Six Great Video Resources for Kids Learning German

#1 Die Sendung mit der Maus

The Programme with the Mouse is an absolute institution – think of it as a sort of German equivalent to Sesame Street, beloved by children and adults alike since 1971 and described as “the school of the nation”. With its magazine format aimed at young children, the show alternates between segments designed to amuse and educate in equal measure, and its official website has an array of clips and games for kids to explore all by themselves.

#2 Peppa Pig Deutsch

Language learning is all about introducing new words, phrases and grammar in familiar contexts. So if your child was brought up on Peppa Pig, she’s the perfect guide to learning German too! Peppa and her pals are a global phenomenon, broadcast in almost 200 countries and 20 languages, and her official German YouTube channel has an incredible array of episodes to watch on demand, with or without English subtitles.

#3 BBC Virtually There

For kids aged 7-11, Virtually There is a great online series from the BBC about a British boy who interacts with his friends in Germany remotely through his tablet device. Each short episode introduces simple, beginner-level German through through an easy-to-follow narrative and supporting activities, but what we love most is the songs – watch out especially for the days of the week Kraftwerk homage in episode five!

#4 YleeKids

While we’re on the subject of songs, the YleeKids YouTube channel is an absolute treasure trove of German-language videos for younger kids to sing along to. From Old MacDonald to Jingle Bells via a seemingly endless stream of songs about animals, food and nature, YleeKid’s kaleidoscopic array of colourful characters and cheesy tunes is sure to be a hit with the littlest German learners.

#5 BibisBeautyPalace

If your child watches YouTube, they no doubt have their favourite YouTubers. The hosts of the most popular channels are internet megastars, with millions of subscribers hanging onto their every word. In Germany, YouTubers don’t get bigger than BibisBeautyPalace, and her videos on a variety of subjects (not just beauty!) are a great way to introduce older kids to some authentic spoken German.

#6 Netflix

For many families, Netflix has become the go-to for home entertainment in recent years, exposing us to an array of TV and film from around the world. But did you know that the kids’ section has a good foreign-language selection too? Simply enter “German” in the search bar and let your child immerse themselves in authentic German content, with or without English subtitles. For an animated family flick, we’d recommend Trick or Treaters (Die Drei Rauber), or for some talent show fun try Sing On! Germany.

Now that you’re equipped with such a vast array of German film, TV and video to watch with your child, why not use it to supplement some screen-free German-learning fun? One Third Stories’ German Story Box subscription is a lovely way to introduce kids to the language, with beautiful bilingual stories, activities and flashcards delivered to your door each month. Lieblich!