I know, I know, the AAP recommends little to no screen time for little ones but sometimes mama just needs a break.
I have no issues with letting my child watch a little TV or play on her tablet.
If you are here to be judgey about screen time and young children then this probably isn’t the blog post for you.
Okay, now that we got that little disclaimer out of the way, let’s talk a little bit about screen time.
Now, like I said, I don’t personally feel there is anything wrong with a little screen time as long as it’s used responsibly.
The AAP recommends no screen time before 2 years old and 2-5-year-olds should only have 1 hour a day. Do with this information what you want.
Why watch educational preschool shows?
We chose to let our daughter watch tv shows for a couple of reasons.
The first is that sometimes I just need a break and my daughter watching a tv show gives me a minute to myself or to get something done.
The second is that she’s learning from them. She’s learned tons of songs and is learning about feelings, relationships, and kindness.
The best preschool learning shows
1. Daniel Tiger
Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood is more than likely going to be on the top of any best preschool tv shows list.
Not only is it the cutest little show, it’s awesome at teaching kids social and emotional skills.
Each episode focuses on one issue that Daniel Tiger or one of his friends is having and they are each accompanied by a little song to help kids remember what to do in that situation.
They talk about potty training, being kind, getting mad, sharing and so much more.
One of my daughters favorite episodes is one where Daniel and his friends get frustrated because they can’t do something.
The song that goes with this episode is “keep trying you’ll get better, try, try, try.” We now sing it every time she gets frustrated and it helps to calm her down.
We actually sing a lot of the Daniel Tiger songs around our house. The show is great for teaching kids how to handle emotions and how to treat others.
Daniel Tiger is a PBS show and is also available on Amazon Prime Video.
2. Pete the Cat
When I worked in a preschool I discovered Pete the Cat books and I loved them.
When we discovered that there is a Pete the Cat show on Amazon Prime I was so excited!
Pete and his friends go to school, the beach and about their every day lives on this show. They work through conflicts with each other, learn about feelings, and sing fun songs.
This show is fun and cute as well as educational as it helps teach social skills.
Pete The Cat is available on Amazon Prime Video.
3. Word World
This is probably my favorite learning show on Amazon Prime.
I also discovered this show when I worked in a preschool and I was super excited when I saw it on Prime.
The show focuses on several different animals and the problems they go through.
The fun thing about this show is that every item is made up of letters so the character pig actually spells out pig. I’ll insert a picture below to show but I think it’s neat.
Whenever the characters run into a problem they build a word to help them get out of it. This teaches letter recognition and spelling. The show also teaches how to treat others.
Word World is a PBS show and is also available on Amazon Prime Video.
4. The Magic School Bus Rides Again
My daughter hasn’t actually watched this one but some kids I used to babysit for watched it and it’s so cute.
I remember reading the books and watching the originals when I was younger but didn’t remember much about them.
They are so educational and are a great way to introduce new concepts to children.
The Magic School Bus Rides Again is available on Netflix.
5. Bubble Guppies
You might not think Bubble Guppies is an educational show but just hear me out.
Each episode of Bubble Guppies focuses on a different topic. There is an episode about bones, one about space, one about emotions, and so on.
Not to mention this show is just so cute. Kids will learn about having friends and how to treat others by watching this show.
Bubble Guppies is a Nickelodeon show and is also available on Amazon Prime Video.
6. The Adventures of Paddington
I’m normally not a fan of British accents on shows (hence why Peppa Pig isn’t included in this list) but I’ll make an exception for this one.
Paddington is kind and so sweet and he loves to help others. Children can learn a lot about social and emotional skills from watching Paddington.
The Adventures of Paddington is a Nickelodeon show.
7. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E! If you just sang that then you must be a mom!
Anyway, yes Mickey Mouse Clubhouse is educational. Kids will learn about shapes, numbers, colors, and more.
This show also helps encourage problem-solving skills with the use of toodles and the mousketools (don’t know if that’s spelled right).
Kids can also learn about being nice, being friendly, sharing, and more. If your child loves Mickey Mouse then learning from Mickey will be loads of fun!
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse is a Disney Junior show.
What are some of your child’s favorite educational shows?
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