I'm looking for television show recommendations for my almost 3 year old. She watches very little TV, usually only one 30 minute show per day. For a while she only liked Barney and Sesame Street (which my husband and I approve of) and recently she started really liking Caillou. At first it didn't seem so bad and I liked how the show was about Caillou and his experiences of being a preschooler. The more I watch it, however, the more and more annoyed I am by Caillou's whining and of his parents allowing this behavior. I've found my daughter becoming more whiney and repeating things she's heard on the show (ex. "I don't WANT to!" in the exact same tone he uses). I understand whining is part of being a 2.5 year old girl/child, however I feel Caillou intensifies this. I think she likes Caillou because it has a storyline and isn't just a bunch of bright colors with singing and dancing (which is why I think she initially liked Barney). Watching a 30 minute show with me and/or Daddy before bed became part of our bedtime routine when her baby sister was born and I needed something for her while I fed her sister (Daddy was deployed when her sister was born and she would become very jealous and be clingy to me before bed). I actually enjoy watching these shows with her and to see all she's learning from them...so I'd like the show to be somewhat educational and not just a cartoon. Any recommendations would be appreciated! My only other option would be to watch a bunch of preschool TV shows myself to find something that was decent and I'd really prefer not to do that, lol =)
My little girl is 2yr 3months and LOVES LOVES LOVES "Yo Gabba Gabba". I agree Calliou is very whinny. "Yo Gabba Gabba" is our favorite.
Oh yeah, we like "The Wonder Pets" too.
dora the explorer, go diego go, max & ruby, ni hao kai lan, and the backyardigans are all cute kids shows on nick jr that have a storyline and definitely have educational elements as well. my daughter sings along, recognizes and discusses emotional responses and shapes more quickly, and has learned some spanish and chinese. she is 20 months.
Speaking from experience with grandchildren:
When the older ones were around 3 they loved Max & Ruby, Dora the Explorer and Hi-5. We actually took them twice to see Hi-5. They were thrilled to meet these energetic young people. My grandson who just turned 3 actually can count to 10 in Spanish already. He also knows the words for above and below. This is learned from Dora. He just likes Max & Ruby to see what Max can get into next. He also likes Caillou and Little Bear, but the first 3 are his favorites.
I had the same problem with Caillou. I ended up banning it. Now my 4 year old watches anything from the Playhouse Disney. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and Jungle Junction are her favorites, and both are good shows.
My son (2 1/2yo) really likes Little Einstein on Disney (NOT Baby Einstein). It is definitely more educational and less "character" driven ... but there is a story line for every show. I have to say that it's not MY favorite because the characters tend to talk slowly and simply (I believe to enhance the child's understanding) but for him it seems to be just right. He also watches Blue's clues on Nick Jr which again is more educational and less character driven. I agree that kids pick up some negative characteristics from shows ... my son watched Wow Wow Wubbzey (sp) at a friends house and came home saying "wow wow" before everything!! sigh
You might try Wonder Pets or Max and Ruby, Also most of the Noggin shows are okay for the younger ones. But I found that no matter what the show was supposed to be like, I got the best understanding by watching them myself. I've seen enough preschool shows to last me a lifetime, but I usually watch them with my son so I could be sure I knew what was said and shown. That way if he picked up a behavior or word or phrase, I knew the context and could explain to him, etc. My son is now 6, and I can recite entire episodes of Spongebob, but at least I know exactly what he is watching! Good luck.
