My Favorite Soothing Content for Kids & Adults Alike

It's not just for the kids.

Howdy-ho. It’s Monday and we’re in the steamy, hot middle of summer. We spent the morning at a local U-pick, plucking plump, sun-ripened red and black raspberries from lush rows of bushes, and now my 2-year-old is napping and the big kids are building forts in the basement. The forecast calls for an afternoon of thunderstorms. When summer weather (be it excessive heat or precipitation) forces us indoors—and we need a moment to jellllll—what can we turn to that maintains (or fosters!) the tone of cool, calm, and collected?

Well, I’m so glad you asked—that’s what I bring to you today! Y’all know I’m a cozy-loving gal. Give me gentleness, softness, comforts, and calm. Yes, I have four kids, and yes, they are rowdy and loud and fun and chaotic. And it’s easier on my nervous system when there are moments of reprieve. Sometimes those moments are best facilitated with something soothing—for the kids and for me.

Even if you don’t have little ones, I think this list is the content equivalent of the Sleepytime Bear aesthetic for all ages. Adults—I invite you to indulge in some soft gentleness for your tender inner child. And parents, keep this list in your back pocket for an afternoon huddled indoors, a lazy weekend morning, or anytime you need something that evokes peace, calm, and nostalgia.

Little Bear (TV series)

Though I was a bit older than the intended demographic, as a child I loved this Nick Jr. show, based on the books written by Else Holmelund and illustrated by Maurice Sendak. The soothing instrumental music, gentle storyline of Little Bear and his friends and their days spent in the forest, and soft watercolor painted backgrounds— it’s all pure delight! I recently looked it up and was thrilled to find it available for streaming on Paramount+, of which I promptly initiated a subscription for and introduced my children to it one weekend morning.

Gardenkeeper Gus (podcast stories)

You and your children will fall in love with these calming stories about 6-year-old Gus and his meanderings in his family’s garden. The production includes gentle nature sounds for a fully immersive experience. Sadly, we only have one season but these stories are such a treasure they can happily be enjoyed on repeat.

Studio Ghibli (animated films)

Studio Ghibli, Inc.— a Japanese animation studio based in Koganei, Tokyo— is known for it’s peaceful, quiet, nature-saturated animated content. In the book Ikigai, The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life authors Héctor García and Francesc Miralles note that co-founder of Studio Ghibli, Hayao Miyazaki, “…is an artist capable of becoming completely absorbed in his art. He uses a cell phone from the late 1990s, and he makes his entire team draw by hand.” All Studio Ghibli animations can be streamed on Max. What you choose to watch will depend on your children’s ages but my kids have loved Kiki’s Delivery Service and My Neighbor Totoro. Since we read The Borrowers by Mary Norton last summer we have Arrietty on our list to watch this summer and I’d love to read and watch Howl’s Moving Castle with them this autumn.

The Wild Robot (book and film adaptation)

Read the book, watch the movie, enjoy it all! My kids loved this book and despite it’s size, it makes for a zippy read aloud. They loved the film adaptation just as much (perhaps even more?!) and my husband and I also loved both. If you haven’t yet dipped into Peter Brown’s world where Roz, a robot who washes ashore a remote island, befriends the local wild life, then you my friend are in for quite a treat.

Poppleton (books)

Poppleton is a pig who moved from the big city to a small town and all the books in this series by Cynthia Rylant and illustrated by Mark Teague will whisk you away to a simpler time and place. Poppleton is learning to kick-back and relax with the company of a wonderful cast of characters that will invite you to take things a little slower after spending a few pages with them.

Frog and Toad (books and TV series)

And really anything by Arnold Lobel. I love reading these stories to my children, I love when they pick the Frog and Toad Yoto card to listen to over lunch, and I love that we now get to enjoy the comforts of these two wonderful friends on screen thanks to the Apple TV+. For peak indulgence enjoy any format of Frog and Toad’s adventures with a warm plate of cookies and a cup of tea (iced or hot).

Mercy Watson (books)

From the incredibly talented author Kate DiCamillo, with illustrations by Chris Van Dusen, comes Mercy Watson— a “porcine wonder” who loves toast with 'a great deal of butter on it'. Mosey on over to Deckawoo Drive where you will forget about your troubles and delight in Mercy’s hilarious happenings. There is a reason this series is loved and adored by many.

Laura Veirs, Tumble Bee (album)

Children’s music that wont drive you batty! We have this record on vinyl (but you can also find it on your preferred streaming service) and I have so many fond memories of playing it while my two oldest children were tiny, driving trains up and down tracks on a sunny patch of floor in the nursery of our old house. The perfect calming and soothing soundtrack to enjoy while building with magnatiles or drawing at the dining room table.

Llama Llama (books and show)

We love the books, written and illustrated by Vermont author Anna Dewdney, but we also really love the Netflix adaptation featuring Jennifer Garner as Mama Llama (I know!!!). This show, featuring a cast of friendly animals on their hind legs, feels nostalgic and oozes with wholesomeness.

George and Martha (books)

I don’t like to play favorites but I have to be honest, George and Martha, the hippest of hippos, are my favorite. Written and illustrated by James Marshall the stories of these two friends will fill you with giggles while you bask in the simple, soothing and whimsical illustrations of George and Martha’s world (who needs Pinterest when you can find an abundance of inspo on the pages of these books?!). Do yourself a favor and pick up the complete stories (you won’t regret it!).

Family Folk (playlist)

Angie Who gave us all a gift and compiled a playlist of folk songs for kids that adults can enjoy too. This is a perfect mix for fort building with LEGOs, pancake flipping, and all around chillin’ and it won’t get your kids riled up. We’ve listened to this playlist or years and it keeps expanding, which we love.

The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (TV series)

Who else loved this series, based on the Winnie-the-Pooh books by authors A. A. Milne and E. H. Shepard, as a kid?! Make like Christopher Robbin and venture off to the Hundred Acre Wood to spend the day with Pooh, Piglet, Tigger and crew where honey is the snack of choice, gardens are tended to and friendships are too and the scariest thing around is a mere Heffalump. You can enjoy The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh on Disney+.

Poppy and Sam’s Farmyard Tales (stories)

I’ll just come right out and say it, Apple Tree Farm, the setting of Poppy and Sam’s Farmyard Tales, inspired our move to Vermont (even though the stories are not based in Vermont). I have read each of these stories countless times and they never get old. And for a cherry on top, the book of stories comes with an audiobook CD that we keep in the car and it’s so soothing to hit play and watch a wave of calmness set in. For a companion activity, check out these mess free painting pages.

Arthur (TV series)

One of the longest running TV shows, based on the books by Marc Brown, Arthur takes me back to my own childhood summers and long, lazy afternoons in front of the TV. I love the relatable adventure of Arthur the aardvark and his animal pals and their simple, everyday, musings. Thanks to PBS Kids, streaming Arthur is free to all!

I hope you found something cozy to curl up with and enjoy. What else would you add to this lineup?!