs his injured claw healed and strengthened.

See all Being sick shows for 5-year-olds

For 6-year-olds

At six, illness is often more social than physical: missing a party, letting the team down, feeling left out while everyone else carries on. Children this age can also grasp that someone else's illness is not their fault. Look for stories where a character has to sit something out and finds a way to cope, or where friends adjust their plans. The emotional side of being unwell matters as much here as the sore throat.

Pinecone & Pony

Pinecone & Pony

Hero Soup

recommended age co-watching from 4

Gladys has a cold and rests at home while others help her

Octonauts

Octonauts

The Great Algae Escape

recommended age co-watching from 3

The crabs and lobsters cough and wheeze and explain they were feeling ill because of the polluted water.

Octonauts

Octonauts

The Flying Fish

recommended age co-watching from 3

The flying fish has a hurt tail fin and needs to rest and recover before he can fly.

Doc McStuffins

Doc McStuffins

Gulpy, Gulpy Gators!

recommended age co-watching from 2

Gustav has a sore tummy and cannot eat until Doc treats him.

Doc McStuffins

Doc McStuffins

Stuck Up

recommended age co-watching from 2

Rigo cannot move his scoop because sand is stuck in his joints, treated like an ailment.

Super Truck of Car City

Super Truck of Car City

The Garbage Truck (Part 1)

recommended age co-watching from 2

Ethan cannot work because he is ill and is told to rest for the day.

Super Truck of Car City

Super Truck of Car City

The Bulldozer

recommended age co-watching from 2

'Billy is verkouden' ('Billy has a cold') is the reason the whole story starts.

Izzy's Koala World

Izzy's Koala World

Leia Has a Cold

recommended age co-watching from 3

Leia's sneezing and sniffling drive the whole episode.

Little Einsteins

Little Einsteins

Hungarian Hiccups

recommended age co-watching from 2

Rocket has the hiccups for the whole episode and the children try to cure them.

Pajanimals

Pajanimals

A Super Sweet Night

recommended age co-watching from 2

The friends worry about a tummy ache and Bedtime Bunny explains too much candy makes you 'feel icky'.

See all Being sick shows for 6-year-olds

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