Also, there's plenty on this list that this 53 year old man (hi) is currently enjoying working his way through. 😁 "Avatar: The Last Airbender", "Legend of Korra" and "Steven Universe" all should be watched by adults who suspect they don't want to grow up quite as much as they have. Absolutely joys, all of them. (The scifi author Charlie Jane Anders has been raving about Steven Universe for a while now, and I regret not listening earlier.) I haven't got to "Adventure Time" yet but I gather it will have the same effect on me.
Also, an animated show that definitely isn't for kids but is truly wondrously spectacularly well written and heartfelt in the cleverest of ways: "Undone", with Rosa Salazar and Bob Odenkirk. You can find it on Prime and it's just a fantastic couple of seasons of work.
Sarah and Duck is a great BBC show. It's chill and slow paced with short episodes. We started watching it with our daughter around 18 months and have really enjoyed it.
I'm not a father but this title cracked me right up and got me to click into the post. Hopefully there's less eye gouging going on this weekend for all the parents here.
I would like to throw out classic 90s Teletubbies for the toddler ages, it's very calming, and the fact that they act like toddlers makes it interesting for kids.
I also stumbled across the new Frog and Toad adaptation from Apple TV and liked it quite a bit.
You mentioned capitalism and regulation and advertising to kids, and all of a sudden memories of my childhood flooded my brain (& made sense): Strawberry Shortcake. Care Bears. GI Joe. Rainbow Brite. He Man & She Ra.
I want to make a case for kids' movies, too, especially for younger kids. Long movies are better than shorter shows because well-produced movies, repeatedly watched, develop critical capacities to follow complex narrative. They enable rather than compete with a child's ability to access literature. I'd rather my child sit and focus on one narrative for two hours than four separate narratives, each only a half-hour long (or, at the worst end of the spectrum, 1,440 5-second TikTok videos). TV shows that have a single storyline (like those for older kids mentioned) can do this, too, but not all do.
Surprised no one has mentioned Beat Bugs yet! A bunch of bugs that sing Beatles songs on Netflix. Our 3yo loves it, and now she goes around the house singing "Drive My Car" and "Penny Lane" instead of that Cocomelon garbage. The animation and stories are pretty good too.
Good for 8-12: Big City Greens. Kinda like the Beverly hillbillies in modern cartoon form.
For slightly younger, The Inbestigators (an Australian show) is pretty good.
Not sure about current stuff, but Modern Family is mostly ok. Some Simpsons. I suspect Home Improvement and Saved By The Bell would also work for teens.
Craig of the Creek (on Hulu in the US) is a really nice show my 9yo loves, and I usually enjoy it too.
Great list, this.
Also, there's plenty on this list that this 53 year old man (hi) is currently enjoying working his way through. 😁 "Avatar: The Last Airbender", "Legend of Korra" and "Steven Universe" all should be watched by adults who suspect they don't want to grow up quite as much as they have. Absolutely joys, all of them. (The scifi author Charlie Jane Anders has been raving about Steven Universe for a while now, and I regret not listening earlier.) I haven't got to "Adventure Time" yet but I gather it will have the same effect on me.
Also, an animated show that definitely isn't for kids but is truly wondrously spectacularly well written and heartfelt in the cleverest of ways: "Undone", with Rosa Salazar and Bob Odenkirk. You can find it on Prime and it's just a fantastic couple of seasons of work.
Sarah and Duck is a great BBC show. It's chill and slow paced with short episodes. We started watching it with our daughter around 18 months and have really enjoyed it.
Kiri and Lou from.NZ is a.complete delight!
I'm not a father but this title cracked me right up and got me to click into the post. Hopefully there's less eye gouging going on this weekend for all the parents here.
And many many thanks for this list!
Shaun the sheep is really good! My 3 year old is a fan and we have fun watching it together
I would like to throw out classic 90s Teletubbies for the toddler ages, it's very calming, and the fact that they act like toddlers makes it interesting for kids.
I also stumbled across the new Frog and Toad adaptation from Apple TV and liked it quite a bit.
You mentioned capitalism and regulation and advertising to kids, and all of a sudden memories of my childhood flooded my brain (& made sense): Strawberry Shortcake. Care Bears. GI Joe. Rainbow Brite. He Man & She Ra.
I’ll add Tumbleleaf (Prime), Shape Island (Apple TV+), and Stillwater (Apple TV+)
I want to make a case for kids' movies, too, especially for younger kids. Long movies are better than shorter shows because well-produced movies, repeatedly watched, develop critical capacities to follow complex narrative. They enable rather than compete with a child's ability to access literature. I'd rather my child sit and focus on one narrative for two hours than four separate narratives, each only a half-hour long (or, at the worst end of the spectrum, 1,440 5-second TikTok videos). TV shows that have a single storyline (like those for older kids mentioned) can do this, too, but not all do.
Surprised no one has mentioned Beat Bugs yet! A bunch of bugs that sing Beatles songs on Netflix. Our 3yo loves it, and now she goes around the house singing "Drive My Car" and "Penny Lane" instead of that Cocomelon garbage. The animation and stories are pretty good too.
Vegesaurs on CBBC is delightful as well! Tri-carrot-tops and Pea-rexes, five minute episodes, lovely animation.
My now 7 year old has loved Odd Squad for the last 3 years and it really helped him to see and understand math in the world around him.
For sitcom-y shows he also likes Gabby Duran and The Unsittables about a girl who baby sits aliens on Disney+
For the older kids 12+ you gotta watch Naruto. It’s an amazing show with so many lessons to learn.
Good for 8-12: Big City Greens. Kinda like the Beverly hillbillies in modern cartoon form.
For slightly younger, The Inbestigators (an Australian show) is pretty good.
Not sure about current stuff, but Modern Family is mostly ok. Some Simpsons. I suspect Home Improvement and Saved By The Bell would also work for teens.