As a parent of a 4 and 5 year old, I am no stranger to the world of cartoons. On one side lurk the types of cartoons that literally can make a parent cringe: crude, obnoxious humor and little to no true redeeming qualities. On the other, though, lie diamonds in disguise, cartoons that offer kid-friendly entertainment, sound values, and real educational value. The following 5 cartoons are shows my family watches several times a week. They are among my children’s favorites, as well as my own, since all offer wonderful entertainment while teaching children valuable knowledge and life lessons.
Dora the Explorer. Probably the most famous cartoon character in my household is Dora. Not a day goes by without my son or daughter asking to watch this show or the two of them running off to have little Dora adventures of their own. Dora has given them both an interest in Spanish and has broadened their imagination and problem-solving skills.
Go, Diego, Go! And who could forget Dora’s animal rescuer cousin Diego? This spin-off of Dora the Explorer has reinforced my kids’ new love of Spanish and has introduced them to a whole new exciting world of knowledge: the natural sciences. Through Diego’s daring rescues, my children are now familiar with the different global climates and some of the animals that call these various regions home.
Sesame Street. Growing up with Sesame Street myself, I took great joy in sharing my favorite Muppets and monsters with my own children. Over the years, this show has taught my kids everything from counting to shapes to letters to sharing, and they still can’t get enough. They can watch the same episodes over and over and still find new things to learn since this show is so full of educational and moral gems.
Blue’s Clues. From infants, my kids have always been intrigued by the cute little cartoon dog, Blue. This show offers so much from singing to art to reading to basic educational concepts. It also sends children off on imaginative adventures that put their thinking and problem-solving skills to the test.
VeggieTales. My favorite out of these 5 shows, VeggieTales entertains kids with humorous twists on famous tales and with extremely silly songs. Yet, hidden amongst all the side-splitting antics are solid moral and Christian teachings that focus on treating others well and living a life of love and forgiveness.