The best children’s TV shows and children’s programs to entertain the little ones
“Bluey” Season 3: Take an exclusive first look at the Emmy-winning series
An exclusive clip from season 3 of Bluey: In “Promises,” Bluey learns the power of promises when she sees how much Bingo trusts Mom’s word.
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When it comes to making decisions about screen time, as a parent you first need to decide how much time is right for your family. Then you need to decide what shows your kids are allowed to watch.
Not every show is right for every child. This is especially true for toddlers and preschoolers, who can be very influenced by their favorite TV show. Maybe they like to sing and dance and want something that is based entirely on music. Maybe they love animals, dolls, or trucks. Maybe they need to learn a certain skill. Maybe turning off their favorite TV show causes too many meltdowns and they need something new.
We recommend a list of educational and entertaining (for children and their caregivers) TV shows for toddlers and preschoolers (yes, Bluey is on the list). We’ve also listed some shows that other parents would caution against.
But of course, the best way to know if your child responds well to something is to try it out for yourself. Most of these shows are short and sweet, with simple stories that you can stream yourself before having to act something out for your nervous toddler during a Zoom meeting.
The best TV shows for toddlers and preschoolers
“Bluish” (Disney+)
What else is there to say about this hit preschool series that hasn’t already been said? By now, we all know that Bluey is great television for both kids and adults. It’s funny, heartwarming and will make you cry. It captures the spirit of play, the reality of parenthood and the beauty of childhood – all in snappy, seven-minute episodes. The educational, pro-social themes are easy for kids to understand and deep enough to move parents to tears – no small feat for a little Blue Heeler dog. New three-minute “mini episodes” of the series are available to stream now.
“Bear in the Big Blue House” (Disney+)
There’s no rule that says your child has to choose from the collection of current TV shows. Streamers, particularly Disney+, Paramount+, and PBS Kids on Amazon Prime, are chock-full of outdated content from the last half-century of kids’ TV. One of the most underrated gems of the 1990s is this puppet series from Jim Henson Television, which originally aired on Disney Channel’s Playhouse Disney block from 1997 to 2006. In each episode, Bear speaks directly to the audience, leading them through stories and lessons on a topic. With really good (and very catchy) music and a relatively calm tone, it’s the kind of show that won’t overstimulate parents or kids while watching.
“Gabby’s Dollhouse” (Netflix)
Unashamedly pink and frilly, this Netflix series is based on the psychological concept of “growth mindset.” Gabby and her friends may not be able to do anything stillbut that’s OK. In Gabby’s world, it’s OK to fail and then try again. Considering how many parents struggle with perfectionism, that’s a lesson we can all learn. And it helps that the songs are fun and rock.
“Tumble Leaf” (Amazon)
Featuring beautiful stop-motion animation mixed with soothing music, Tumble Leaf is simply a relaxing sensory experience. Set on an idyllic island with cute animal characters like the blue fox Fig and his caterpillar friend Stick, the series focuses on problem-solving and peaceful conflict resolution.
“Puffin Rock” (Netflix)
Sweet, gentle and just too cute, Puffin Rock is about a family of puffins and their animal friends on a small island off the coast of Ireland. Full of little adventures, prosocial behavior and adorable animals with Irish accents, Rock is an entertaining series with short seven-minute episodes that are fun for both toddlers and their parents. The biggest downside is that there were only two seasons of the series. If your child likes the series, you’ll see the same episodes quite often.
Recognitions:
- “Sesame Street” (PBS and Max).
- “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood” (PBS Kids/Amazon).
- “Curious George” (Peacock).
- “Garbage Truck” (Netflix).
- “Songs for Littles” by Miss Rachel (YouTube).
- “Blue’s Clues” (Nickelodeon/Paramount+).
The worst TV shows for preschoolers and toddlers
“Cocomelon” (Netflix)
Probably overstimulating for both kids and parents alike, this annoying, baby-addicting series based on nursery rhymes is just a little too much of everything: too loud, too hard to get the kid to turn off, too annoying for the parents. It also lacks much of the educational value of many of the shows on our good list.
More about screens: I watch TV for a living, why do I constantly worry about my kids’ screen time?
“Caillou” (PBS Kids/Amazon)
This Canadian series is perhaps the most disliked children’s show and is despised for the terrible example set by its main characters. Caillou is whiny and annoying and displays exactly the kind of behavior you not You want to see in your children. And since toddlers and preschoolers are likely to imitate the behavior they observe, it’s best to avoid bad examples.
“Peppa Pig” (Netflix/Nickelodeon)
“Peppa” should be avoided for the same reasons as “Caillou.” Experts recommend that young children should be shown “prosocial behavior” during their TV time, meaning that TV characters should always be kind, caring and patient. The titular pig in this British series often disobeys his parents, displays selfish behavior and fights.
“Paw Patrol” (Paramount+/Nickelodeon)
Opinions are divided on this series about a boy and his team of rescue dogs who respond to emergencies in a fictional city. Many parents object to the show’s social message, which portrays the government and public institutions as corrupt and the heroic dogs as a private police force. It has also created an indeterminate audience and can feel more like a toy sales engine than an entertaining television show. While it does show some problem-solving, it lacks significant educational value. And it creates villains for an age group that has yet to really think about good and evil.
Content uploaded by the creator: YouTube and more
YouTube Kids and other video-sharing apps are chock-full of content that seems great for kids, and there are some really excellent channels (like Miss Rachel’s “Songs for Littles”) run by well-meaning educators and developers who take the time to create quality content. Other channels are full of pointless unboxing videos or addictive cartoons with no transparency about the developers or the messages. It’s always a good idea to review content uploaded by the developers on sites like YouTube before letting your child watch it.
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