Although documentaries might not always seem like a very kid-centric movie category, plenty of docs are available to stream that will enthrall, entertain and delight children and young adults. Mixing in some nonfiction cinema is a nice break from animated fairy tale fare, and a good transition into different modes of media consumption.
One of the best transition points into documentary is through cute animals, of course. Disney+ features many of their Disneynature documentaries on the streaming service, including the excellent 2016 film "Born in China." But one of the best animal-centric docs of the past couple of years is "Pick of the Litter," available on Hulu. Following a litter of lab puppies going through a challenging training course to become guide dogs for the blind, this heartwarming film is as adorable as it is thrilling, with a poignant message about disability access to boot.
You may also want to check out "A Reindeer's Journey" on Amazon ($4.99 rental), narrated by Donald Sutherland. The film came out late last year and features stunning nature cinematography of Lapland, in northern Finland. It follows Ailo, a newborn reindeer, undertaking an incredible odyssey with his mother. There's also the classic of the icy animal adventure genre, "March of the Penguins," narrated by Morgan Freeman, which is free on Vudu, and $2.99 on Amazon or YouTube.
For older kids and teens, the inspiring "Maidentrip" is available on Amazon or YouTube for $1.99. This incredible adventure film tells the story of Laura Dekkar, a 14 year-old Dutch teen who in 2010 set out to become the youngest person to sail around the world alone. Director Jillian Schlesinger equipped Dekkar with cameras to capture footage of her solo crossings from port to port, while mapping out her amazing journey for the viewer. It's a truly remarkable film of a death-defying feat undertaken by a daring young woman. The similar and similarly exciting documentary "Maiden," available on Starz, depicts the first crew of young women to compete in the famous Whitbread Round the World sailing race in 1989.
The utterly charming Oscar-nominated 2002 documentary "Spellbound," directed by Jeffrey Blitz, available for free on Tubi and a $2.99 rental on Amazon/YouTube, follows a group of kids as they compete in the 1999 Scripps National Spelling Bee. Structured like a classic sports competition doc, "Spellbound" is completely riveting, and each of the quirky tween contestants are totally entertaining and endearing, with the spelling bee itself positioned as the epitome of the American Dream. It's a classic documentary and a wonderful film to watch as a family. Hold your own spelling bee after the screening; they're free, easy to stage, time-consuming, fun and educational!
