Choosing the best documentaries on YouTube to watch is such a rewarding process. Especially when parents want to find those that are both informative and enjoyable for the whole family.
YouTube is a gold mine of insightful films for people of all ages. Providing its users with an incredible number of free videos to watch.
In this article, therefore, we will provide you with 10 entertaining and informative documentary options that your next family movie night should not miss.
Benefits of watching right documentaries for kids
Choosing the right documentary for children is extremely useful. As it has numerous advantages for their education and development.
Below are some points as to why documentaries should form part of what children watch:
- Enhances learning. Documentaries are a way to make learning process an exciting journey by turning complicated subjects into comprehensible and even entertaining ones.
- Fosters empathy. Thanks to their capacity to introduce children to different cultures and real-life situations. Documentaries teach meaning of life and the importance of empathy.
- Develop critical thinking. Documentaries teach children how to evaluate information and think critically and make conclusions by themselves.
- Boosts cognitive skills. Viewing documentaries can improve on some other mental functions including memory, attention and problem solving skills.
- Inspires creativity. Sometimes, documentaries include impressive images and keen narrations that can teach children how to create something out of the box. This will inturn foster their creativity.
- Promotes family bonding. Viewing documentaries as a family is also a great way to spend time together. Parents and children can talk and introduce different opinions on the displayed topic and strengthen their bonds.
With the help of the documentaries children get knowledge and skills. Which can benefit them in their further growth and perception of the events happening in the world.
Monitor and limit your child’s screen time
10 Best free documentaries on YouTube to watch in 2025
Below is the list of the top ten documentaries available on YouTube that you should watch in 2025 suitable for the whole family.
Every documentary presents different stories that are informative and enjoyable as well as safe for kids to watch.
1. Our Planet – Forests (2020)
Go on an incredible adventure with Sir David Attenborough. To explore the forests of the world, and learn about the animals that inhabit them as well as how these environments work.
Its visuals will create an impressive effect on the young audience. As it will encourage their love for nature, especially wildlife, and the concerns related to climate change.
- Age Suitable: 8+
- Rating: TV-G
- Parental Guidance: Not required.
2. Beyond The Spotlight: MrBeast (2022)
Explore all about MrBeast, a popular content creator on YouTube, who went viral through his mind-blowing dares and massive giveways!
This documentary is a good watch for young budding creators. As it shows how he began his channel and how he uses it to impact and help people.
- Age Suitable: 10+
- Rating: TV-PG
- Parental Guidance: Recommended.
3. The Story of Maths (2016)
This documentary helps people enjoy mathematics by showing practical uses for mathematics and linking them to historical events.
Whenever concepts that may be difficult to grasp are presented, there are clear demonstrations using visuals accompanied with examples provided.
- Age Suitable: 11+
- Rating: TV-G
- Parental Guidance: Recommended.
4. The Lost Town of the Uncle Sam Mine (2024)
This documentary gives the audience a thrilling experience. As they look into what the lives of people in this erstwhile booming mining town were like.
The kids will have fun as they learn about the relevance of history. As families work together to reconstruct significant parts of history.
- Age Suitable: 8+
- Rating: TV-G
- Parental Guidance: Not required.
5. King Tut’s Shocking Origins (2024)
This compelling documentary explains the history and the untold story of King Tutankhamun, one of the world’s most recognized pharaohs of Egypt.
The film is perfect for children because not only does it teach about history. But it makes them want to know more about archaeology and culture.
- Age Suitable: 12+
- Rating: TV-PG
- Parental Guidance: Recommended.
6. Citizenfour (2014)
The revelations made by Edward Snowden about state spying inspire people to talk about privacy and liberty in a digital world.
The show is ideal for older kids as it afford them an insight to some of the issues that are current in society. It is a good movie that may generate good discussions.
- Age Suitable: 14+
- Rating: R
- Parental Guidance: Strongly recommended.
7. Aerial Africa (2025)
This is an absolutely beautiful show that introduces its audience to the bird’s eye view of Africa. And its geography ranging from forests to deserts.
The documentary helps sharpen our sense of admiration for nature and creates interest in different regions of the world.
- Age Suitable: 8+
- Rating: TV-G
- Parental Guidance: Not required.
8. The Ancient Mystery of Cambodia’s Lost Capital (2018)
This documentary is a guide to the world of archeology. As it shows the audience the great cultures that used to exist in the territory of Cambodia.
It’s an interesting method for families to learn more about history and enjoy the beauty of the world we live in.
- Age Suitable: 10+
- Rating: TV-G
- Parental Guidance: Not required.
9. Baby Animals Discovering Their World (2014)
This delightful wildlife program presents a behind-the-scenes look at some baby animals. And the trials they go through as they grow up.
People get to see how some of these young animals take their first steps and how they play. And also some basic things that they have to do to survive.
- Age Suitable: 6+
- Rating: G (General Audience)
- Parental Guidance: Not Required.
10. The White Helmets (2020)
In this documentary, we witness the courage of ordinary men and women volunteers. Who put their lives on the line to rescue trapped Syrian civilians.
It stands as a story that invokes the spirits of hope and strength. It could make kids perhaps reflect over how they can change the society.
- Age Suitable: 12+
- Rating: TV-PG
- Parental Guidance: Recommended.
How to choose kid-friendly documentaries on YouTube
When choosing documentaries on YouTube to watch for children, you must consider whether the content is suitable, interesting, and informative.
Here are some tips to help you when you have to decide on the best options for your children.
- Select high-quality YouTube Channels. Try to focus on channels that broadcast mainly content for kids.
- Check reviews and ratings. Take time and read reviews and ratings so that they know what their children are likely to come across on those shows.
- Consider age appropriateness. Each documentary usually has its age limit. Censor the content to a degree that is appropriate for your kid’s age.
- Preview content when possible. If you have doubts about a documentary, run through it first or show clips to determine the appropriateness of that documentary.
- Choose topics that interest them. You should always choose the documentaries that you think will interest your child so that he or she will be happy to watch it.
- Enable parental controls. You can also use alternative parental controls that YouTube offers or the YouTube Kids application to remove all the undesirable content.
If you follow these guidelines then you will be able to pick good kid friendly documentaries on YouTube for your children. That are entertaining and informative as well as encourage learning.
The top 5 YouTube channels for kid-friendly documentaries
Here is a list of 5 great YouTube channels that show kid-friendly documentaries. And are a great way to develop meaningful curiosities in children.
1. National Geographic Kids
This channel is one of the top channels that produces many educational videos in areas such as animals, science, and geography.
Their content is well-organized, with an excellent use of attractive graphics and funny facts that make children focus and learn.
National Geographic Kids has a good reputation for publishing quality materials for kids, and is dedicated to making learning about nature fun.
Below are the categories of documentaries that one is likely to come across this channel.
- Wildlife documentaries.
- Science experiments.
- Cultural explorations.
- Environmental awareness.
2. PBS Kids
PBS Kids offers several shows for children which have been developed to deliver educational value.
The channel airs cartoon programs, programs incorporating live characters as well as documentaries which encourage learning via play.
It is considered as a reliable source of Children programs by parents and teachers. For its enhanced quality shows that focus on children’s edutainment.
Below are the categories of documentaries that you will be able to find with this channel.
- Nature documentaries.
- Science explorations.
- Historical stories.
- Cultural insights.
Smithsonian channel
Smithsonian channel is a treasure trove of documentaries based on history, science, nature and culture etc.
The videos bear a lot of research and offer detailed information about multiple subjects of interest to the kids.
Since this channel hosts content from one of the most prestigious universities across the globe. The children get real and factual information relayed in an entertaining manner.
Below are the categories of documentaries that you stand to gain from this channel.
- Historical documentaries.
- Scientific discoveries.
- Cultural heritage investigation.
- Wildlife features.
4. SciShow Kids
SciShow Kids is all about presenting kids with answers to their questions about the world and how things work. By using entertaining experiments and explanations.
The channel employs interesting visual features such as colors and animation, in addition to amiable hosts, to introduce and teach science.
This channel helps children to become curious and even critical. By providing them with answers to questions related to science which children tend to ask.
Below are the types of documentaries which you can watch on this channel.
- Science experiments.
- Nature explorations.
- Biology facts.
- Environmental issues.
5. Kidz Bop
Even though Kidz Bop specializes in music, the program also offers educational material in the form of entertaining music videos with lessons.
Kidz Bop has fun segments and educative sections in it. Hence children who enjoy music will not only have fun but also learn essential lessons.
Here is the list of the various documentaries you are likely to encounter in this channel.
- Songs for teaching purposes.
- Health awareness campaigns.
- Social issues discussions.
How to set up YouTube parental controls
YouTube is a large base of videos, some of which can be quite questionable. It thus requires parental control to make browsing safer for children.
Through regulation of the kind of content available for children. Parents can be assured that their children only watch videos that are suitable to their age.
YouTube Restricted Mode is designed to help to minimize the chance of viewing mature content on YouTube. Though it isn’t 100 percent effective, it adds an extra layer of protection.
The following is the procedure of enabling restricted mode on YouTube.
Step 1. Go to YouTube website and login into the account.
Step 2. On the top right of the page there is a profile icon – click on it and choose Settings.
Step 3. On the left side of the page, scroll down to locate General, and then look for the Restricted Mode.
Step 4. Activate Restricted Mode to make it strip out content of potentially mature nature. This setting can be used for both the app and the website.
Final thoughts
Given the fact that there is an almost infinite number of videos on YouTube. It has never been easier to find the best documentaries to watch with the family.
Parents can ensure that children learn a lot from what they see on the screens. By choosing and recommending a number of quality educational documentaries.
To control viewing conditions and have the opportunity to limit access to YouTube, parents can consider using FlashGet Kids along with the YouTube tools.
This app provides features that will enable parents to put in place right restrictions for screen time, provides real-time monitoring of kids, and daily reports of kids’ activities on the internet.
FlashGet Kids adds an extra level of security. So kids can freely browse educational content while parents are assured of their safety online.
If adequately equipped and properly filtered, YouTube can turn into a great wealth of education and quality family time.
