Not-Netflix Natter Episode 2 -What children are watching and what we’re no longer making

Calm reflections on children’s stories, television, and why quiet storytelling still matters.

There is still good children’s television being made.

Across the major streaming platforms, thoughtful content exists: educational series, gentle preschool animation, and programmes that encourage curiosity and learning. These shows understand that children are not passive consumers, but attentive, thoughtful viewers.

That matters — and it deserves recognition.

Alongside this, however, a different pattern has emerged.

Across some platforms, children are increasingly offered junior versions of adult formats: competitions, reality-style shows, and fast-paced contests repackaged for younger audiences. Familiar structures, simply scaled down. The frameworks remain adult; the participants are just smaller.

Even long-standing programmes have shifted. Shows that were once live, exploratory, and unpredictable now feel carefully managed and tightly controlled. What children are watching often feels efficient rather than imaginative.

What is noticeably missing are special-occasion stories.

Not endless festive romances.Not interchangeable princes.Not films where a royal character could be removed without changing the story.

But original, one-off programmes that mark moments in a child’s year — stories written for now, for this generation. Stories that feel made with intention, not assembled by formula.

This is not a call for more content. It is a call for meaningful content.

Platforms have the reach. Public broadcasters have the mandate. With that comes an opportunity to create stories that children remember, not just scroll past.

The choices are there:

Small seasonal specials.Standalone family dramas.Stories rooted in belonging, kindness, and change.

Children do not need to be constantly entertained.They need to be invited into stories that respect them.

What programme do you remember that felt genuinely special when you were young — and what still feels special in your home today?

Not-Netflix Natters is independent commentary for grown-ups. Not affiliated with Netflix.