7 Toddler Shows That Help Them Learn, Move & Get the Wiggles Out
There are times when the TV simply needs to go on.
Maybe I need to make dinner without three little helpers underfoot. Maybe everyone is tired after preschool. Maybe I need to answer an email, fold a load of laundry, or just sit down for a few minutes.
And sometimes, we all just need a little downtime.
I don’t think screen time has to automatically come with Mom guilt.
Instead, I’ve started thinking about what I want the kids to get out of their screen time. Do they need to move their bodies? Do we want something calm? Are we working on language or communication? Or do they just need a good story that reinforces kindness, teamwork, and family?
Being intentional about what we put on has helped me feel much better about using TV when we need it.
If you’re looking for good toddler shows that offer a little more than entertainment, these are seven of our favorites. Some encourage language and early learning, others get toddlers moving, and a few simply tell really good stories with lessons little kids can understand.
1. PAW Patrol: Teamwork & Problem-Solving
Best for: Teamwork, problem-solving, helping others
PAW Patrol is definitely a favorite in our house, but I also appreciate some of the lessons tucked into all those rescue missions.
The pups have to work together, solve problems, and figure out which member of the team has the right skills for the job. There’s also a consistent theme of helping others.
For toddlers who are learning how to play together, take turns, and understand that everyone can contribute something different, there are actually some pretty useful lessons hidden among all those vehicles and adventures.
Why it’s one of our favorite toddler shows: It reinforces teamwork, helping others, and finding solutions when something goes wrong.
2. Bluey: Family, Feelings & Everyday Life
Best for: Social-emotional learning, imagination, family relationships
There is a reason parents seem to love Bluey almost as much as kids do.
The episodes are short and funny, but so many of them touch on things our kids are experiencing in their own lives: sharing, disappointment, sibling relationships, imagination, patience, family time, and navigating big feelings.
I also love that so many of the stories are centered around simply playing together as a family.
And, admittedly, there are plenty of Bluey episodes that seem to be teaching me something about parenting at the same time. I have implemented a few of their lessons, or make a point to have a conversation with our kids after the episode.
Why I like it: It’s entertaining without feeling mindless and creates opportunities to talk about feelings, relationships, and situations toddlers actually experience.
3. Ms. Rachel: Language & Early Learning
Best for: Speech, language, songs, early concepts
Ms. Rachel became a popular toddler show for a reason.
Her videos incorporate songs, repetition, gestures, language development, early concepts, and plenty of opportunities for kids to participate instead of simply staring at the screen.
For younger toddlers especially, I like content that encourages them to say something, point to something, sing, clap, or respond.
It makes screen time feel more interactive.
Why I like it: There’s a strong emphasis on communication, repetition, songs, and early learning, making it one of our favorite educational shows for toddlers.
4. Ms. Ash: Sign Language & Fresh Learning Content
Best for: Language development, sign language, interactive learning
Ms. Ash has become another favorite educational toddler show option for us.
I think of her as a newer alternative to Ms. Rachel, with plenty of regularly updated material. One thing I particularly like is the amount of sign language incorporated into the videos. We started watching her, just as the kids started learning sign language at school. I saw them following her sign language cues, especially with the alphabet songs.
Even as toddlers become more verbal, signs can be another useful way to reinforce words and communication.
The format is engaging and interactive, making it another good option when I want the kids watching something that feels purposeful.
Why I like it as a toddler show: The combination of speech, songs, sign language, and interactive learning gives toddlers multiple ways to engage.
5. Super Simple Songs: Music, Movement & Nursery Rhymes
Best for: Music, movement, repetition, nursery rhymes
Sometimes we aren’t really looking for a “show” at all.
Super Simple Songs is one of my favorite toddler shows to put on when we want music in the background or something the kids can sing and move along with.
There are familiar nursery rhymes, counting songs, movement songs, and plenty of repetition, which toddlers tend to love anyway.
It can also turn passive screen time into something more active. Instead of sitting on the couch watching, we’re singing, dancing, doing hand motions, or following along.
Why I like it: These toddler shows combines music, repetition, language, and movement in a way that’s easy for toddlers to participate in.
6. Danny Go!: When They Need to Get the Wiggles Out
Best for: Movement, high-energy play, rainy days
There is watching TV… And then there is Danny Go!
When three toddlers have a LOT of energy and going outside isn’t an option, this is one of my favorite tricks.
The songs encourage kids to jump, dance, run in place, pretend, and move their bodies. Instead of asking everyone to settle down for screen time, sometimes I use the screen specifically because I don’t want them sitting still.
Danny Go! has been especially useful on rainy days, cold winter mornings, or those stretches of the afternoon when everyone suddenly seems to have endless energy.
Why I like it for a toddler show: They’re watching a screen, but they’re also moving, following directions, using their imaginations, and burning off some serious toddler energy.
7. Toddler Yoga: Calm Movement & Body Awareness
Best for: Exercise, focused attention, body awareness, calming down
Toddler yoga has been one of my favorite discoveries because it combines several things I want the kids to practice: moving their bodies, slowing down, listening, following directions, and paying attention to how their bodies feel.
You don’t necessarily need one specific channel or program, either.
I usually search for “toddler yoga” and have found themed yoga videos featuring characters and movies the kids already love, including PAW Patrol, Bluey, and Toy Story.
That little bit of familiarity can make yoga much more exciting and relatable to a three-year-old.
They aren’t thinking about mindfulness or building healthy movement habits. They’re pretending to be their favorite characters.
Meanwhile, they’re learning to stretch, balance, breathe, listen, and focus.
Why I like it: It’s a fun introduction to exercise, focused attention, and body awareness, with familiar characters that can make toddlers much more interested in participating.
How I Choose Good Toddler Shows Based on What We Need
I’ve found that the biggest shift for me was stopping thinking about all screen time as the same thing.
Instead, I choose what we watch based on what our family needs at that moment.
When they need to move: Danny Go! or toddler yoga
When we want something calmer: Bluey
When I want educational screen time: Ms. Rachel or Ms. Ash
When we want music and movement: Super Simple Songs
When they want an adventure: PAW Patrol
And sometimes they just really want to watch the pups save Adventure Bay.
That’s okay, too.
Looking at screen time this way has helped me realize that finding good toddler shows isn’t necessarily about finding the most educational program possible. It’s about choosing a toddler show with content that fits what my kids, and sometimes I need at that particular moment.
Toddler Screen Time Doesn’t Have to Equal Mom Guilt
Before having kids, it’s easy to imagine all the things you’ll do, or won’t do, as a parent. Then you actually become one.
For me, raising three toddlers has taught me that very few things about motherhood need to be all or nothing.
Sometimes putting a toddler show on the TV is unavoidable. Sometimes it’s helpful. And sometimes it’s exactly what everyone needs.
What has helped me let go of some of the guilt is being more mindful about what they’re watching and why I’m turning it on.
- Screen time can mean singing nursery rhymes.
- It can mean practicing signs and new words.
- It can mean jumping around the living room to Danny Go!
- It can mean trying a yoga pose.
- It can mean watching characters work together to solve a problem.
And yes, sometimes it can simply mean Mom gets 20 minutes to make dinner without someone hanging from her leg. That counts for something, too.
I don’t think we need to turn every minute of childhood into an educational opportunity. But if the TV is going to be on anyway, I’ve found that choosing good toddler shows encourage learning, movement, imagination, or kindness helps me feel like screen time is another tool in our parenting toolbox, not something I need to feel guilty about.
Frequently Asked Questions About Good Toddler Shows
What are some good toddler shows?
Some of our favorite good shows for toddlers include PAW Patrol, Bluey, Ms. Rachel, Ms. Ash, Super Simple Songs, and Danny Go! We also use toddler yoga videos when we want screen time that encourages movement and focused attention.
What are the best educational shows for toddlers?
For more traditional early learning, we like Ms. Rachel and Ms. Ash because they incorporate language, songs, repetition, gestures, and interactive learning. Super Simple Songs is another favorite for combining music, movement, language, and early concepts.
What toddler shows encourage movement?
Danny Go! is our favorite when the kids need to burn off energy. Super Simple Songs also has plenty of movement-based songs. Toddler yoga videos are another great option when we want something active but a little calmer and more focused.
What are good toddler shows for learning about emotions?
Bluey is one of our favorites for conversations about feelings, family relationships, sharing, disappointment, imagination, and everyday childhood experiences. The stories often give us opportunities to talk about situations our toddlers experience themselves.
How can I make screen time more beneficial for my toddler?
One simple approach is to choose what your toddler watches based on what they need at that moment. You might choose a movement-based program when they have extra energy, songs for language and repetition, an educational program for interactive learning, or a story-based show that explores relationships and emotions. Not every minute of screen time needs to be educational, but being intentional about what you turn on can help make screen time feel more purposeful.
