As students begin to kick off their 2022 summer vacation, parents are on the hunt for television shows that their kids will enjoy and won't mind listening to or watching for hours. Children's television programming can range from sweet and educational to annoying and crude, leaving some parents to wonder what they want their children to watch.
Parents have taken to Reddit to talk about the shows their kids love and that they don't mind themselves. Some of these shows tackle social issues in a way that children can understand, while others are purely for entertainment but don't annoy adults.
Craig Of The Creek (2018 - )
Cartoon Network has aired some great kid's shows, but sometimes the network is a bit mature. However, parents have recently come to appreciate Craig of the Creek. Reddit NostalgicJeremy said, "I love that this show shows acceptance, and it can be a teaching tool for kids/adults...Characters are shown to be gay or gay leaning, or non-binary. And no one in the show has a problem with it..."
Craig of the Creek exposes children to a diverse world, allowing parents to open discussions about race, gender, and sexual orientation in a palatable way. Deadline reported that the series is getting a fifth season and a spin-off show marketed toward preschool children.
Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005 - 2008)
Avatar: The Last Airbender has characters that resonate with children and adults. Reddit leasants said, "Been watching Avatar: The Last Airbender with my toddler since he had probably just turned 2. Doesn't seem to have ruined him yet!... Worst he does adorably try to airbend me at the dinner table."
Parents have expressed concern over the violence depicted in the show. However, characters are rarely wounded, should they be hurt, and the show does not show any gore. For parents who want to continue the adventure, Avatar: The Legend of Korra is a spin-off of the original series and includes some of the original characters.
Sesame Street (1969 - )
Sesame Street takes adults back to their childhood but still teaches kids today some valuable lessons. Reddit Working-Shine5764 said, "Sesame Street is really fun to watch with toddlers because it teaches letters, numbers, and other new vocabularies that they just absorb at this age. My daughter loves sitting on my lap and talking about everything she sees while we watch TV."
Beyond its educational value, Sesame Street has consistently added characters that mirror viewers' experiences, and parents love that their kids can see similarities between themselves and the characters. In recent years the show has included characters with autism, parents experiencing addiction, and parents who are incarcerated.
Octonauts (2010 - )
Before it was exclusively on Netflix, Octonauts aired on Nickelodeon as part of its programming for preschool and young elementary school kids. Redditor M_Yusufzai said, "The four seasons of the original Octonauts cartoon (not the new Netflix version) are the greatest children's programming ever created. The character dynamics are collaborative rather than competitive, it refrains from hero-worship, and man, is it funny."
Parents love how the show teaches children to work together to achieve a goal. Octonauts includes jokes and references that children may not understand, but parents do. However, none of these jokes are crude or inappropriate for the preschool age group it is marketed toward.
The Wiggles (1998 - )
The Wiggles lineup has changed several times since its inception, which has become a point of interest for parents who watched the show as children. The songs are catchy and have a way of getting stuck in audiences' heads. Redditor Flobee76 says, "I have a toddler, and my household (teens included!) are really into the Wiggles lately... Also, "We're All Fruit Salad" is a banger."
The Wiggles remind parents of a simpler time, of watching kids' shows before school, and the band hasn't shied away from that. In 2021, the original lineup that most parents grew up with announced an 18+ bar and pub tour.
Bluey (2018 - )
While there are many hidden gem kids shows on Disney+, Bluey is not one of them. Anyone with children who watch TV knows about Bluey. While the show is meant for preschoolers, many episodes include life lessons or moments adults can appreciate. Redditor litcremebrulle said, "...Good stories, usually a life lesson, and real (appropriate) comedy. It's easy to watch."
Bluey has set itself apart from other shows by appealing to both kids and parents. The show gives an objective perspective on parenting by showing parents who are sometimes overwhelmed and make mistakes with their kids, working to fix them. Each episode has its own theme, keeping the show fresh so parents aren't bogged down with the standard repetitive themes of other shows.
Arthur (1996 - 2022)
With a 25-year run, '90s kids and with children currently streaming the show. Reddit gentlemancaller2000 said, "My kids are older, but when they were young, I used to really enjoy Arthur. There was a lot of good humor in that show."
Besides having life lessons, Arthur taught kids about the experiences of others and had diverse storylines that weren't common when the program initially aired, which resonated with parents. When the cancellation was announced, fans were devasted.
Sketchbook (2022 - )
Sketchbook aims to teach viewers how to draw their favorite Disney characters. The show provides a hands-on activity for kids, but adults have also found joy in it as they can learn to draw alongside their children. Redditor E_Barriick said, "So my 1-year-old daughter randomly turned this show on, and I was so impressed with how great this show was..."
Sketchbook is a show that parents can turn on when it is time to wind down as the show doesn't feature stimulating colors and songs for children. The show also provides an opportunity to expose children to careers in the arts and develop an interest in art early that can be carried through life.
Molly Of Denali (2019 - )
Molly of Denali focuses on a family in Alaska and includes stories of the native traditions of the area. Redditor Akski loves the show because "It shows kids in realistic situations, the laws of physics apply, there's no magic backpack or weirdly unsupervised kids."
The series follows PBS's track record of showcasing different children's experiences so children who may not be exposed to those situations can learn about others. This unique backdrop gives children in the region a chance to see themselves represented but also an opportunity for parents to teach their children about areas of the United States that are often overlooked or dramatized.
The Owl House (2020 - )
The Owl House has gained a lot of notoriety as it features many openly LGBTQ+ characters. Redditor Aresei said, "I watched the first season with my kids, and my daughter asked, 'a girl can have a crush on another girl?' I said 'yes,' and she just accepted it. I'm glad shows like this and She-Ra are normalizing same-sex relationships for all kids to see."
The Owl House has given parents who never saw themselves represented a chance to expose their children to something they resonate with and open conversations about sexual orientations. Despite receiving pushback from some groups that don't LGBTQ+ people, Disney has continued to release new episodes and has no plans to cancel the show.