The Best Toddler Shows of 2009
By Contributing Editor: Pamela Gifford
Looking for something to keep your toddler busy so you can grab a shower? The list below are some great shows, geared for specifically for toddlers and has loads to offer for education, learning, and problem solving.
Yo Gabba Gabba! - Nick jr. / Noggin
This show, with its colorful and strange looking characters is a hit with toddlers. Your toddler is encouraged to dance along with lively music. The show has tackled educational topics like hygiene, feelings, sleep, and more. While it's not technically a cartoon, it still keeps the attention of little ones!
Ni Hao, Ki-Lan - Nick jr. / Noggin
This fun cartoon is all about problem solving. Ki-Lan is a little Chinese girl with an array of different friends. When one of them has a problem, Ki-Lan encourages the young viewers to help her figure out what is wrong. This show also introduces words and numbers in Chinese.
Olivia - Nick jr. / Noggin
Based on the best selling children's books by Ian Falconer, Olivia, the little pig, is an imaginative but otherwise ordinary little girl with big dreams. She hates ordinary and is often a little selfish when it comes to sharing with her brothers. In the end of each episode, though, she realizes the important things in life isn't all about getting what you want.
Dora the Explorer - Nick jr. / Noggin
For many years, this little girl has been captivating kids with her adventures. Tagging along is her best friend Boots, a cute monkey that loves his red boots. Dora encourages the viewers to go on her adventure, help remind her where to go by looking at the map, and to solve riddles and problems through song.
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse - Playhouse Disney
Mickey has come back in the last few years for a new audience in the form of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Kids get to see old favorites like Minnie, Goofy, Donald, Daisy, and Pluto in the setting of a clubhouse where all the pals meet. Mickey goes on a quest, calling on "Toodles" (a floating Mickey Mouse shaped mechanical object) to help him along the way. Toodles reveals the mouse-ka tools in each episode, where the viewers are prompted to help chose the right tool for the job.
The Little Einsteins - Playhouse Disney
This group of kids; Leo, the conductor, Annie, the singer, Quincy, the musician, and June, the dancer, uses classical music and classical art to make it through each adventure. Its premise is to step outside the boundaries of a little kid's world and show them what is beyond. Kids can learn geography, musical terms, and how to work together as a team.
