Christian Video Programming for Children

Reviewing content prior to our children viewing is important and prudent. The following links can be used to review various programs for children and adults:

• USCCB Movie Reviews are provided by the Catholic News Service founded by the United States Bishops
• Plugged-in is a very large inter-Christian resource that can also be used to see the content of a program when parents are choosing what material for their children to watch. Be aware that the search function, while including almost every movie or series, is case sensitive. 
• The Catechism of the Catholic Church provides answers from the magisterium on all doctrinal and/or moral matters.
• Catholic Answers is a Diocesan-approved website that also answers doctrinal and moral questions. Here almost any question regarding faith and morals is answered according to the Catechism and the Deposit of Faith.

Please keep in mind that many streaming services also play videos not related to the content you chose after the episode/series/movie has been finished. Therefore, it is important to watch what is “coming next” if this is possible as well as what children can click to/choose after and during any video. It is recommended by various sources to watch all programming with your children to show its importance and to follow the command to be the primary educators of our children in the faith, (CCC 2223, Deut. 6:7).

Free and Paid-for Streaming Services 

• FORMED is a specifically Catholic streaming service. As of Mar. 2020, the application features great series such as some of our favorites: “Brother Francis”, “Catholic Heroes of the Faith”, and the “Saints and Heroes Collection”. One can get a free membership simply by visiting a website for a Catholic parish and inserting the Code after downloading the application on your TV, Android, IOS or Windows device. Many parishes in the Diocese of Calgary publish the updated free Code for download on the Home (Front) page of their parish website. Programming is for all ages, but they have a particular “kids” section.
• EWTN is large Catholic TV station. It has a large kid’s section that features great programming such as “The Way of the Cross for kids”, “Masterpiece Donut Shop” and “Tomkin: The Catholic Cowboy”. Download is free and available on all platforms.
• SHALOM WORLD KIDS - SHALOM WORLD YOUTH is international Catholic TV station that features many interesting children’s programs. Download is free and available on all platforms.
• CATHOLICTV features a large array of Catholic programming such as “The Fred and Susie show”. You can access this website directly by computer, TV, IOS or Android. Download is free and available on all platforms.
• PUREFLIX (INTER-CHRISTIAN CONTENT) has a lot of content from various Christian denominations that may or may not agree with Catholic Theology. Nevertheless, a discerning parent will be able to see the great content available on the platform. Paid subscriptions are available. Programming is for all ages, but they have a particular “kids” section. 
• NETFLIX and AMAZON PRIME (SECULAR): has a lot of Christian content but also a lot of anti-Christian Content. Some great Christian programs from Netflix include “Veggie Tales”, and “Paul: Apostle of Christ”. See Reviewing Content section above on how to check each movie or program.

Programs outside of streaming services 

AGES 2-6

• Animated Bible Series (Saddleback Kids) is a sensitive and very simple retelling of key Bible stories, (could be used with Ages 6-12).
• Christian Kids TV is an Eastern Rite Catholic production team that produces basic animation programs on the lives of the Saints and the stories of the Bible. This could be used with Ages 6-12.
• Larryboy is from the makers of Veggie Tales and tells stories about vices to avoid and virtues to achieve. This could be used with Ages 6-12. (can be used until age 18).
• The Beginners Bible is a famous series that tells the main stories of the Bible to children in an easy to understand language. The series is in episode form and includes many hours of content. This could be used with Ages 6-12.
• The Donut Man is created by Rob Evans. The Donut Man is similar to other children’s TV shows that focus on music as a means to get across the Christian Gospel. The series is in episode form and includes many hours of content.
• Veggie Tales tells stories from Church History, the Bible and elsewhere to teach Christian concepts centred on morality. This could be used for children up to the age of 18. New series are available for a subscription at Canadian NETFLIX and on PUREFLIX as of Mar. 2020. Veggie Tales are also available as short clips in Youtube.
  
  

AGES 6-12

• 100 Bible Stories are Flash videos featuring popular stories from the Bible. While the production value is lower than others on this list, 100 Bible Stories features Catholic stories from the Bible which are excluded from Protestant and other non-Catholic Christians, such as the stories from the Book of Tobit. 
• 3-2-1 Penguins! is from the makers of Veggie Tales and tells stories about Christian morality. 
• Animated Stories from the New Testament is a cartoon series from animators who worked with the Walt Disney Corporation. SEARCH FOR IT IN AVAILABLE FORMATS AND AT VARIOUS SERVICES
• Animated Stories from the Old Testament is a cartoon series from animators who worked with the Walt Disney Corporation. SEARCH FOR IT IN AVAILABLE FORMATS AND AT VARIOUS SERVICES
• Last Chance Detectives is a high production live action series about a group of children that solve mysteries and learn about Christian virtues. This could be used for children up to the age of 18.  SEARCH FOR IT IN AVAILABLE FORMATS AND AT VARIOUS SERVICES
• McGee and Me is a live action and cartoon series that focus on Bible stories and the need to practise the virtues. SEARCH FOR IT IN AVAILABLE FORMATS AND AT VARIOUS SERVICES
• My Catholic Family features the stories of Catholic Saints such as St. Faustina. All of these and more are available on the EWTN App as well.
• Old Testament Stories is another retelling of Bible stories in cartoon form. This could be used for ages 12-18. A warning that the holy Tetragrammaton name for God is used in the film. For clarification, click here to see the following from the Vatican regarding Norms on the use of the holy Tetragrammaton. This could be used for children up to the age of 18.  
• The Greatest Adventure Stories from the Bible places contemporary fictional characters into popular Bible stories such as Jonah, Esther and Ruth. This could be used for children up to the age of 18.  SEARCH FOR IT IN AVAILABLE FORMATS AND AT VARIOUS SERVICES
• The Story Keepers is an animated series which talks about the important time where all that was said and done by Jesus and Apostles was passed down orally. There is also a Spanish version of this series.
  
  

AGES 12-18

• Brother Fire tells the story of St. Francis and other Franciscans during the Middle Ages. 
• Catholic Central includes videos targeted towards teens that interpret modern issues and questions from a Catholic theological perspective. 
• Charlemagne tells the story of Church history from St. Augustine up to the great Catholic emperor Charlemagne. Is a detailed look at early Middle Age Church history (300’s-800’s).
• Quo Vadis tells the history of the early Church from the ministry of the First Pope, St. Peter, to the early Church Fathers including St. Ambrose and their struggle with Arianism (the belief that Jesus was not fully God). Is a detailed look at the early history of the Church.
• The Visual Bible Project brings the Bible to life verse by verse. The Visual Bible project produced the whole Books of The Gospel of Matthew, The Gospel of John, the Acts of the Apostles, and the Gospel of Luke (also called “the Jesus Movie”). SEARCH FOR THEM IN AVAILABLE FORMATS AND AT VARIOUS SERVICES
• Various Movies and Series are grouped on IMDB such as the one listed here. See Reviewing Content section above on how to check each movie or program. SEARCH FOR THEM IN AVAILABLE FORMATS AND AT VARIOUS SERVICES
• Video Catechism: reviews the major sections of the catechism in a teen-friendly way (the summary of all the Catholic faith).

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This list is compiled by Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, Diocese of Calgary.