Kids' Entertainment

Curious George is a kids' show streaming on Peacock
Peacock
15 Great Kids' Shows To Stream On Peacock Right Now

From cartoons to competitions, there’s something for everyone on NBC’s streaming service.

Updated: 
Originally Published: 

In many ways, kids are just like small adults: they’re generally good-natured, often cranky when hungry, and they can blow through entire television series in a single afternoon. But don't worry, you're at no risk of running out! We have you covered with 15 of the best kids’ shows streaming on Peacock, because these kiddos need a constant flow of Goldfish crackers and cartoons.

The shows available on this service are mainly drawn from NBC’s library, but also include properties from Universal Pictures, Universal Television, and DreamWorks. Best of all, you’ll find a wide variety of shows. From throwback favorites to educational cartoons, reality competitions to not-too-spooky shorts, there's sure to be something for every taste. And among this wide variety, you will find that a lot of these shows seem to inspire creativity, learning, and physical activity in kids.

It's the kind of content that just might prompt them off the couch to do new and exciting activities... or, you know, they might go into a zombie-like trance and just bliss out on TV for a while but, honestly, is there really anything wrong with that, either? Whichever way it goes, here are 15 of the best kids’ and family shows on Peacock to stream right now.

Curious George

You never know what’s around the bend when you’re curious like Curious George! Everyone's favorite little monkey (and his very patient friend, the Man with the Yellow Hat who, no joke, is parenting goals) gets into wacky, well-intentioned mischief and learns a few STEM lessons along the way! Whether in his apartment in the city or his home in the country (did we mention the Man with the Yellow Hat is also real estate goals?), George and his friends – Professor Wiseman, Chef Pisghetti, Ally, Bill, Jumpy Squirrel, and many more– there’s always something new and exciting to discover!

Rated TV-Y

Tina & Tony

Peacock

Tina the baby elephant and Tony the baby hippo are the very best of friends. They live in the magical land of Cookie Village, a world that reflects the nurseries and playgrounds of (human) preschoolers. There, Tina and Tony dream, scheme, and have wonderful adventures with their kindly animal pals. They may face some challenges, but Cookie Village is a place where everyone is a friend, which makes it a great place to learn. Kids will see themselves in the sweet little characters, who face situations and emotions that all children experience. The characters also model good behavior and promote emotional awareness and problem-solving.

Rated TV-Y

Nina’s World

An animated prequel to Sprout’s The Goodnight Show, Nina’s World is about the host, Nina, when she was a a 6-year-old girl. Chicago is a great place to grow up – there's always something new to explore! Every episode of Nina's World takes the titular character on a new adventure – she sees new sights, tries new things, and, of course, meets new friends. At the end of the day, she reflects on all her experiences with her friend Star before going to bed. Kids will love seeing a character who, like them, can find excitement and wonder in the every day.

Rated TV-Y

Where’s Waldo

Waldo and Wenda are members of the WorldWide Wanderer Society, an international order of curious travelers who love nothing more than celebrating different cultures and solving problems through clever observation. Sent on various missions by their mentor, Wizard Whitebeard, the two must use teamwork, wit, and good old fashioned deductive reasoning if they hope to earn their stripes and become wizard-level wanderers someday, too! They'll also have to be wary of the meddlesome "anti-wanderer" Odlulu, their arch-rival, who just can't help trying to foil all their plans. Young viewers will love learning about other countries and cultures, and interactive scenes where they can find Waldo and Wenda.

Rated TV-Y

Madagascar: A Little Wild

DreamWorks

Did you ever wonder what your favorite characters from Madagascar were like as babies? Wonder no more! It turns out that the little ones – also known as Zoosters – have always had their unique personalities. Alex the lion has always loved performing for crowds; Marty the zebra has always been a rule-follower; Gloria the hippo has always been kind, caring, and super strong; and Melman the daydreamy giraffe has always been... Melman. This series follows their lives as they grow up in a rescue habitat at the Central Park Zoo. They may little, but that doesn't stop them from having big adventures!

Rated TV:Y

Spine Chilling Stories

These original animated tales, under five minutes apiece, are told by a live action narrator named Faith who “warns” viewers before every episode “Don’t turn off the lights...!” The stories are just spooky enough to chill the spines of thrill seeking kids – with haunting tales like “The Forbidden Schoolyard” or “Who's Outside My Door” – without exposing them to graphic content or causing any nightmares. They're the kind of scary stories you could expect to hear around a fire at camp – good old fashioned fun. Still: the spooky nature of the series is probably best suited for older grade-schoolers (fourth and fifth grade).

Rated TV-G

Top Chef Junior

Hosted by Vanessa Lachey with Top Chef Duels host Curtis Stone acting as head judge, Top Chef Junior is just like your favorite cooking competition show (that is, if your favorite cooking competition show happens to be Top Chef), but with children between third and ninth grade. You'll routinely ask yourself questions like "How did this small child learn how to perfectly roast a turkey?" and "How does a 10-year-old know what a coulis is let alone how to make one?" So, be warned: if you watch this along with your kids, you’ll feel spectacularly inadequate in your own cooking skills. But! It’s impressive and fun and it just might inspire your child to try a vegetable!

Rated TV-G

Colossal Questions

This informative series – originally made for YouTube – answers kids’ most pressing questions. Practical questions like "What would happen if I never showered?" or "Why do I have to get shots when I go to the doctor?" Hypothetical questions like "What would happen if the world stopped spinning?" Social questions like "Why are there "boy” colors and “girl” colors?" And some of the most profound questions, like "What happens to your body after you die?" Since each episode is under five minutes long, it's a great compromise for when your kid begs for just "five more minutes" of screen time. Watch with them: you might even learn something, too!

Rated TV-Y7

Cleopatra In Space

After being sucked into a time portal, the fearless and confident 15-year-old princess Cleopatra (yes, that Cleopatra) suddenly finds herself 30,000 years into the future. As if that's not enough of a shock, she discovers she has a prophetic destiny: to save the Nile Galaxy from the evil tyrant Octavian. In order to prepare, she attends the intergalactic academy, P.Y.R.A.M.I.D. (naturally), run by a talking cat named Khensu who becomes her mentor (naturally). With the help of her friends Brian (a cyborg) and Akila (an alien fish-girl), she will have to study hard and work harder in order to save the galaxy. (Fortunately, the time-travel induced, newfound superpowers come in handy!)

Rated TV:TV-Y7

TrollsTopia

DreamWorks

Queen Poppy, armed with her dulcet voice and trademark positivity, invites delegates from the forest's funk, country, techno, classical, pop, and rock tribes to live together in a grand experiment — a Utopia for Trolls that she calls (what else?) TrollsTopia! Featuring all your kids' favorite characters from Trolls World Tour, as well as some new friends, they'll love the humor and, of course, all of the catchy songs. You'll officially dislike getting all those catchy songs stuck in your head and humming them throughout the day – in the grocery store, in a Zoom meeting when you think you're muted but you're not – but secretly you’ll think it’s fun.

Rated TV-Y7

Dragons: Defenders of Berk

Expanding the exciting adventures and worlds we came to love in How to Train Your Dragon, Dragons: Defenders of Berk takes place between the first and second movies and chronicles the exploits of Hiccup, his dragon Toothless, and their friends – Astrid, Ruffnut, Tuffnut, Fishlegs, and Snotlout – who work together to defend their tiny Viking island of Berk from bad guys and explore new lands beyond their archipelago. They've also tasked themselves with discovering, studying, and helping new species of dragons in their quest for humans and these misunderstood beasts to live side by side in harmony.

The series continues with Dragons: Riders of Berk, which is also available.

Rated TV-Y7

Archibald’s Next Big Thing Is Here!

Created by and starring actor Tony Hale, Archibald Strutter is a chicken who blithely improvises his way through life with his sidekick Bea (a bee). He sometimes finds himself quite lost and far away from home, but fortunately his siblings – brilliant scientist Loy, outdoorsy Sage, and artistic Finly – are always around to help him out. Kids will love watching all of Archibald's silly adventures. Parents will love hearing the voice talents of an impressive roster of celebrity guest stars – RuPaul; Weird Al Yankovic; Julia Louis-Dreyfus; Jane Lynch Joel McHale; and more. The series sixth season will be released October 14.

Rated TV-Y7

Punky Brewster

Peacock

The Gen-X and Elder Millennial parents among us will perhaps remember Punky Brewster, the ‘80s sitcom about the spunky girl being raised by her foster dad. Now Punky (and her BFF Cherie) are back and all grown up. Punky is living in the same Chicago apartment where she was raised, raising three children of her own – Hannah, Diego, and Daniel – with her ex-husband (Freddie Prinze Jr.) and working as a photographer. One day, she meets Izzy, a little girl abandoned by her mother whose rambunctious spirit reminds Punky of someone she used to know/be... It isn't long before Izzy becomes part of the family.

Rated TV-PG

American Ninja Warrior Junior

Peacock

Men and women from all walks of life and every corner of the country come together to pursue their common dream of reaching Mount Midoriyama, the world's most notorious obstacle course on American Ninja Warrior... but why should adults have all the fun? On this version of the popular franchise, kids from 9 to 14 have the chance to show what they’re made of by competing in a series of physical challenges. From swinging from ropes to scaling the notorious Warped Wall, you won’t believe what these pint-sized ninjas can do! Their determination and drive are sure to inspired viewers of all ages.

Rated TV-G

Everybody Hates Chris

Peacock

Inspired by comedian Chris Rock’s childhood and teen years, Everybody Hates Chris follows his experiences growing up in the Bud-Stuy neighborhood of New York City in the 1980s. Chris is the oldest (though not the tallest) of three children and, as such, as the de facto adult while both his parents are working. Seeing potential in Chris' scrappy personality, his parents arrange for him to attend a school in a not-always-welcoming Italian neighborhood, multiple bus transfers away. Critically acclaimed and noted for its ability to address serious issues in a humorous, entertaining, but respectful way, Everybody Hates Chris was acknowledged with numerous award nominations, including an NAACP Image Award for writing in 2007.

Rated TV-PG

This article was originally published on