There are lots of ways that you can bring German language media into your home thanks to the wonders of the internet, although geoblocking means that some media requires either a VPN or a bit of searching to find it available from a different source. Here, thanks to our wonderful committee president, is a comprehensive list of some of the media available. We encourage you to update us with any new shows or media that you have been able to find.
Media platforms
- KIKA: The Kinder Kanal (KiKa) brings together the children’s shows from ARD and ZDF and is the German version of ABC Kids. (The website kika.de appears to geoblock more than in the Kika App, especially for English language shows translated into German.) The app also has games and similar. KiKa also has a YouTube channel which has lots of videos available in Australia.
- ARD / ZDF Mediathek: The parent organisations for KiKa, there are lots of videos for adults but also some childrens’ shows and family movies available as well. In particular, WDR is the host for Die Sendung mit der Maus / Die Sendung mit dem Elefanten and so has many of the same videos available as in Kika (especially WDR Seite mit dem Elefanten), but doesn’t seem to block quite as many videos as kika.de.
- YouTube will have both official and unofficial versions of lots of shows, although do be careful with parodies of shows, intended for adults (note that YouTube Kids does provide better protections but also isn’t perfect).
- Spotify: lots of children’s music and stories, including older albums.
- Video streaming services offer some children’s shows in German but geoblocking often means that they are only available on the German versions of these services.
- OnlineTVRecorder offers the ability to record German TV shows directly from the TV channel and save it for later use. de.wikipedia.org/wiki/OnlineTVRecorder (German only)
Shows: 10 minutes and less
- Bobo Siebenschläfer: Bobo is a 2-year-old dormouse (Siebenschläfer) who has a distinct habit of falling asleep though by the end of each episode. Bobo Siebenschläfer is based on books by Markus Osterwalder, some of which are available in the Spielwelt Library. You can watch Bobo on WDR Seite mit dem Elefanten or YouTube.
- Unser Sandmännchen: Unser Sandmännchen is the longest running animated TV show in the world. There are also accompanying books that are available in the Spielwelt Library. You can watch Unser Sandmännchen on Kika and sandmann.de.
- Kikaninchen: short 3-minute videos targeted at children aged 3-6 about a rabbit and its (human) friends. Available on Kika and YouTube.
- Die Biene Maja: based on the books by Waldemar Bonsels and available on YouTube.
- Ein Fall für die Erdmännchen: Jan and Henry are detectives too. You can watch them on Kika and YouTube.
- Buchstaben: short videos for each letter of the alphabet available on WDR Sendung mit dem Elefanten.
- Many German language versions of English cartoons are available online. Youtube is usually the best way to view favourites including Peppa Wutz, Feuerwehrmann Sam, and Blinky Bill.
Shows: 30 minutes and less
- Die Sendung mit der Maus: a classic for kids aged 4-8. Whole episodes can be found via WDR, with many segments also available on the official YouTube channel.
- Die Sendung mit dem Elefanten: similar to Die Sendung mit der Maus, but for younger children aged 3-7. Available through the Kika app, WDR and YouTube.
- Weisst du eigentlich, wie lieb ich dich hab?: the German version of Guess How Much I Love You, available on Kika.
Children’s books read online
- Dizzel liest: YouTube
Internet radio stations
- Radio Teddy: internet radio station with music and radio segments.
- Radio Regenbogen Kinderlieder: ad-free music-only internet radio station with lots of German songs.
- KiRaKa: Kinder Radio Kanal for children aged 5 to 16. See kinder.wdr.de/radio/kiraka/.
- Die Sendung mit der Maus zum Hören: wdrmaus.de/hoeren/index.php5
Albums and other audio
- Eule findet den Beat: children’s album-story series available on Spotify.
- Simone Sommerland, Karsten Glück und die Kita-Frösche: prolific children’s performers with themed albums for songs, lullabies and seasonal music.
- Rolf Zuckowski: another prolific children’s music writer, available on Spotify.
- Fredrik Vahle has written lots of songs with accompanying books available in the Spielwelt library.
- Spiel und Spass Playlist: favourite Spiel und Spass songs on Spotify.