looking for historically-based shows with children in them?

[spughy]

My daughter is enamored of all things old-fashioned and loves shows like "Little House on the Prairie" (the books, too) and we've been watching the BBC series "Victorian Farm" and "Edwardian Farm" and she likes those, but wants something with kids in it.

She's 5 1/2, so dramas with adult themes and violence probably aren't a good idea (otherwise I would have her watching Game of Thrones - sure it's not technically history, but it is old-fashioned and there are children!).  She's reasonably mature and has no issues with farm animals being slaughtered or realistic stuff like that.

Any ideas?  It doesn't have to be documentary or even based in reality - fantasy movies or tv series would be ok as long as they're not excessively violent. 

[ollyoxenfree]

Since you are in Canada, the first two that spring to mind are: 

Road to Avonlea, based on L.M. Montgomery's Story Girl. 

Emily of New Moon, likewise based on L.M. Montgomery's novel. 

I think they were targeted to the 8 to 12 y.o. age group, so I'm not sure if they are entirely appropriate for 5 y.o.'s. 

There are t.v. series for Robin Hood and Merlin, but again, I haven't watched them. I'm pretty sure they are aimed at adults. Sorry, for some reason I'm fairly aware of a lot of television programming, but I tend to follow just a few favourites. So I can name a few titles, but can't really recommend them. Hope someone else can be a little more helpful. 

[MadiMamacita]

the brit series "The Worst Witch" isnt' technically old fashioned, but it has that feel to it. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0179061/
it was a kids show.

[Jane93]

I totally agree with the "Anne of Green Gables" recommendation -- they did a great adaptation in the (I think) late 80s.

Something that might be fun if she likes history is the 80's show "Voyagers!" -- about a young boy and a man who travel through time, fixing history that has gone wrong.  I remember loving it as a kid, though I'm sure some of the special effects are looking a little dated now.

If she likes Little House on the Prairie, that makes me think of The Waltons (though obviously much more recently set in time (Great Depression), but with a similar feeling and certainly lots of kids).

Also there is the 1990s made for TV adaptation of "Heidi" (with Jason Robards, I think) -- this is head and shoulders above the others I have seen and certainly shows a lot about another time and place.

Some other ideas for movies:  Pollyanna, the Music Man, the charming (90's, I think) adaptation of "A Little Princess" starring Liesl Matthews, "Little Women" (the version with Katherine Hepburn, not the Winona Ryder version), National Velvet, I Remember Mama (wonderful movie about a Scandinavian immigrant family), Cheaper by the Dozen (50s' version) and Life with Father.

[Jane93]

Also -- Three Lives for Thomasina is very good (sad, but good).

[poetlizabeth]

 American girl movies are surprisingly good and based in various time periods. The best one by far is Kit Kideradge (set in the time of the great depression)

http://www.americangirl.com/movie/

Another good and my personal favorite is the Secret Garden!!

[spughy]

Oh, yes, we watched the Secret Garden and she loved it!  I have most of the original Frances Hodgson Burnett stories loaded onto my Kindle, I am going to start reading them to her.  I loved them as a child, although I must say I cringe reading them now because they are SO melodramatic and over-the-top, but I guess she knew her audience!

I will check out the American Girl series - thanks!  And Emily of New Moon has been a big hit so far. :)

[Mayfly]

"The Secret of Roan Inish"

"My Father's Glory"

My Mother's Castle"

[mylilmonkeys]

Similar feel to Story Girl, is a TV series "Little Men", based on Alcott's series.  It's set in Jo's boarding school, so lots of kids.

[Nazsmum]

Sorry just had to say......NOT TV BUT- the Little House audio book are wonderful

[ljc]

Check out Liberty Kids on netflix.

[LaughingHyena]

If you can find it Tales form the green valley is the first set of programs which led to the Victorian farm. There are a couple of kids of the team members who crop up from time to time.

The 1900 house http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_1900_House is a family with 4 children living in a 1900 house for a couple of months. With just on family I found it showed the history side better than some of the others as it didn't end up focusing on the friction between the people so much.

[spughy]

I would love to find Tales of the Green Valley - doesn't seem to be available though.  Can you order The 1900 House?

[LaughingHyena]

I found some you tube links for tales form the green valley. Amazon.co.uk have a DVD so you may be able to get hold of it that way.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxtbCufq58U

1900's house was also released on DVD so again you may be able to order it form the uk or possible watch it on the channel 4 website http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-1900-house/4od

[Masel]

How about Jane and the Dragon. My 5 1/2 year old loves it. A little more girrrrl power than would be historically accurate and not to mention the dragon. Still it is a lot of fun and I love how the surfaces in the computer animation are rendered. It is like colored pencil sketches rather than hard edged and slick.

[jtbuko]

Probably too much violence for most 5yo, but my 5 & 7 yos enjoyed watching the John Adams HBO series with us. There were some kids in it, but it was not kid themed.

[hildare]

Originally Posted by LaughingHyena 

The 1900 house http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_1900_House is a family with 4 children living in a 1900 house for a couple of months. With just on family I found it showed the history side better than some of the others as it didn't end up focusing on the friction between the people so much.

i was going to suggest that!  and the other ones, too... i thought frontier house was pretty awesome..