Top 10 Mom-Approved Movies for Toddlers

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We all want to offer our children the most opportunities for learning and growth, but in this era of modern parenting, we also have a million other competing priorities.

So, how do we add in longer periods of screen time like movies while still encouraging our toddler’s emotional, social, and educational development?

We’ll dive into both of these questions and give you our top ten  toddler-friendly movies to start watching right now.

Kids learn language and other skills way more efficiently by interacting with real people and the world around them.

Movies for Toddlers: What Does the Research Say About Screen Time?

We now know toddlers benefit from  slow-paced, simple stories that touch on things they experience in daily life.

The Best First Movies for Toddlers

1. The Secret Garden (1993), Amazon Prime

The Secret Garden is a gently-paced story of an orphan who finds herself thrown into the middle of a wealthy but deeply unhappy household.

2. My Neighbor Totoro (1988), HBO Max

Set in rural Japan, this beloved animated film offers a glimpse into traditional Japanese daily life as well as Japanese storytelling.

During a fun and relaxing camping trip with his Dad, Little Bear meets a “wild” bear cub living in the forest.

3. The Little Bear Movie (2001), Amazon Prime

4. Ponyo (2008), HBO Max

Ponyo is a magical take on the story of The Little Mermaid from the director of My Neighbor Totoro, Hayao Miyazaki.

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