Mobile devices are the new main distractions to kids. Watching TV passively all the time will also shape a bad habit for kids. But suppose parents can take advantage of TV programmes with limited time. In that case, it’s easier for kids to gain knowledge and skills through a dynamic scenario for an inspiring and educational purpose. Choosing the right TV programme is essential to guide them through the child’s precious development stage.
Here are the top seven TV shows that help your kids develop in multiple fields.
TV show 1: Sesame Street
Ages: Preschoolers
Sesame Street is one of the long-time favourite TV series of children, produced by Sesame Workshop. It’s an American educational series aiming to help kids learn the most through joyful plays. It has been translated into many different languages across six continents, from Asia to Africa, as a bridge to close cultural and educational gaps combining animation, live-action, and sketch comedy. Each episode is designed to provide kids with valuable learning opportunities with an educational goal and a research-based curriculum. Those iconic characters shaped in the show can quickly engage with children in a joyful and meaning way.
Kids can also learn the fundamental elements from this series, such as numbers, colours, and alphabets.
TV show 2: Blue’s Clues & You!
Ages: Preschoolers
Blue’s Clues & You! is an updated reboot of the original 1996 TV series Blue’s Clues to appeal to today’s young audiences. It remade the most iconic character, puppy Blue while retaining the integrity of the original Blue’s Clues. It’s a curriculum-based educational computer-animated TV series with play-along videos, allowing young kids to engage with live-action host Josh and other animated characters through a dynamic and immersive learning experience.
It’s an excellent way for pre-schoolers to learn and practise the literacy and numeracy skills through the show, such as the ABC, basic knowledge of the Space, sounds of musical instruments, colours, numbers, and more.
TV show 3: Daniel Tiger’s Neighbourhood
Ages: 2-4 years-old
Daniel Tiger’s Neighbourhood is a social-emotional curriculum-based educational animated TV series designed for young kids aged 2 to 4, initially inspired by Mister Rogers’ Neighbourhood.
In the episodes, Tiger Daniel and his friends present an inspiring example of managing emotions and feelings and finding solutions to the problems dealing with disappointments in daily life. The problem solving-based strategies in each episode provide kids with immersive scenarios to grow and develop.
Kids can learn the core social skills for everyday life and school through ground-breaking and catchy musical strategies to engage with them for an early learning purpose.
TV show 4: Earth to Luna
Ages: 4 and above
Earth to Luna is a Brazilian flash-animated television series for young children. It’s a STEM-based programme (see what is STEM in education) aiming to raise kids’ curiosity about things around them and interest in science. In each episode, the exuberant kid Luna, six years old, finds her passion for science with energy and enthusiasm and shares her scientific curiosity with others.
Luna, the character shaped in the show, is a girls-in-STEM role model to encourage girls to be curious about things around and find answers to them.
It’s a meaningful educational series to motivate young kids aged 4+ to pursue answers and find solutions to each specific question.
TV show 5: Forky Asks a Question
Ages: Preschoolers
Forky Asks a Question is a computer-animated comedy short TV programme about the character Forky asking a series of questions to find out what he doesn’t know and better adapt to his surroundings.
The character Forky presents a positive image of the importance of being curious and asking questions to the kids.
This 3-minute short show is designed with thoughtful learning purpose for pre-schoolers to spark their interest to wonder what their curiosity takes them to, from the basics of how things work, what time is, to the more complex topics of friendship and love, and iconic cheese question.
TV show 6: Helpsters
Ages: Preschoolers
The TV series Helpsters promotes a strong process of Critical Thinking to kids in a joyful way. The four friendly monster characters in the episodes shape a positive image of strong problem-solving skills with a plan. They take joys to help people tackle problems that arise in their lives in a formulaic way with creativity, planning, teamwork, communicating, and collaborating to adapt to the changing circumstances.
Each challenging task in the show presents pre-schoolers an excellent example of determination to stick to a plan and solve problems even in a frustration and miscommunication situation, so kids can learn how to simplify challenges of any size with solutions.
TV show 7: Snoopy in Space
Ages: Preschoolers and above
Snoopy in Space is an animated TV series about the iconic dog named Snoopy and his friends on an adventurous NASA trip. The dog Snoopy doesn’t talk, but the show’s character presents an excellent example of the importance of facial expressions and body languages to a person’s thinking and feeling. Through these eight-minute episodes, young kids can learn about personal belief, determination, teamwork, and collaboration. Each episode is a mission to the International Space Mission (ISS), which helps spark kids’ interest in STEM areas and cultivate their creativity, opening up a door for kids to see the Space and imagine things based on that.
Conclusion
Overall, the primary purpose of these recommended educational TV programmes is to help kids acquire necessary core skills in critical thinking processes, communication, and collaboration to grow and learn in the 21st century.
