Little Compass
Fun & Trends, October 2026
Kid-safe games, films and shows, music, books, sport and trends this month, grouped by age, with age ratings and a short note for parents. Updated every month.
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This month, by age
Ages 4–7
8 picks- Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy BottomFamilyMovies & Shows. Aardman's new stop-motion Shaun film. The farmer squashes the sheep's pumpkin patch just before a harvest festival, then a 'monster' turns up in the woods.For parents: Has a mild spooky theme. Watch the trailer first if your child scares easily. Release dates differ by country.
- The Cat in the Hat (animated)Certificate not yet publishedMovies & Shows. A new animated film of the Dr. Seuss story is due in cinemas on 6 November 2026.For parents: Watch the official trailer together rather than random clips online.
- Gabby's Dollhouse Season 14PreschoolMovies & Shows. New Gabby's Dollhouse episodes are on Netflix, with Gabby's sister Doozie and her puppy Puggie.For parents: The episodes are short, which makes it easy to stop after one or two.
- Robin and the Moon3–6Books. A new picture book by E.B. Goodale, out 13 October. A curious child tries to free a full moon that is stuck in a tree.For parents: A calm bedtime read. You could look at the moon together afterwards.
- Hello Kitty Party LandPEGI 3Games. A party game with more than 45 mini-games starring Sanrio characters, for 1–4 players. Out 29 October on Switch.For parents: Online play needs a paid Nintendo Switch Online membership. Local play works without it.
- KPop Demon Hunters songsFilm rated PGMusic. “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters was the first K-pop song to win a Grammy. A sequel to the film is on the way.For parents: The songs suit all ages, but the film has some demon action scenes.
- Flower art for Navratri4+Try this. Navratri runs from 11 to 19 October. Try stacking flowers or paper petals into a little tower, or learn a simple garba step.For parents: Many community events take place in Dubai on weekend evenings.
- Paint a diya for Diwali4+Try this. Diwali is on Sunday 8 November. Paint clay diyas, or make a rangoli with coloured rice or chalk.For parents: Use LED tealights in diyas that little hands will handle.
Ages 8–10
9 picks- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Fight or Flight8+Books. Book 21 is out 20 October. Greg becomes the school bully's target and has to decide whether to stand his ground.For parents: A good way into a chat about bullying and asking for help.
- Minecraft Dungeons IIESRB E10+Games. An action-adventure sequel where up to four players team up against creepers, zombies and skeletons across a bigger world.For parents: Has cartoon fantasy violence and in-game purchases. Set spending limits.
- Pokémon PokopiaESRB EGames. A cosy life-sim where you play as Ditto and build habitats to bring wild Pokémon back to Kanto.For parents: Has in-game purchases and online play. Set communication controls.
- Nintendo Switch Sports ResortRating not yet listedGames. A motion-controlled sports game, out 22 October on Switch 2, with bowling, archery, basketball, jet ski and thumb wrestling.For parents: Gets kids moving. Clear space around players.
- Mark Rober's CrunchLabs Season 5FamilyMovies & Shows. Engineer Mark Rober is back on Netflix with more science and building experiments.For parents: Many episodes inspire home projects. Help with tools and anything hot.
- Pokémon Horizons Season 3KidsMovies & Shows. New episodes of 'Rising Hope' are on Netflix, following the Rising Volt Tacklers.For parents: Setting an episode limit helps.
- India T20 cricketAll agesSports. India plays West Indies in a T20 series until 17 October, then tours New Zealand from 22 October.For parents: New Zealand games start at about 11:00 AM UAE time.
- The '6-7' jokeAll agesViral & Trends. Kids keep shouting the nonsense phrase “six seven” in classrooms. It started as an internet joke and doesn't mean anything.For parents: Harmless, but teachers find it distracting. A quick chat about when jokes are OK helps.
- Global Village opens 14 OctoberAll agesTry this. Dubai's Global Village opens Season 31 on 14 October. A chance to try food and crafts from many countries.For parents: Check official channels for prices and timings. Evenings are cooler.
Ages 11–13
9 picks- Forgotten IslandPG (US)Movies & Shows. A DreamWorks film about two best friends who find a portal to Nakali, a magical island from Filipino folklore.For parents: Rated for scary action, some language and rude humour.
- Hollywood ArtsRating not yet listedMovies & Shows. A Victorious spin-off on Netflix from 15 October. Trina Vega returns to her old performing-arts school as a substitute teacher.For parents: Check the rating on Netflix and use a kids or teen profile.
- The Neverfear9+Books. Book 3 of Katherine Rundell's Impossible Creatures. Christopher and Anya sail to rescue someone they love.For parents: Start with book 1 if they're new to the series.
- Brittle Magic8–12Books. Out 20 October. Everyone in a girl's family has a magical talent, so she goes looking for hers, guided by fortune-telling pickles.For parents: A good pick for a family read-aloud.
- Grow a Garden and Adopt Me! on RobloxContent varies by gameGames. Both are among Roblox's most-visited games in 2026, along with Brookhaven.For parents: Roblox chat needs an age check. Turn on parental controls and spending limits.
- India at the Asian GamesAll agesSports. India came fourth with 85 medals, 21 of them gold. The women's hockey team won its first Asian Games title in 44 years.For parents: Good for looking at maps and the medals table together.
- KPop Demon Hunters card gameAll agesViral & Trends. A KPop Demon Hunters Spot It! card game is out, a screen-free way to join the trend.For parents: Nice for family game nights.
- Dubai Ride, 1 NovemberAll agesSports. The Dubai Fitness Challenge runs 31 October to 29 November. Dubai Ride has a free 4 km Family Route past the Burj Khalifa.For parents: Registration is free but required.
- Design a rangoli8+Try this. Plan a rangoli for Diwali on 8 November. Sketch the design on paper first, then fill it with coloured powder, rice or flowers.For parents: Takes 1–2 hours and makes a nice family project.
Ages 14–17
8 picks- The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the ReapingPG-13 (US)Movies & Shows. The prequel about young Haymitch opens in cinemas on 20 November 2026.For parents: Strong violence and disturbing material. Parent guides suggest about 14 and up.
- EA Sports FC 27PEGI rating under reviewGames. The new football game is out on PC, PS5, Xbox and Switch 2.For parents: Ultimate Team packs work like loot boxes. Set spending limits.
- Fortnitemares 2026Check your platform's ratingGames. Fortnite's Halloween event runs through October with new modes and maps.For parents: Includes horror crossovers, voice chat and a skin shop. Review chat and purchase settings.
- BTS Arirang World TourAll agesMusic. BTS is touring South America in October, then Asia in November and December.For parents: Watch out for ticket scams. Only buy from official sellers.
- Songs of summer 2026Check lyricsMusic. Ariana Grande's “Hate That I Made You Love Me” was Spotify's most-streamed song of summer 2026.For parents: Use the clean or explicit filter in music apps.
- Everything New Again13+Books. A new teen novel by Renée Watson, out 13 October. Bliss and Solomon meet in a small town in Oregon.For parents: A gentle contemporary novel, good for a book club.
- Abu Dhabi Grand PrixAll agesSports. The F1 season ends at Yas Marina from 3 to 6 December.For parents: Bring ear protection for track days, and book early.
- Train for Dubai Run, 22 NovemberAll agesTry this. Use the cooler weather to build up to Dubai Run's free 5 km route. Start with 30 minutes of activity a day.For parents: Registration is free online. Under-18s should go with an adult.
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