Children's TV and family films to watch this Christmas 2021 - our day-by-day guide

When it comes to getting in the festive spirit nothing quite beats a bit of Christmas TV.

But in the midst of all the chaos it can be all too easy to miss the best family films and shows on the box.

That's why we've put together this simple guide to make it easy to see what's showing between now and New Year's Eve.

From the classics such as The Snowman to the much-anticipated Superworm, airing on Christmas Day, there are so many films and shows to keep kids of all ages entertained.

Whether watching the programmes live, or setting the record button so the kids can watch them again - and again, and again - here's our mammoth list of the best movies and shows to keep them happy over the festive season.

And you can also check out our full guide to what's on Disney+ this Christmas here.

Shaun the Sheep: The Flight Before Christmas (BBC/Ardman Animations)

Saturday, December 18

10.15am - We're Going On A Bear Hunt, C4

10.45am - Father Christmas, C4

11.20am - The Snowman, C4

11.55am - The Snowman and the Snowdog, C4

2pm - Great Expectations, BBC2

2.30pm - Maleficent, BBC1

5.55pm - Scrooge, C5

6.45pm - The School of Rock, ITV2

Sunday, December 19

9am - Beauty and the Beast: a Pantomime for Comic Relief, BBC2

10.10am - Nativity!, CBBC

12.30pm - The Croods, ITV2

12.30pm - Rise of the Guardians, C4

1.50pm - How to Train Your Dragon: the Hidden World, BBC1

2.50pm - 12.45pm - Dora and the Lost City of Gold, Film4

3.30pm - Eddie the Eagle, C4

4.55pm - Kung Fu Panda, Film4

6.45pm - Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Film4

6.55pm - A Christmas Carol, ITV3

7pm - Uncle Buck, ITV2

Monday, December 20

11.45am - Beethoven, C5

12.50pm - Over the Hedge, Film4

1.45pm - The Grinch, ITV

3.05pm - Moana, BBC1

Moana (Manchester Evening News)

4.35pm - Kindergarten Cop, Film4

4.40pm - Wallace & Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death, BBC1

6.35pm - Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, ITV2

Tuesday, December 21

11.50am - Gnomeo & Juliet, C5

1.45pm - Shrek, ITV

Shrek (Manchester Evening News)

2.45pm - Saving Mr Banks, BBC1

4.45pm - Wallace & Gromit: The Wrong Trousers, BBC1

6.45pm - Bumblebee, Film4

6.45pm - Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, ITV2

Wednesday, December 22

11.30am - ET: the Extra-Terrestrial, ITV

12.55pm - Flushed Away, Film4

1.55pm - Kiss Me Kate (musical), BBC2

2.15pm - Shrek 2, ITV

2.40pm - Rango, Film4

3.05pm - Pete's Dragon, BBC1

4.40pm - Wallace & Gromit: A Close Shave, BBC1

6.20pm - The Amazing Spider-Man, ITV2

Thursday, December 23

11am - Two by Two, Film 4

11.30am - Jack Frost, ITV

12.45pm - Dora and the Lost City of Gold, Film4

1.50pm - Sing, ITV

2.50pm- Kung Fu Panda 2, Film4

3.15pm - Cinderella, BBC1

4.35pm - Karate Kid Part II, Film4

4.50pm - Wallace & Gromit: A Grand Day Out, BBC1

5.10pm - Matilda, C5

6.15pm - The Amazing Spider-Man 2, ITV2

6.45pm - The Karate Kid III, Film4

Christmas Eve

7.30am - The Rugrats Movie, C4

9.05am - Quentin Blake's Clown, C4

10.20am - Room on the Broom, BBC1

10.45am - The Gruffalo, BBC1

11am - Nativity Rocks!, ITV

11am - Over the Hedge, Film4

11.10am - Antz, ITV2

11.15am - The Gruffalo's Child, BBC1

11.40am - Brave, 11.40am

11.55am - We're Going On A Bear Hunt, C4

11.55am - Scrooge, C5

12.30pm - Father Christmas, C4

12.55pm - The Secret Life of Pets, ITV2

1.30pm - Frozen, BBC1

2.30pm - The Chronicles of Narnia, The Voyage of the Dawn Trader, Film4

3pm - Abominable, BBC1

3.25pm - Shrek the Halls, ITV

3.45pm - Back to the Future, ITV2

4.30pm - Dolittle, BBC1

4.40pm - Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted, Film4

5pm - The Snowman, C4

5.35pm - The Snowman and the Snowdog, C4

6pm - Home Alone, C4

Christmas Day

5.55am - Rugrats in Paris: the Movie, C4

7.10am - Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast, BBC2

9.05am - Zog, BBC1

9.35am - Zog and the Flying Doctors, BBC1

Zog is back this Christmas (PA)

9.55am - The Man Who Invented Christmas, More4

10am - Gangsta Granny, BBC2

10am - We're Going On A Bear Hunt, C4

10.30am - The Tiger Who Came to Tea, C4

11am - Stick Man, BBC1

11am - How to Train Your Dragon, C4

11am - Mrs Doubtfire, Film4

11.05am - Jack Frost, ITV2

11.25am - Shaun the Sheep: the Flight before Christmas, BBC1

1.05pm - Peter Pan, ITV2

1.10pm - The Secret Life of Pets 2, BBC1

1.35pm - Little Women, Film4

2.30pm - Superworm, BBC1

Superworm (BBC/Magic Light Pictures)

2.50pm - Clueless, 5 Star

3.10pm - Mary Poppins Returns, BBC1

3.10pm - Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, C5

3.10pm - Santa Claus: The Movie, ITV

3.20pm - Father Christmas, C4

3.20pm - Shrek the Halls, ITV2

3.50pm - Chicken Run, ITV2

3.55pm - The Snowman, C4

3.55pm - Bumblebee, Film4

4.30pm - The Snowman and the Snowdog, C4

5.15pm - Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, C4

5.20pm - The Adventure of Robin Hood, BBC2

5.40pm - Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, ITV2

7.30pm - Terry Pratchett's Abominable Snow Baby, C4

8pm - Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, ITV2

Terry Pratchett’s The Abominable Snow Baby (Channel 4)

Boxing Day

6.05am - Rugrats Go Wild, C4

8.45am - Mr Peabody and Sherman, ITV2

9.15am - The Snail and the Whale, BBC1

The Snail and the Whale (Manchester Evening News)

9.45am - The Highway Rat, BBC1

10.10am - Shaun the Sheep Movie, BBC1

10.35am - Shark Tale, ITV2

11am - Kindergarten Cop, Film4

11.30am - Trolls, BBC1

12.25pm - The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists, ITV2

12.30pm - Terry Pratchett's The Abominable Snow Baby, C4

12.40pm - Singin' in the Rain, BBC2

1.10pm - Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Film4

1.50pm - Revolting Rhymes, BBC1

1.55pm - Home Alone 3, C4

2.10pm - Ice Age, ITV2

2.20pm - Beauty and the Beast, BBC1

3.50pm - ET: the Extra Terrestrial, ITV2

4pm - Crocodile Dundee, C4

4.20pm - Paddington, BBC1

5.10pm - Sister Act, C5

6.10pm - Shrek, ITV2

8pm - Dirty Dancing, C5

9pm - Mission: Impossible - Fallout, Film4

Monday, December 27

6.40am - The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, C4

9.20am - Monsters vs Aliens, BBC1

9.50am - The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas, ITV2

10.45am - The Boss Baby, BBC1

11am - Ice Age: Collision Course, Film4

11.45am - Hotel Transylvania, ITV

1.30pm - Finding Dory, BBC1

2.45pm - Ice Age: The Meltdown, ITV2

2.55pm - Wonder, Film4

4.35pm - Chicken Run, ITV2

4.50pm - Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit, C5

5.55pm - Paddington 2, BBC1

6pm - Crocodile Dundee II, C4

6.15pm - Wonder Woman, ITV2

Tuesday, December 28

9.15am - Planes, BBC1

9.30am - The Addams Family, ITV2

9.40am - Matilda, C5

10.40am - Cars 3, BBC1

11am - Rango - Film4

12.30pm - Despicable Me, ITV

1.25pm - Superworm, BBC1

1.55pm - Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, BBC1

2.55pm - Back to the Future, ITV2

3.25pm - The BFG, BBC1

5.15pm - The Amazing Spider-Man, ITV2

7.15pm - Worzel Gummidge, BBC1

8pm - Skyfall, ITV2

9pm - The Meg, C5

Worzel Gummidge (BBC/Leopard Films/Jack Barnes)

Wednesday, December 29

9.05am - Monsters University, BBC1

10.40am - Big Hero 6, BBC1

11am - Flushed Away, Film4

1.40pm - Inside Out, BBC1

2.10pm - Hotel Transylvania 3, ITV2

2.30pm - Bee Movie, Film4

3.10pm - Kung Fu Panda Holiday, BBC1

4.05pm - Back to the Future Part II, ITV2

6.15pm - The Amazing Spider-Man 2, ITV2

7.15pm - Worzel Gummidge, BBC1

Thursday, December 30

8.45am - Annie, C5

9.05am - Home, BBC1

10.30am - How to Train Your Dragon: Legend of the Boneknapper Dragon, BBC1

10.50am - Antz, ITV2

11am - The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Film4

12.30pm - Despicable Me 3, ITV

1.25pm - Little Women, Film4

1.45pm - Zootropolis, BBC1

2.50pm - The King and I, C5

3.10pm - Ice Age, ITV2

3.35pm - The Jungle Book, BBC1

3.45pm - The Karate Kid III, Film4

4.50pm - The Secret Life of Pets, ITV2

6.35pm - Back to the Future Part III, ITV2

6.45pm - Raiders of the Lost Ark, C4

9pm - Mean Girls, ITV2

Friday, December 31

9.10am - Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie, BBC1

9.45am - Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, C5

10.55am - The Secret Life of Pets 2, BBC1

11.20am - Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, C4

12.30pm - Smallfoot, ITV

12.40pm - Jumanji, C5

2.20pm - The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists, ITV2

2.40pm - Coco, BBC1

2.45pm - Hook, C5

4.10pm - Mrs Doubtfire, Film4

5.40pm - Night at the Museum, C5

6.35pm - Snow White and the Huntsman, ITV2

6.35pm - Star Trek, Film4

9pm - Spectre, ITV