3 Children’s Shows that Teach Problem-Solving

I don’t know a single parent who doesn’t get excited to find a good educational show for their child’s screen time. Even more exciting is finding one that isn’t too overstimulating for the kids, or too obnoxious for the parents. Finding all three benefits in one TV show feels like winning the lottery!

Here are three great shows that accomplish all of the above.

Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood

This show is for toddlers and preschoolers, but I am not ashamed to admit that I miss it! It was a big part of our home for many years.

Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood is a PBS animated spin-off series based on characters from Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood. A whole cast of neighborhood friends come together to tell simple stories that are relevant to the youngest of children, and to teach them how to handle the challenges they face. Topics range from missing your parents when you have a babysitter, to dealing with a friend who touches your favorite toy, to using the washroom in an unfamiliar place. Every show includes a song about the topic, which makes the key takeaway easy to remember.

We found this show incredibly helpful for both of our children, but especially for our son on the autism spectrum. I often found myself singing a relevant Daniel Tiger song to soothe him when he was stressed. The songs gave me some simple, age-appropriate language to help him through his challenges, and gave him an easy-to-remember lesson to repeat to himself when he needed it. “When You Feel So Mad” and “When You Have to Go Potty” were big hits in our house.

There is so much to love about this show:

• The animation style isn’t too flashy, and the pacing is nice and slow. It’s a very calm show.

• It features a diverse set of characters, including people of many races and abilities.

• It encourages children to talk about their problems and fears, and to ask for help when their emotions or challenges become too big to handle alone.

• It isn’t too mature. There’s no unnecessary action or drama between characters. The storylines stick to common experiences a preschooler would face at home, daycare, or out in the community with their caregivers.

• Did I mention the songs? They are perfect teaching tools. And if you have a little Gestault language processor in your home, you’ll find that they pick up and repeat the songs very quickly.

Tumble Leaf

This Amazon Video find is surprisingly good! Tumble Leaf is hands-down one of the most peaceful, calming, “zen” children’s shows you’ll ever find. The stop-motion animation looks like a painting come to life, and the soundtrack is gentle and whimsical.

Tumble Leaf is set in a beautiful landscape that Fig the Fox calls home. Every day, something new washes up on shore for him to play with. Using a whole lot of imagination and creativity, Fig uses whatever object he’s found this episode to create a game, or solve a problem. He experiences set-backs and do-overs, but he always perseveres until he can confidently say, “We figured it out!”

This show is safe for children as young as two years old, because its animation and musical style is not over-stimulating. The themes and characters are also gentle enough that they won’t upset young viewers. This show is not just for toddlers, however. The youngest of viewers will enjoy the sensory experience of the show, even if they don’t understand the plot. Kindergarteners will love the simple storylines and imaginative play. Older children and parents alike will appreciate the wordplay, and a vocabulary that isn’t “dumbed down.”

Reasons to love Tumble Leaf:

• It is suitable for a greater range of ages than your average children’s show. Your First-Grader isn’t going to feel talked down to, and your three-year-old isn’t going to accidentally see something frightening.

• It is educational in a very different way than many children’s shows. Instead of hearing the ABC’s for the hundredth time, your children will get to learn about exploring the world through their senses, using their imaginations, interacting with their environment, cooperating with their friends, and banishing boredom by creating their own fun.

• This show doesn’t merely avoid over-stimulating its audience, it actually sets a peaceful mood. I would often snuggle my kids on the couch and watch an episode of Tumble Leaf right before nap time. It really seemed to help them wind down from active play, and get in the mood for some quiet time.

The Stinky and Dirty Show

Another great show from Amazon Video is The Stinky and Dirty Show. Granted, this one is more upbeat and stimulating than the two above, but it still gets a thumbs up from me for being age-appropriate, and for teaching creativity, cooperation, and problem-solving.

If you have a little person who loves big trucks in your home, this is the show for you! Stinky (a garbage truck) and Dirty (a backhoe) are best friends who are always up for adventure. They get their work done with a smile, and employ a lot of creative problem-solving by using discarded items from the back of Stinky’s truck. The two biggest themes of this show are collaboration and cooperation. The characters talk through their problem and several possible solutions before choosing one together. They appreciate each other’s abilities, and aren’t afraid to ask for help. Two catchphrases you’ll hear every episode are: “Here’s what I’m thinking…” and “Let me help!”

Reasons to love Stinky and Dirty:

• The show is upbeat without employing too many flashes or overly fast action sequences. While you may still choose not to watch it before bed, it’s noticeably less stimulating than Paw Patrol or PJ Masks.

• It’s filled with catchy songs that will make your little ones want to get up and dance.

• It models wholesome friendships.

• It handles conflict between characters well, without adding rude or mean words and behaviors. It’s a nice change from other popular children’s shows that sometimes have children imitating the bad behavior from the beginning of the show more than the good behavior from the end of the show.

• It encourages and demonstrates creative thinking, problem-solving, and cooperation.

• It’s genuinely fun and entertaining. Kids won’t even realize how many life lessons they’re learning!

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