These days, cereal boxes are a little lighter, toys are a little flimsier, and attention spans are way, way shorter. When it comes time to sit your kid down for some snacks and a little TV, it’s hard to sell them on a 90-minute movie or even a 22-minute cartoon.
Most kids’ shows of the past were around 22 minutes long. This allowed toy companies to slide toy commercials in between segments of shows that were usually glorified toy commercials themselves.
Today, there are strict regulations and laws about marketing to kids, whose attention spans are shorter than ever. So the whimsical cartoon makers shifted focus and began producing shorter, bite-sized content to keep kids occupied. As the world moved online, these shorter episodes became popular on social media and YouTube.
If you have a little one who can’t sit still for more than a few minutes, here are a bunch of shows with episodes 6-14 minutes long—enough time to be entertaining, but not so much that they get bored.
Pocoyo
Run Time: ~7 min
Where to Stream: Netflix / YouTube
Ages: 0–3
A curious little boy named Pocoyo explores a bright, minimalist world with his friends Elly, Pato, and Loula. Each short adventure teaches discovery and friendship through gentle humor.
Kids love it for the colorful visuals and easy-to-follow actions that feel like playtime.
Bluey
Run Time: 7 min
Where To Stream: Disney+
Ages: 0–3 (and more. Bluey is for everyone)
Blue Heeler pup Bluey explores family life with her sister Bingo, dad Bandit, and mom Chili. Each short episode features really great world-building, imaginative play, and fantastic animation with a ton of heart.
Kids love it because it’s Bluey! This is the only show on this list I wish had longer episodes, because, just like the kids, I love Bluey and co.’s games, music, and emotional well-being. It’s a show that feels very real and is easy to translate into real-world fun.
Peppa Pig
Run Time: 5 min
Where To Stream: Netflix / Nick Jr.
Ages: 3–5
There’s not much I can tell you about Peppa and her family that you probably don’t already know. They live in a world chock-full of muddy puddles, picnics, and daily adventures with her friends. Simple narration keeps everyone in the loop and
Kids love it for the cute characters and their silly snorts. The bite-sized stories are easy for kids to take in, and the humor is soft and relatable. My only question i,s why is everyone an animal except the Queen and Santa?
Masha and the Bear
Run Time: 7 min
Where To Stream: Netflix and YouTube
Age: 3–5
This supremely silly show about a mischievous little girl who constantly causes chaos for her patient, Bear friend, is more Looney Tunes than Disney Princesses. The slapstick friendship delivers big laughs with little to no dialogue.
Kids love it because it’s wildly funny, while teaching a lesson or two about how to deal with someone smaller than you being a bit extra. The colorful and expressive animation works perfectly with the fast, funny antics.
Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood
Run Time: 11 min
Where to Stream: PBS Kids
Ages: 3–5
In one of the best emotionally-based cartoons around, Daniel and his friends play in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe. They learn valuable skills through songs and stories, with each episode offering clear lessons on kindness and friendship.
Kids love it because the catchy songs that we weave into the episodes make big feelings seem easier to understand. Created by the minds behind Blue’s Clues and the production team behind Mr. Rogers, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood is a surefire show that will keep kids locked in.
Octonauts
Run Time: 11 min
Where To Stream: Netflix
Ages: 3–5
Led by Captain Barnacles Bear, a team of adorable undersea explorers rescues ocean creatures and studies marine life in their mobile headquarters, The Octopod. Each adventure blends action with new creatures, songs, and real science facts.
Kids love it because it’s adorable! Octonauts is kind of like Star Trek for kids. It’s about a crew on a ship exploring strange new places and encountering cute animals. The crew also teaches compassion as they help out and solve problems whenever needed.
Earth to Luna!
Run Time: 11 min
Where To Stream: Prime Video
Ages: 3–5
In Earth To Luna! The titular Luna investigates how things work, from rainbows to rockets, along with her little brother Jupiter and her ferret, Clyde. Each episode features Songs and simple experiments that turn science into adventure.
Kids love Earth To Luna! Because Luna’s wonder and some fantastic musical numbers make science feel like fun. Play is the easiest way for kids to learn and have fun, and Earth To Luna! Makes playing science feel so fun, you don’t even notice you’re learning.
SpongeBob SquarePants
Run Time: 11 min
Where To Stream: Paramount+ / Nickelodeon
Ages: 6–12
When it comes to the absurd, no one corners it quite as well as SpongeBob SquarePants. SpongeBob lives and works in Bikini Bottom under the sea. He’s a burger-flipper at the Krusty Krab and goes on insane adventures with friends Sandy Cheeks, Patrick Starr, and Squidward. The humor bounces between goofy and clever.
Kids love it because Songebob’s ridiculous humor bounces between goofy and clever. It’s very smartly written with tons of slapstick and endlessly quotable lines. There’s a reason it’s lasted over 300 episodes. Plus, there are longer-format feature films to check out.
Teen Titans Go!
Run Time: 11 min
Where to Stream: Max / Cartoon Network
Ages: 6–12
Most superhero movies and TV shows take themselves very, very seriously. Teen Titans Go! is the exact opposite. The show focuses on the “in between missions” time that The Teen Titans spend on prank wars and pizza contests. It’s a superhero comedy with zero seriousness.
Kids love it because gosh darn it, it’s FUN. Teen Titans Go! Has a bright, colorful look that just adds punch to its nonstop humor and slapstick antics. It’s super fun and, at 11 minutes, really easy to digest.
The Powerpuff Girls (Classic)
Run Time: 11 min
Where To Stream: Max / Cartoon Network
Ages: 6–12
The superheroic Powerpuff Girls, Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup take action and comedy and smoosh them together in a gooey entertainment sandwich. The girls juggle family, school, and crime-fighting in the perfectly-named Townsville.
It’s important to note that I’m referring to the Classic PowerPuff girls. The reboot was fantastic, but nothing beats the original for kids. It’s fast, funny, and full of girl-power heroism with messages of friendship and family tied in.
Craig of the Creek
Run Time: 11 min
Where To Stream: Max / Cartoon Network
Ages: 6–12
In Craig of the Creek, the aforementioned Craig explores a suburban creek, turning it into an imaginative world where kids are in charge. The show carries powerful messages about friendship and the joy of discovery.
Kids love it because Craig of the Creek shows the power of learning through discovery. It takes everyday play and turns it into wide-ranging adventures that lead to discoveries of all kinds.
Adventure Time
Run Time: 11 min
Where To Stream: Max / Cartoon Network
Ages: 6–12
What time is it? Adventure Time! Best pals Finn the human and Jake the dog traverse the Land of Ooo, meeting new friends and taking on strange, hilarious quests. Beneath the chaos lies a ton of lessons about friendship and growing up.
Kids love it because it’s so downright weird, you can’t not love it. It’s a wildly creative and emotional show that tells simple stories kids can relate to and somehow does it in less than a quarter hour. The songs are excellent as well.
Steven Universe
Run Time: 11 min
Where To Stream: Max / Hulu
Ages: 6–12
One of the most wondrous and magical shows available right now is Steven Universe. In each episode, Steven and the Crystal Gems protect the world while learning about love and acceptance. It’s musical, colorful, and chock-full of heart.
Kids love it because, despite its short runtime, Steven Universe packs a multitude of gags, emotional moments, and musical fun into every episode. Those 11 minutes are gone before you know it, and you and the kids will be hitting “Next Episode” right away.
The Amazing World Of Gumball
Run Time: 11 min
Where To Stream: Max / Cartoon Network
Ages: 6–12
The Amazing World of Gumball is, in a word, surreal. Gumball and Darwin live in Elmore, a city of mixed animation chaos that touches a bunch of different animation styles while parodying real world situations.
Kids love Gumball because its fast-paced comedy is extra funny when coupled with the mixed animation styles. The randomness and surreal settings are easy to take in due to the short run time. You’ve got a breather between episodes.
Shaun The Sheep
Run Time: 7–14 min
Where to Stream: Netflix / BBC
Ages: 6–12
Shaun the Sheep is a wild and crazy slapstick show that takes place on the Mossy Bottom Farm (no relation). It’s fun, claymation-style, and wordless stories offer endless fun in short bursts.
Kids love it for its goofy chaos and highly expressive characters. The silent, expressive humor takes it to the next level, and the clever gags keep everyone laughing throughout each episode.
Frog And Toad
Run Time: 11–13 min
Where To Stream: Apple TV+
Ages: 6–12
If you’re looking for a nice, calm, cool-down or pre-bedtime show, the adventures of Frog and Toad are an excellent choice. These two amphibious pals share cozy adventures adapted from the classic books.
Kids will love Frog and Toad because it’s an adventurous show, but it has very calm and soothing pacing. The writing is top-notch, and kids will love the friendship between Frog and Toad as they explore the world around them.
