Can you believe that we’re already halfway through July?! Summer will be over before we know it and it will soon be time for the kids to start the next school year. But, not yet! There’s still some time to squeeze in some last-minute mini-vacays with the family! That also means kids can get a little extra screen time while on the plane, in the car, or during downtime at the hotel/yurt/tent/room. To keep your kids from getting bored between activities, Netflix has plenty of series and movies, including the new Netflix interactive shows, to watch during summer travel for both streaming and offline download.
Introducing New Netflix Interactive Shows
First off, to keep them REALLY engaged, Netflix recently launched interactive shows. These shows allow children to choose how the story will go at key spots. Different scenes will play depending on the choices they make. Due to the “branching” nature of the shows, young viewers will want to watch Netflix interactive shows again and again. After all, each time they choose a different option and the plot changes, it’s like watching a whole new show. Creators found that kids are already used to tapping, swiping, and talking to the on-screen characters. So, why not let them jump into the role of storyteller?
So far, only two Netflix interactive shows have been released — Puss in Boots: Trapped in an Epic Tale and Buddy Thunderstruck: The Maybe Pile. Both of these are stand-alone episodes and not part of the Adventures of Puss in Boots or Buddy Thunderstruck series also on Netflix. Stretch Armstrong: The Breakout is currently being worked on and will be out next year.
Oh how I wish we had this when Munchkin was younger. She loved tapping around the screen (on the computer since we didn’t have tablets or smartphones back then) to see how items and characters reacted. Plus, she’s super imaginative so varying stories would have kept her busy for a while. You should know that Netflix interactive shows will only work right on your TV (via smart TVs, streaming media players, or game consoles) and on iOS mobile devices (via the Netflix app). If you try to watch them on your PC or laptop, the episode will play like a normal video with a set storyline (i.e. no plot choices).
More Kids Shows to Watch During Summer Travel
For more relaxed viewing, kids and tweens might enjoy these shows as well.
- Free Rein
Quick note: I thought this might be a series my daughter might like. I only planned to skim the first episode but ended up watching all 10 episodes…without her. I guess it spoke to my inner corny and giddy teenaged-self. 😛 - Trolls
- The Secret Life of Pets
- Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir
- Minions
- Finding Dory
- Madagascar 2
- Littlest Pet Shop
- Horseland
- Animaniacs
Of course, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. What other shows keep your kids happy during long flights, road trip drives, or while you’re trying to recoup from the day?
I received a year subscription of Netflix and a device to stream the content as part of the Netflix Stream Team. All opinions are my own.
