11 Documentaries for Tweens That They’ll Actually Want to Watch

I’m going to go out on a limb and say many of us let our tweens get away with having more screen time than we really want. Personally, I’ve been on the losing side of that battle for quite a while. For this reason, I’ve started to concern myself less with how much my kids watch and more with what they watch. There are plenty of great educational TV shows for younger kids, but once they’ve outgrown Octonauts, tweens start gravitating towards a whole bunch of YouTube brain rot, and it becomes increasingly difficult to get them to watch anything with educational value. The antidote? This list of 11 documentaries for tweens—hand-picked to include only the most engaging (i.e., dramatic! exciting!) choices around. Find one that speaks to your kid’s individual interests and let the learning begin.

• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
• Why It’s Worth Watching: explores the effect of the pandemic from a different perspective, themes about sustainability, beautiful imagery

The Year Earth Changed is an impactful and visually beautiful nature documentary, narrated by David Attenborough, that looks at the Covid-19 pandemic through an entirely different lens. My 11-year-old daughter loved this film, explaining, “It basically just covers how the animals felt more comfortable and how nature thrived without us around. It was really interesting to see how plants and animals were affected in positive ways when we are all quarantined.” Indeed, the bleak implications here were not lost on my daughter, but it was a good conversation-starter about human behavior and how we interact with our environment. Plus, there are plenty of super cute animal scenes to keep the mood light.

• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 88%
• Why It’s Worth Watching: strong female lead, age-appropriate political themes, positive messages about hard work and perseverance

This one was my 9-year-old son’s top pick, but the whole family (tween daughter included) enjoyed it. The documentary chronicles the groundbreaking rise of chess grandmaster Judit Polgàrd, a brilliant female player who rose to the top of a male-dominated field with determination and confidence. There are certainly some objections that might be raised when it comes to the parental influence that set Polgàrd on the track to international success—the father decided to homeschool both his daughters to prove that he could create two geniuses through rigorous chess instruction—and there are mentions of poverty and police surveillance in the context of the authoritarian Hungarian government of the ‘70s.

Still, it’s a fascinating biography with a strong female hero and a storyline that will have everyone rooting for the underdog. Or, as my son put it, “I love chess and it was really cool to see how she didn’t listen to all the bullies who were trying to tell her she wasn’t smart enough to win.”

• Rating: TV-PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
• Why It’s Worth Watching: awe-inspiring marine biology, visually beautiful, entertaining

“Are octopuses smarter than humans? Probably? Are they more lovable? 1,000 percent. This docuseries made my entire family fall in love with the spineless wonder—from its incredible intelligence to its mind-boggling beauty as it camouflages into its surroundings,” says PureWow Editor-in-Chief Jillian Quint of this three-part National Geographic special. Colorful, engaging and educational, this one checks all the boxes—just keep in mind that very sensitive viewers might be upset by some scenes that involve octopuses hunting and being hunted.

• Rating: TV-PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%
• Why It’s Worth Watching: calm pace, realistic, stunning visuals

The marvels of the natural world are explored in this 12-episode docuseries, which features stunning imagery and David Attenborough’s soothing narration. From the Sahara Desert to the Amazon Rainforest—viewers take a journey far and wide, learning about the diverse species that we share the planet with and how they are affected by both natural struggles in the wild (survival methods, reproduction, death, etc.), as well as the growing human population. There are scenes that accurately depict hunting, killing, famine and other realities that sensitive viewers might find jarring, though I find the intensity of these moments is offset by the calm pace of the show. That said, it’s a visually beautiful and highly educational watch. It’s also a perfect choice if you don’t want to commit to a full-length movie, but still want to avoid a TV binge, since each episode is between 48 and 52 minutes long.

• Rating: TV-G
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: N/A
• Why It’s Worth Watching: energetic hosts, inspiring travel content, focus on the natural sciences

One of my favorites on the list is great for kids of all ages but has extra appeal for tweenagers—namely because it’s a travel docuseries led by a trio of young adult siblings with a passion for nature, science and adventure. The hosts are intelligent and enigmatic as they explore seriously cool natural attractions, which range from Petrified Forest National Park to Washington D.C.’s Cherry Blossom Festival. (I personally love watching this show with my kids because the hosts are so engaging and enthusiastic, and their curiosity about the world is contagious.)

• Rating: TV-PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98%
• Why It’s Worth Watching: inspiring, good for creative and artistic kids, behind-the-scenes glimpse at familiar on-screen characters

Jim Henson Idea Man takes a deep dive into the world of the legendary puppeteer and filmmaker. My kids watched this one with their dad, and the takeaway was this: “Tweens really get to see how much real work actually went on behind the magic, which is something that gets taken for granted a lot at that age. They also get to see the importance of Jim Henson’s persistence, creativity and vision, and how it paid off. Some of the musings on creativity and family life are definitely more geared towards an adult audience, but the story is just so fascinating.”

• Rating: NR
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
• Why It’s Worth Watching: strong Black female lead, historic, inspiring themes about political advocacy

Woman in Motion is a documentary about the life and work of Nichelle Nichols, a Black American actress (of Star Trek fame) who became a volunteer spokesperson and recruiter for NASA after she criticized the organization's lack of diversity. She went on to recruit Sally Ride (the first woman in space) and Guion Bluford (the first African American in space) and tirelessly used her platform to advocate for social justice and equal opportunity. If you’re looking for an inspiring documentary with a trailblazing female hero, this one shouldn’t be missed.

• Rating: PG-13
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%
• Why It’s Worth Watching: nostalgic, social-emotional learning, inspiring, positive themes about compassion

This one might not make as much sense if you haven’t already introduced your kid to the original Mr. Rogers’ episodes—but for those of us who have kept the oldies-but-goodies alive, this documentary is definitely worth a watch. And if your tween has no idea who Mr. Rogers is, watch it anyway; I wouldn’t be surprised if the legendary host could help your tween connect with their inner child. All in all, it’s a heartwarming biopic that features clips for the show, interviews with family and colleagues, and a thorough overview of a genuinely kind man’s mission to create wholesome content with only the best interests of children in mind. You can’t watch this and not feel inspired to put some good out into the world.

• Rating: TV-PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%
• Why It’s Worth Watching: fascinating marine biology encounters, heartwarming story with just the right amount of excitement, beautiful visuals

I just watched this one with my family and although it started off a little slow in the beginning, it didn’t take long before both my kids were enthralled by the beautiful underwater imagery. As the narrative developed and the relationship between the diver and octopus started to unfold, there were lots of awws. Overall, it’s a fascinating glimpse into the world of marine biology and a truly touching story about the bond that can be formed between humans and sea creatures when their natural habitat is respected. Fair warning: you will want a pet octopus after watching this one.

• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%
• Why It’s Worth Watching: STEM-oriented; positive messages about community, intellectual curiosity and perseverance

It’s hard to sell tweens on a documentary because many of them fail to deliver the excitement that they crave. Science Fair—a documentary about very gifted teens competing in the renowned International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)—is a refreshing exception. There’s a select, but diverse cast of competitors featured in the movie, all of whom share their own backstory, leaving the viewer highly invested in the outcome of the competition. The scenes range from poignant and inspiring to goofy and relatable. Plus, there’s ample educational value, all of which is delivered in a way that’s highly accessible to tweens. This one is likely to pique everyone’s interest in STEM.

• Rating: PG-13
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 84%
• Why It’s Worth Watching: conversation starter, age-appropriate topic, promotes responsible use of technology with actionable suggestions

News to no one: technology access and screen usage are pretty hot topics in the parenting world—and for good reason, given the well-documented dangers of social media and AI. If, like me, you are increasingly consumed by anxiety about the kind of content your tween is interacting with (and perhaps fighting daily battles with your kid about it), you should definitely sit down and watch The Social Dilemma together. The documentary features interviews with the very people who helped design major social media platforms, all of whom concede that they built a business model designed to suck in consumers and peddle products, with little-to-no emphasis on delivering accurate or enriching content. Many other hazards of unfettered internet access are covered, too. Long story short, this doc isn’t exactly comforting, but it might help your tween see things from your perspective and proceed with caution.