Everybody knows that excessive screen time is bad for kids; the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends zero TV-watching (or other media use) before the age of two. But once children are into the preschool years, even the AAP that an hour of television is OK, as long as it’s “high-quality content.” And a indicates that the right shows, like Arthur, can even “ease aggression in young children.” But what counts as high-quality content? Here I’ve selected my favorite programs, with some help from my friends, and with inspiration from other lists (,, and ), based on four criteria. They must be: 1. Educational (with special points for building in science, history, literature, art, or music, though teaching social or emotional skills is good, too) 2. Engaging and well done 3. Enjoyable for parents 4.

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Either currently on the air or available on Netflix Instant Streaming (or both) I’ve broken my list into two categories: The best shows for two- and three-year-olds and the best shows for four- and five-year-olds. Best Television Shows for Two- and Three-Year-Olds 1. (available on and ) 2. (available on and ) 3. (available on and ) 4. (available on ) 5. (available on and ) Best Television Shows for Four- and Five-Year-Olds 1.

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(available on and ) To be sure, these selections are subjective. They are shows that my kids and I enjoy (save for Doc McStuffins, which we haven’t seen, but had many friends rave about). And I could have easily gone to fifteen or twenty shows—to include the likes of World Girl or Word World, Team UmiZoomi or Sid the Science Kid, to name a few. (And maybe Sesame Street, though its quality has really gone downhill in recent years.) So why these programs? Several of them do a great job teaching real content, like science ( Curious George, Wild Kratts, and Dinosaur Train), music and dance ( Backyardigans), or classic fairy tales ( Super Why!). Kids can learn a LOT about the world long before they can read, and these shows help. (Note to the children’s television world: How about a show about history?