Image: Midjourney/ MomJunction Design Team
Television is a mode of entertainment popular among children and adults alike. We all have childhood memories of us eagerly waiting for our favorite TV shows to start. With the rise of OTT platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime, children can now access a wider array of such entertaining and educational TV shows.
Now, children can watch their favorite shows anytime, anywhere, and have thousands of options to choose from. But while children have plenty of shows to watch, your responsibility as a parent is to navigate their choices in a positive direction. And to help you, we have compiled a list of family-friendly TV shows that children can watch and engage in a fun learning experience.
Key Pointers
- Television shows for kids come in various categories and have a lot to offer.
- Choose the right kind of show that helps you educate your child while keeping them engaged.
- As you facilitate fun learning, make sure to set limits to avoid too much screen time.
TV shows for Kids of Age 3-6 years
1. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
If there is one cartoon character whom anyone can recognize, it is Mickey Mouse. In this Disney’s preschool interactive TV show, Mickey, along with six of his friends (Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy, and Pluto), goes on a new adventure every day. It is one of the best Disney kids’ shows to watch because of its interactive way of teaching kids to count, spell, sing and think.
Network: Disney Junior, Youtube
2. Sesame Street
Currently in its 49th season, Sesame Street is one of the longest aired kids TV shows. This PBS production started in 1969 and is now airing on HBO. The success of this show lies in educating children through storytelling. Kids enjoy a good Elmo’s song or the Cookie Monster gobbling all the cookies.
Network: HBO, Youtube, DVD
Did you know?3. Pocoyo
This show is about Pocoyo, a curious toddler who wants to discover things on his own. Together with his friends, he goes on a new adventure each day, learning about the world around him. Pocoyo and his friends discover a new thing and so would the kids watching this show.
Network: Netflix, Youtube, DVD
4. Pingu
Image: The Pygos Group/IMDB
This show is about a baby penguin named Pingu, who lives with his mother, father, and sister in an igloo. He is mischievous and lands in trouble, but learns a valuable lesson at the end. The 90’s kids used to love this cute penguin who speaks Penguinese. If you want to show your children how the world before the internet was like, then this baby TV show can be a good pick.
Network: Youtube, DVD
5. Bob the Builder
This show is about how Bob and his machines help the villagers with their construction work. The machines have cute names and can talk. At the end of each episode, there is a valuable lesson for the kids. This show first aired from 1999 to 2011 and then underwent a complete makeover. It restarted in 2016.
Network: Youtube, Channel 5
Point to consider6. Thomas and Friends
Image: Mattel Television/IMDB
Children have an active imagination. This TV show brings such creativity alive by showing how it would be if train engines could speak. The fun-filled series is about the adventures of train engine Thomas and his other engine friends helping the humans in transportation.
Network: Youtube, Channel 5, Amazon Instant Video, DVD
7. Dora the Explorer
This TV show is about a little girl Dora, who goes on adventures and learns new things. To help Dora, there is Boots, the monkey in red boots, Diego, Dora’s cousin and a talking backpack who gives Dora the tools she needs in her adventure. This is yet another interactive program where the characters keep kids engaged by asking them questions.
Network: Nick Jr., Youtube
8. Oswald
Image: HIT Entertainment and Nickelodeon/IMDB
This show features a big blue octopus, Oswald, and his dog Weenie. Oswald is a fun- loving, yet a cautious guy. The show teaches kids safety rules such as look on both sides of the road while crossing the street etc.
Network: Voot, Youtube
9. Curious George
As the name suggests, this kid’s show features George, the monkey, who is curious and always lands himself in trouble. His mentor and friend, the man in the yellow hat, comes to his rescue. Along with having fun, kids also learn some science such as how a kite flies, a hand pump works, etc.
Network: Youtube
10. Paw Patrol
Image: Guru Animation Studio Ltd.
Puppies to the rescue! Yes, this show is the story of six rescue puppies, who along with their human friend Ryder, help their neighbors. In any emergency, Ryder raises the alarm through his handheld communicator to summon the puppies. Each puppy has a specific job to do using cool gadgets and patrol cars.
Network: Dailymotion, Nickelodeon
11. Doc McStuffins
Kids try to imitate their parents. This TV show has been based on this theory. The show is about a 6-year-old girl who aspires to become a doctor like her mother. She has a clinic in her backyard, where she restitches toys, recharges them and more. Sometimes, she seeks advice from her doctor mother, who tells the toy doctor how kids can stay healthy.
Network: Disney Junior
12. Word Party
Image: The Jim Henson Company
If your kid is learning to talk and spell, then this show is just what you need. It features four baby animals (Bailey, Franny, Lulu, and Kip) along with Clickety Clock, which would tell them when to eat, sleep and play. One of the best educational TV shows for toddlers, it has catchy songs and is a fun way to learn various words, animal noises and lots more.
Network: Netflix
13. Noddy the Toyland Detective
The ever-curious boy Noddy is a detective who helps the people of Toyland by solving mysteries. Noddy uses his tablet to look for information while solving mysteries. This show is entertaining as each day there is a new mystery to solve.
Network: Netflix
TriviaTV Shows for Kids of age 6-9 years
14. Tangled The Series
Image: Disney Entertainment
Tangled movie has been a huge hit, and so is the TV series. It shows Rapunzel’s life after she reunites with her parents. Rapunzel gets her magical hair back in the first season, and she is off on adventures.
Network: Amazon, Disney.go.com
15. The Boss Baby: Back in Business
The cute yet bossy toddler is back. This show is about how the Boss Baby along with his brother Tim helps Baby Corp. ensure the love for babies is intact while there is tough competition from kittens and puppies. Although Boss Baby and his brother have different opinions, they manage to get along and work as a team.
Network: Netflix
16. Duck Tales
Duck Tales is one of the most loved family shows in the 90s. Once again Uncle Scrooge reunites with his nephews, and they go on a new adventure each day just like old times.
Network: Disney XD, Disney Channel
17. Crikey! It’s the Irwins
After the tragic death of Steve Irwin, his family continued the legacy of wildlife conservation. In this show, kids can watch how the Irwins run the Australian zoo, the variety of animals there and much more.
Network: Animal Planet
18. Ask the StoryBots
Image: Netflix
Kids are curious and have many questions. This show has the answers. If your children are asking questions like “Why can’t I eat desserts all the time?” or “How do ears hear?” then show this educational TV show for kids to know the answers.
Network: Netflix
19. Teen Titans Go!
This show is about five young superheroes, who live together without any adult supervision. Things get humorous and tense as each one wants to get their way, but, at the end of the day, they realize the power of teamwork and get along.
Network: Cartoon Network, Netflix
20. Phineas and Ferb
Image: Disney
This kid-friendly show features two genius brothers who build extraordinary structures like theme parks, rockets, a backyard ocean, etc., while their sister Candace is trying her best to get them caught red-handed by their mother. There is one more parallel story running, where Phineas and Ferb’s pet platypus (perry) is a secret agent who tries to save the world from Dr. Doofenshmirtz.
Network: disneynow.go.com
21. The Magic School Bus
This animated TV show based on the popular book series by Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen follows Ms. Frizzle and her class of students. The crew embark on extraordinary field trips using their magical school bus where. They fly into space, explore ecosystems, and even shrink to microscopic sizes and go through the human body. With each adventure, the show presents children with a problem and its solution in a creative manner and makes complex scientific concepts fun and accessible for kids.
Network: Netflix
22. Sofia the First
This TV show is straight out of every kid’s fantasy of becoming a prince/ princess. The story is about Sofia, a commoner-turned-princess (as her mother marries the king), adapting to the royal life. In her newfound life, she learns that the true essence of being a princess is about being friendly, doing what is right and caring for others.
Network: Dailymotion, disneynow.go.com
TV Shows for Kids of age 9-12 years
23. Powerpuff Girls
Image: Cartoon Network
Hurray for girl power! The beloved super girls of Townsville are back to save their city from the bad guys. Introduce this classic cartoon, which entertained you as a kid, to your kids too.
Network: Netflix
24. Ben 10
This show is about a boy named Ben Tennyson, who gets an alien watch (Omnitrix) while on a field trip with his grandfather. The watch gives him the power to change into various alien forms, each having its own power. Now, Ben has to learn the responsibility of putting these powers for the good of humanity.
Network: Netflix
25. Masterchef Junior
Image: FOX Media LLC.
This is a cookery competition for kids of ages 8-13. Kids compete in various rounds until one kid becomes the Masterchef. Throughout their journey, the young chefs get a chance to learn culinary skills from top chefs like Gordan Ramsey, Graham Elliot, etc.
Network: Fox, Youtube
26. Pokemon The Series
This famous kids animation is about how Ash finds ways to achieve his dream of becoming a Pokemon trainer. He travels along with his friends, capturing new pokemon and learning the skills of pokemon battles while crossing the hurdles created by Team Rocket.
Network: disneynow.go.com
27. Hannah Montana
Image: Disney
This Disney production features Miley Cyrus. Cyrus played a 14-year-old girl with a double identity. During the daytime, she is Miley Stewart, an average middle school girl, and by night she is Hannah Montana, a popular teenage pop singer. The youth-oriented show is about how Miley leads her double life while protecting her true identity.
Network: disneynow.go.com, Youtube
28. Young Justice
A group of young sidekicks wants to prove themselves as heroes while dealing with adolescent issues in their personal life. By watching this show, kids may learn how to solve conflicts and work as a team.
Network: Netflix
29. MythBusters
Image: Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.
This is a show for all curious kids whose mind is always eager to know answers. The hosts Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage design experiments to prove or disprove famous urban legends. The hosts use math, geometry, physics, and chemistry while laying out the experiments. This is a good science TV show for kids.
Network: Discovery Channel.
30. Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
This show is the fourth animated series of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series. It is about four young mutant turtles who acquire the power of ninja arts. Now it is their responsibility to work and navigate as a team while unlocking the mysteries of New York City.
Network: Nickelodeon, Youtube
31. Full House
If you are planning to binge watch a clean, funny and old-school show with your kids, then this is the one to pick. The sitcom was first aired in 1987 and had been a huge hit. This funny kids TV show is a classy mix of humor and family values. Even though it is an old-time show, you can still watch it with your kids.
Network: Netflix
32. Gabby’s Dollhouse
Explore the enchanting world of Gabby’s Dollhouse, where magic and daily surprises come together to create a delightful experience. Join Gabby in each episode as she unveils a new surprise, expresses her enthusiasm with her cherished stuffed animal companion, Pandy Paws, and leads everyone on the next exciting journey.
Network: Netflix
33. Bluey
Bluey, an Australian-produced children’s TV series, revolves around a family of anthropomorphic dogs engaging in human-like behaviors. The focal character, Bluey, is a spirited Blue Heeler puppy known for her boundless energy, vivid imagination, and insatiable curiosity about the world. The vibrant dog shares her home with her father, Bandit; mother, Chilli; and her younger sister, Bingo. Together, Bluey and Bingo frequently embark on imaginative adventures, exploring the wonders of creative play in the company of their loving family.
Network: ABC Kids
There are many other shows that children can enjoy. For instance, young blogger Sheihanna from Sacramento says, “My favorite TV show is Good Luck Charlie for many reasons. First reason is that Good Luck Charlie is entertaining and nice to watch for children my age. This show is appropriate for kids and it is also really funny. Secondly, the family and their problems can relate to our real life family problems. While watching Good Luck Charlie, you’ll realize that they’re just like you which makes it even funnier. Next reason is that it’s not like those perfect families in TV shows (i).”
Over the years, many cartoon shows have become popular among children; however, some shows rank high on the popularity charts even today. The graph below indicates the popularity of some cartoon shows, whether available on TV or any other screen, in the United States between 1st January and 21st March 2018. The graph suggests that Spongebob Squarepants ranks #1 and has the highest average demand among children.
The most popular children
Source: Which children’s content is most in demand in North America?; Parrot AnalyticsFrequently Asked Questions
1. Are there ways to encourage children to watch educational TV shows?
You can encourage your child to watch educational TV shows by sitting with them and watching these shows together. Also, you can invite their friends and play educational children’s content that can create interest in your child.
2. How can parents ensure that their children watch age-appropriate TV shows?
Parents can follow the TV rating to ensure that the show their child is watching suits them. However, parents must personally pick the shows. Look for shows on local Public Broadcasting Station (PBS) or channels such as Discovery Channel, Learning Channel, or History Channel that mostly telecast children’s television shows with a few exceptions.
3. What are the potential dangers of watching too much TV for children?
Watching too much TV may impact a child’s behavior. They may pick habits or mannerisms that may not be suitable or appropriate for their age. Some attractive TV commercials can also mislead children into developing poor eating habits by eating unhealthy food and skipping meals.
TV shows for kids are a great source of children’s entertainment and an amazing way to educate them. Visuals have a long-lasting effect on young brains. This necessitates filtering out the correct age-appropriate kids’ content for them. Three to six-year-olds may learn about family love from Pingu or safety rules from Oswald. The young science geniuses Phineas and Ferb can intrigue young minds aged six to nine years, while MasterChef Junior can instill interest in cooking in preteens. The TV shows mentioned here will provide enjoyment to your children while ensuring that they learn something new.
Infographic: TV Shows For Children
Choosing age-appropriate TV shows for children is important to provide them with entertainment while helping them learn. We bring the most popular ones that teach your child moral values. So, go ahead and explore the shows for children ages 3 to 12 and let them have some fun learning.
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
Illustration: Best TV Shows For Kids- 3 TO 12 Years
Image: Dalle E/MomJunction Design Team
Peppa Pig or Paw Patrol? Who will be the winner? Let’s compare the most watched kid’s shows and see which one comes out on top! Tune in to find out!
Personal Experience: Source
MomJunction articles include first-hand experiences to provide you with better insights through real-life narratives. Here are the sources of personal accounts referenced in this article.
i. My favorite T.V. show is.https://blogs.egusd.net/gaviolasheihanna/2013/11/17/my-favorite-t-v-show-is/
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