Just launched: free lifetime premium for the first 1,000 members to activate their account.

Log in Start free

Theme

Understanding others

Understanding others is how a child learns that the people around them have their own feelings, wishes and reasons. It starts with noticing a sad face and grows into imagining what someone else is thinking. A calm, well-made series gives a child time to watch a feeling happen, hear it named, and see what helps, which is much easier to take in than a moment in a busy room.

For 2-year-olds

At two, feelings are read from faces, voices and bodies rather than words. A toddler may pat someone who is crying without yet understanding why they are upset. Look for stories with clear, unhurried expressions, simple words for feelings like sad, scared or happy, and a caring adult or friend nearby who responds. One feeling per story is plenty at this age.

Bing

Bing

Frog

recommended age co-watching from 2

Bing realises the frog hopped back to its dark, wet, slimy pipe because frogs like different things than he does.

Bing

Bing

Cat

recommended age co-watching from 2

Pando explains that Mitten hissed because she was protecting her kittens

Donkey Hodie

Donkey Hodie

Yodel Bird Sitting

recommended age co-watching from 2

The friends learn to think about what the baby needs instead of just what they need.

Guess How Much I Love You

Guess How Much I Love You

March Like an Ant

recommended age co-watching from 2

The father helps his son understand the ants were only feeding their families.

Ready Eddie GO!

Ready Eddie GO!

New Classmate

recommended age co-watching from 2

The narrator asks Eddie to consider how Frida is feeling.

Bea's Block

Bea's Block

Danny Sings

recommended age co-watching from 2

Friends share that they too have felt nervous, so Danny does not feel alone.

Me & Winnie the Pooh

Me & Winnie the Pooh

Pooh Bear's Boo Boo

recommended age co-watching from 2

Kanga asks how Pooh's knee feels and comforts him.

Get Rolling with Otis

Get Rolling with Otis

Polly and the Skunk

recommended age co-watching from 2

Otis names Polly's sadness and works to make her feel included.

Donkey Hodie

Donkey Hodie

Super Duper Magic Fun Box

recommended age co-watching from 2

Both friends say they understand why the other feels differently.

Me & Winnie the Pooh

Me & Winnie the Pooh

Piglet Talks About Feelings

recommended age co-watching from 2

Piglet checks on the fallen bird, asking 'Are you okay, little birdie?'

See all Understanding others shows for 2-year-olds

For 3-year-olds

Three-year-olds are discovering that someone else can want something different, usually the same toy. Sharing, waiting and taking turns are still genuinely hard, and that is normal. Helpful stories keep the conflict small, let a character say out loud what they feel, and show the repair afterwards. Repetition matters here, since a child learns the pattern by seeing it again in the next story.

Sarah and Duck

Sarah and Duck

Cheer Up Donkey

recommended age co-watching from 2

They learn donkeys naturally look sad even when happy, and discover Duck was moody because his bread was buried - understanding what others actually feel.

Phoebe & Jay

Phoebe & Jay

The Green Pepper

recommended age co-watching from 2

The children understand Harold's hunger and respond with care instead of annoyance.

Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom

Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom

Gaston the Ladybird

recommended age co-watching from 2

Holly asks 'but do you think Gaston enjoys it?', leading the children to reconsider whether their play was fun for him too.

Do, Re & Mi

Do, Re & Mi

Together We're Not Alone

recommended age co-watching from 3

When Doe says he is frightened, the others respond with comfort rather than dismissal.

Do, Re & Mi

Do, Re & Mi

Best Buggy Blues

recommended age co-watching from 3

Do sits beside Mi and names her feeling for her: 'It's hard missing your best friend'.

Pocoyo

Pocoyo

The Big Sneeze

recommended age co-watching from 2

The narrator explains Ellie cannot help her sneezing.

Hello, Jack! The Kindness Show

Hello, Jack! The Kindness Show

Jack's Surprise for Mr. Prickles

recommended age co-watching from 3

Jack asks about Mr. Prickles' old home to understand his feelings.

Lovely Little Farm

Lovely Little Farm

Photo

recommended age co-watching from 2

Jill notices Pickle's hurt feelings and responds gently.

Pretzel and the Puppies

Pretzel and the Puppies

Cone-Do

recommended age co-watching from 2

A friend tells Delilah 'I know how you feel' and shares that a cart makes playing harder for them too.

Alma's Way

Alma's Way

Alma Cools Off

recommended age co-watching from 2

Alma puts herself in Junior's and Howard's shoes before acting.

See all Understanding others shows for 3-year-olds

For 4-year-olds

Around four, a child can start to imagine that another person knows or believes something different from what they do. Misunderstandings become interesting instead of confusing. Look for stories where a character misreads a friend, notices it, and puts it right, ideally through play rather than a lesson. Comforting someone becomes a choice a child makes on purpose, not just an imitation.

Puffin Rock

Puffin Rock

The Meteor Shower

recommended age co-watching from 4

Una checks on Silky rather than staying at the show.

Bluey

Bluey

Daddy Robot

recommended age co-watching from 2

The robot commands go too far and Bandit's feelings get hurt, leading the girls to recognise the harm and make things right.

Doug Unplugs

Doug Unplugs

It's the Bot that Counts

recommended age co-watching from 2

Doug wants to do something because Nana 'looks so sad.'

Bluey

Bluey

Copycat

recommended age co-watching from 2

Bluey repeatedly asks whether the bird is OK and hopes it recovers.

Octonauts

Octonauts

The Walrus Chief

recommended age co-watching from 3

Peso treats the chief's twisted flipper once he realises the chief is in pain, turning a conflict into care.

Doc McStuffins

Doc McStuffins

Tea Party Tantrum

recommended age co-watching from 2

Doc shares her own cranky morning so Susie feels understood.

64 Zoo Lane

64 Zoo Lane

The Story of Nelson the Elephant

recommended age co-watching from 4

Nelson learns his fun jumping disturbs others who have eggs to mind or naps to take, and agrees to a compromise that's good for everyone.

Hello, Jack! The Kindness Show

Hello, Jack! The Kindness Show

Jack and Cooper's Hearts

recommended age co-watching from 3

The friends notice and respond to Sonia's and Bebe's feelings.

Kiri & Lou

Kiri & Lou

Imaginary Friend

recommended age co-watching from 2

The forest friends gather to comfort Kiri, telling her 'We're here' and 'We do' care when she feels alone.

Chip and Potato

Chip and Potato

Tot and Potato

recommended age co-watching from 3

Chip stays beside Tot all night because her gums hurt.

See all Understanding others shows for 4-year-olds

For 5-year-olds

At five, friendship gets rules, and fairness, loyalty and being left out start to sting. A child can explain why someone acted the way they did if given the chance. Stories that hold two points of view at once work well, as does a character with mixed feelings, glad and jealous in the same moment. Room to talk afterwards matters more than a tidy ending.

Stillwater

Stillwater

Gift of Compassion

recommended age co-watching from 2

Addy sees Carl 'having a hard time' and responds with understanding.

Lyla in the Loop

Lyla in the Loop

Sister Secrets

recommended age co-watching from 2

The lesson centers on understanding others by noticing what they like.

Lyla in the Loop

Lyla in the Loop

3, 2, 1 Liftoff!

recommended age co-watching from 2

The children realize Joey feels shy in crowds and treat it with understanding.

Stillwater

Stillwater

The Sleeping Moon

recommended age co-watching from 2

Stillwater models tuning in to each child's feelings

Dora and Friends: Into the City!

Dora and Friends: Into the City!

Buddy Race

recommended age co-watching from 4

Dora responds to Alana's guilt with 'Oh, Alana, don't feel that way'.

Pretzel and the Puppies

Pretzel and the Puppies

Bowl Them Over

recommended age co-watching from 2

The pups notice their friends' disappointment and act to make them feel included.

Izzy's Koala World

Izzy's Koala World

Muffin Moves In

recommended age co-watching from 3

Izzy reads Muffin's fear and says 'I do not blame you for being scared' while comforting her.

Kiri & Lou

Kiri & Lou

Refreshing

recommended age co-watching from 2

Kiri realises she has upset Lou and sings 'I made him sad, I feel so bad'.

Sago Mini Friends

Sago Mini Friends

Home with Herb

recommended age co-watching from 2

The friends keep checking Herb's feelings and adjusting to help him.

Bluey

Bluey

Butterflies

recommended age co-watching from 2

Bluey explains Judo acts bossy because she has no one else to play with.

See all Understanding others shows for 5-year-olds

For 6-year-olds

Six-year-olds pick up on what is not said: a friend who claims to be fine, a joke that lands badly. They can also hold on to the idea that someone difficult may have a reason. Look for stories with a bit more social texture, characters who differ in background, ability or temperament, and humour that never comes at someone's expense.

Paris & Pups

Paris & Pups

Sad Baby

recommended age co-watching from 3

Slivington says the winter is really bumming Baby out and that she feels bad for him.

Paris & Pups

Paris & Pups

Not Feeling the Fireworks

recommended age co-watching from 3

Star recognises out loud that she had not thought about how the noise would feel to the pups.

Fraggle Rock

Fraggle Rock

The Preachification of Convincing John

recommended age co-watching from 2

Mokey tries to feel what the Doozers feel about their work being eaten

Pinecone & Pony

Pinecone & Pony

Treat Your Creature

recommended age co-watching from 4

Pinecone learns to give Pony what he actually likes rather than what looks impressive.

Pinecone & Pony

Pinecone & Pony

Hero Soup

recommended age co-watching from 4

Pinecone learns to think about what Gladys really needs rather than seeking praise

Pinecone & Pony

Pinecone & Pony

Sleepless at the Sleepover

recommended age co-watching from 4

Pinecone connects her own fear of a puppet to Hawthorne's discomfort.

Izzy's Koala World

Izzy's Koala World

Twinkle's Rescue

recommended age co-watching from 3

Izzy recognises the koala is missing her mum and gives her extra comfort.

Hello, Jack! The Kindness Show

Hello, Jack! The Kindness Show

Jack and the Fur-Ever Home Finders

recommended age co-watching from 3

Characters feel for the pets who need a caring home.

SciShow Kids

SciShow Kids

Blobfish: The World's Ugliest Animal

recommended age co-watching from 2

Children are nudged to see the fish kindly, as it looks fine 'to its underwater friends.'

Dino Ranch

Dino Ranch

Pterodactyl-Doodle-Doo

recommended age co-watching from 3

The children eventually consider how Teddy feels rather than what to add.

See all Understanding others shows for 6-year-olds

Browse all Understanding others 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

Just launched: free lifetime premium for the first 1,000 members to activate their account.

Create your account

We use functional cookies and Google Analytics to improve our site. Read our cookie policy