OT - kid videos/tv shows
We've pretty much kept our 3 year old boy away from screens thus far. But he is getting exposed as he visits friends and relatives and is now occasionally asking to watch something at home. Anticipating that we will eventually succumb and allow some screen time I have been looking at what is out there.
It pretty much seems to be garbage.
And suggestions as to what videos/tv shows are out there for a 3 year old that are not overbearingly silly, low quality and sometimes just stupid?
August 20th, 2023 at 12:34 PM ^
veggietales.
August 20th, 2023 at 12:49 PM ^
Handy Manny is a reliable classic.
August 20th, 2023 at 1:22 PM ^
Numberblocks
Storybots (all the versions)
Bill Nye (though I assume some modern shows are similar)
August 20th, 2023 at 1:49 PM ^
PBS programming is solid across the board
As others have mentioned, Bluey is very good.
Howdytoons music cartoons on YouTube have more interesting music than most young child-targeted programming and are also somewhat educational.
youtube also has a ton of full episodes from the Land Before Time tv series, which my kid loves. She also loves Animaniacs and The Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog.
Just remember that anything commercially produced is intended to get your kid to get you to buy them stuff.
August 20th, 2023 at 1:56 PM ^
Our son loves Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.
August 20th, 2023 at 2:00 PM ^
Bluey seems to be the new hotness now, and my kids really liked Daniel Tiger, Xavier Riddle, Paw Patrol, etc. Mostly stuff on PBS Kids. Also, my kids liked some cartoon movies like Ponyo and Kiki's Delivery Service, just for the visual elements. But at the same time, let kids enjoy some dumb stuff. I think most people consumed a bunch of dumb, low-quality media in our days and it didn't destroy anyone's soul. And honestly, this place is full of people obsessed to varying degrees about college sports, and that obsession came about likely when we were exposed to the sport at a young age (probably not 3, but who knows).
August 20th, 2023 at 6:18 PM ^
Kiki’s Delivery Service is so very good. My daughter kept having nightmares about witches, almost every night. After watching Kiki they went away.
August 20th, 2023 at 2:48 PM ^
Keep your kid away from YouTube, as others have said. My kid is hooked on it and it’s almost entirely trash aside from Miss Rachel.
August 20th, 2023 at 3:09 PM ^
Music: Super Simple Songs have some classic songs with pretty neat visuals to go along with them.
Shows: Bluey, Mash & The Bear, and Curious George. All very fun and not loud and stupid.
Learning? Sparkabilities
ABSOLUTELY NEVER PUT THESE ON: Ms. Rachel or Blippi
August 20th, 2023 at 3:30 PM ^
Mr. Rogers
August 20th, 2023 at 5:25 PM ^
you can go back into some of the better stuff from Sesame Street and Mr Rogers and also I'd highly recommend The Magic Schoolbus - though he might need to be a little older. Backyardigans was also recent and not bad
I applaud your vigilance.
August 20th, 2023 at 5:26 PM ^
Robocop, starring MGoBlog's own Clarence Boddicker. It's never too early for kids to be exposed to ultra-violent critiques of American society.
August 20th, 2023 at 6:21 PM ^
I asked my mom to take me when I must’ve been 12. For whatever lucky reason we did not go. Would have been her least favorite movie of all time. (No matter that I would have loved it.)
August 20th, 2023 at 5:38 PM ^
Super simple songs. I hate Blippi, the kids like him. Helper cars. I also loathe Coco Melon but my daughter likes it.
August 20th, 2023 at 5:39 PM ^
Oh yea, these are all found on youtube via apps on the tv.
August 20th, 2023 at 6:33 PM ^
I only had to watch/listen to Coco Melon once before I put an end to that nonsense.
August 21st, 2023 at 12:28 AM ^
It is the worst. The songs don’t even rhyme.
August 20th, 2023 at 6:09 PM ^
Invader Zim when your child is a little bit older. It was the only kid show I could watch with my kids and not be bored out of my skull.
August 20th, 2023 at 6:30 PM ^
I'm in grandkid mode now, but I definitely concur with the Bluey and Daniel Tiger comments. Both perfectly pleasant shows, easy to watch for everyone and not a ton of screen time.
August 20th, 2023 at 6:31 PM ^
Must second the Bluey suggestion
August 20th, 2023 at 9:07 PM ^
Bluey is the best kids show hands down. My wife and I watch it with the kids (11, 7, 5, and 2) pretty often.
Great messages, fun storylines, and good characters.
Enjoy!
August 21st, 2023 at 3:58 AM ^
Four kids, man… username checks out!
August 21st, 2023 at 10:13 AM ^
pfff. 4 kids is just a starter set....
(but wonderful, nevertheless)
August 21st, 2023 at 4:12 PM ^
Thanks everyone for all the great suggestions. I made a list and will start to check them out.
Go Blue!