I guess I shouldn’t necessarily call this “our” favorite, but these are more my daughter’s current favorite shows*, that I don’t mind her watching.
I know screen time can be a hot topic and just how much can also be a big discussion among moms, but I will say when you have a toddler, bring home baby number two, and jump into wintertime- you allow some television time. I should also add I have the toddler that doesn’t nap, so often she gets television time at some point during her day to relax and unwind. (It also gives mom a break too!) We do also watch shows together and talk and play during them. Most of the time I have a “you can watch a show, but need to be doing something else too” rule.
Whatever your thoughts are, sometimes it can be good to have a few shows readily available when needed. The great thing is that while these shows are of course found on cable/on demand, they can also be accessed on platforms such as Hulu and Netflix.
While we do watch a lot less television in the as the weather begins to get warm and our days are mostly filled with outdoor activities, I still thought I would share some of our current favorites and what we (I) like about them.
Curious George: This has been a favorite in our house for years now, it was one the first shows my daughter actually sat and watched. While it doesn’t have much singing/interaction it does have a lot of facts throughout each episode, and I feel like it does teach my daughter quite a bit. The one con about it is that the main character doesn’t do much talking (he’s a monkey), so I always make sure we balance it with something else or watch only a few episodes in any given week.
Little Einsteins: I absolutely love this show! I think it’s so fun and interactive for toddlers. Plus I love the integration of art and music into each episode. It exposes children to classical music/composers, and famous artists/paintings; I actually find that my own musical knowledge gets expanded watching this as well.
Super Why!: This is a more educational based shows as well which focuses on reading, letter recognition, phonics and problem solving. The songs are catchy and there is so much exposure to letters, sounds and reading concepts that you can’t really go wrong with this one.
Doc McStuffins: This is another favorite of my daughter that she would watch all day (if we let her) and again is full of facts. It teaches children to take care of themselves, others, and to not be afraid to ask an adult for help when needed. I also love all the songs and dancing, my daughter is always up dancing and singing along; she also now gives all her stuffed animals and family members check-ups!
The final two shows are new favorites: Goldie and Bear and Sophia the First. While these are not necessarily educational based shows, I really like both of them. They have fun songs and teach a lot about friendship, manners, and telling the truth. The characters are kind and likable and (in general) the episodes are age appropriate. The integration of characters from other classic stories and fairy tales also makes the shows familiar and fun to watch.
We also love Daniel Tiger, and the show is for sure worth mentioning. The songs have become part of our daily lives from cleaning up to saying I’m sorry to using the potty and everything in between. For more on Daniel Tiger check the following post “Thank You Daniel Tiger” by PMB contributor Deidre C.
What are some favorite shows in your house? Drop what you are watching in the comments and be sure to include the age of your child(ren) as well!
*For reference my daughter was almost 3 when this post was written
