Our 20 month old it pretty open-minded as TV goes, he doesn’t really watch it, but will come to dance. He’ll dance to the Forensic Files intro if that’s what’s on. Our Three-year-old is a different story altogether. His tastes are strong but short-lived.

Here is a list of shows he does like or has liked in the past year, what I like about them as a Mom and what I despise about them as a Mom and as a human. Not all of these are super current shows, many are just from TV purgatory, but all are from the past decade.

Blippi

YouTube sensation Blippi loves to take kids on adventures to playgrounds both in and outdoors. He has lots and lots of toys and tells kids how they work.

Pros- He’s charismatic, he’s silly (my three-year-old is continuously trying to mimic his silly dancy-walk. He’s fun and I believe his heart is in the right place. He’s taught my oldest a ton of vocabulary.

Cons- Let me preface this by saying, there are quite a few cons, but I still like Blippi. The vocabulary he uses isn’t always accurate. He’s really great at labeling vehicles, but frequently mislabels other things. He had a whoopy cushion and called it a fart cushion… it was in a box where he literally had all out wrong names for three different items.

He had an episode where he operated a lawnmower and a leaf blower. I’m not sure who he thinks his demographic is, but its toddlers… some of his safety tips… wear goggles…. wear headphones… ZERO talk of finding a grownup, making sure a grownup is there or even asking a grownup… he proceeded to show his audience (toddlers) how to fill the gas tank and oil for the lawnmower.

Then there was the jet ski episode, where he recklessly did figure 8’s very close to the shore on a jet ski and a high speed. Then there was the two-seater sports car with the baby riding with him. No roll cage… just roof down, forwards facing baby in a sport’s car.

He never shows himself cleaning up and he makes a lot of messes (I’m guessing he has a crew clean up, but kids need to know its happening), he threw his shoes at an indoor playground… not hard, but not being a good example of taking care of belongings, and he rarely thanks people.

I’m 100% certain he doesn’t have kids, but one day he might and the aha! moment will come to be, but those things are why my kid doesn’t get to use all of his screen time on Blippi.

Pocoyo

Pocoyo is adorable… colorful but largely monotone characters on a white backdrop, makes for a show not too overloaded for tiny sensory systems. It’s almost too cute and some shows have strong lessons, others mild, but every delivery is sweet. Pocoyo, Ellie, Pato and Baby Bird… they’re all too sweet.

Pros – The show is perfect for small kids, nothing crazy visually, very little talking, cute music (for a minute), and great lessons that little ones can understand, like sharing and not littering.

Cons- The theme song will get to you. It will crawl beneath your skin and eat your soul. Also, not a ton of vocabulary, it’s heard to watch too much of.

Kid Reactions: Our three-year-old was OBSESSED with Pocoyo until recently, but usually just likes to have it on as background sound while he reads or plays with blocks now. Our 20 month old is starting to see appeal in it, but we limit his opportunities, since he is not allotted even half of the two-hours our three-year-old gets.

• finding merchandise to buy for this show is near impossible.

Yo Gabba Gabba

Yo Gabba Gabba is a colorful, fun show, filled with lessons and music and adventures. Also on a white backdrop (mostly), but life-action and not animated like Pocoyo. The show features DJ Lance who is kinda the one telling the costumed characters the lessons they should be learning.

Pro- The show has a lot of episodes, and there are DVD’s from live shows. DJ Lance is amazing, and sweet and the wisdom, and the aliens all have distinct personalities. Biz Markie is on Yo Gabba Gabba, I’m not even kidding and he is the reason our three-year-old likes to beat box to this day. That’s not all, Mark Mothersbaugh from Devo will teach your kid(s) how to draw shit.

The guests, both musical and actors are all top notch, people you’ll recognize. It’s Just neat. Alex and I might enjoy this show nearly as much as the kids.

Cons – The show normalizes middle-aged men wearing spandex.

Our kids like this. Cole (3) doesn’t love it anymore, like he used to, but Sy (20 months) is getting into it.

*SO this show is not still airing new episodes. It wrapped in November of 2015. There is still a lot of merch for this show.

Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood.

The show has adorable animation and starts with the familiar tone of a song reminiscent of “beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” from Mr. Rogers, another show also once on PBS.

Pros – animation is easy on the eyes. Voice actors seem really solid, and the tone is very conversational between characters.

Cons – If Daniel Tiger were a human I had to work with, I would come home every day and tell my husband how much I want to throat punch Daniel Tiger. I can’t be the only one who’s noticed Daniel Tiger is a malignant narcissist, right?

If its doesn’t have to do with Daniel Tiger, he doesn’t give a fuuuuuuuuuu%K unless someone tells him he should. I haven’t let my oldest watch it since he was 18 months old, and Sy will never see it. I’m shocked PBS had gotten to this point AND we have to watch Sesame Street on HBO… not sure who bungled this stuff up.