Top 10 Shows for Preschoolers

The Backyardigans are five adorable friends who put their imaginations together to turn their backyards into fantastical settings as they sing and dance their way through epic adventures. Created by Janice Burgess, each CGI animated show features original music, and the dance steps are performed by real dancers whose movements are recreated in animation. The show is incredibly entertaining -- so much so that there are numerous parent blogs devoted to it -- and it exposes kids to all kinds of music from South African Township Jive to rock opera. The show presents clever, and unique music, plots and settings in each episode. Fans can watch the show on Nick Jr. or find Backyardigans episodes and movies on DVD.

Between the Lions features a family of lions - Mom and Dad, named Cleo and Theo, and their children, Lionel and Leona - who run a library that is filled with the magic of books. The series combines puppetry, animation, live action and music to develop a literacy curriculum geared to beginning readers aged four to seven; however, younger preschoolers still enjoy the show and can get a lot out of it. Characters from books come alive, letters sing and dance, and words play in the world between the lions. Also, every episode addresses the five key areas of reading instruction: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and text comprehension. As far as TV shows go, educational content does not get any better than Between the Lions.

A pioneer show in the realm of interactive cartoons for preschoolers, Dora the Explorer characters enlist the help of viewing kids, as Dora and her friends complete educational adventures. Kids learn about colors, numbers, shapes and more as they help Dora solve riddles and puzzles along her way. Dora, a seven-year-old Latina heroine, also throws in Spanish words, and kids are asked to repeat them or sing along with songs incorporating the words. The show has been a hit for over 8 years, and in 2008 Dora was updated with a new voice and some new curriculum points were added. This landmark children's series will continue to be in the top most loved learning shows for preschoolers for who knows how many years to come.

Since its premiere in 1996, Blue's Clues has continued to stand out as one of the top preschool series on TV. With its interactive, educational focus, Blue’s Clues was also a pioneer in a new model of preschoolers’ television. The show’s educational focus covers skills from colors and shapes to numbers and letters, but the greatest focus is on helping kids learn problem solving skills. In each episode, clues left by Blue must be found and put together to come up with an answer or idea. Through this process, kids are able to practice relating information and drawing conclusions. Kids are also able to observe as Joe (or Steve on older episodes) guides children through the day’s adventure finding and relating Blue’s clues.

Any list of top shows for preschoolers is obviously going to feature the main staple of kids' TV -- Sesame Street. The show has been on the air for decades (since 1969), and the characters are known by almost every kid alive. Still, there are things about the show that I didn't realize when I watched as a kid. For example, each new season of Sesame Street brings a new area of educational focus along with funny parodies (note the photo of "Pre-School Musical" -- Ha Ha!) and exciting characters. Sesame is continually assessing and refining the show to meet the educational needs of preschoolers, and there is also a wealth of online Sesame Street resources to help kids continue learning.

Scott, Rich, Dave, and "Smitty" are in a rockin' band from New Orleans called the Imagination Movers. In this live-action series, the Movers hang out in their "idea warehouse," where they make music and solve "idea emergencies." If a problem needs solving, the Movers are up to the job. After a little brain-storming, they come up with some possible solutions and test them out. Imagination Movers uses upbeat music, comedy, and behavior modeling to entertain kids and teach them to think things through. The show also appeals to kids' sense of wonder and imagination through whimsical storylines and settings. The focus on thinking empowers kids to solve their own problems and tackle challenges with a positive attitude.

Super Why follows four friends -- Alpha Pig with Alphabet Power, Wonder Red with Word Power, Princess Presto with Spelling Power, Super Why with the Power to Read -- who use fairy tales to solve problems in their every day lives. The Super Readers invite Super YOU to come into the pages of a magical storybook world and help them. Kids follow along as the Readers read a story, talk with the characters, play word games, and relate the story's lesson to the problem they are trying to solve. The brightly colored characters make letters, spelling, and reading fun for preschoolers. Kids adore them, and fans of Super Why can be found searching for "super letters" in grocery stores, on signs, or wherever the now familiar symbols might pop out.

The Little Einsteins series was created for preschoolers and incorporates classical music, art, and real world images to entertain and educate. Combining animation with the real life images, the Little Einsteins take kids on adventures that teach them about actual places and things. Sometimes, the setting of the adventure is actually an animated version of a famous work of art. Also essential to each themed show is the musical score, and the Little Einsteins incorporate musical terminology and concepts into each adventure. The show provides a great introduction to music and art, and kids may also learn about real things and places through the different adventures.

Always wondering "why?" or "how?," Sid's inquisitive nature and zeal for learning are contagious to kids. Each episode finds Sid with a scientific conundrum. His mom helps him explore the topic online, and at school his friends and teacher give him additional insight into the question. By the time he gets back home, Sid has a good handle on his new found knowledge, and he is ready to share it with his family and put it into practice. The animation is not the prettiest, in my opinion, but kids relate very well to the show and to Sid, and it teaches them to be excited about science and problem solving. Parents can also glean some good ideas from the show about ways they can incorporate science into kids' every day life.

Pinky Dinky Doo may be a little girl, but she has big ideas and an even bigger imagination. The show is animated using a blend of flash animation over photo collage backgrounds. In each episode, little brother Tyler comes to Pinky with a big problem, and he uses a big word to describe it. Pinky takes Tyler to the story box, where she tells a story that will surely lift Tyler’s spirits and help him solve the dilemma. Tyler’s big word is used several times in the story, so viewing kids can gain an understanding of the new vocabulary. Each episode features two eight-minute stories, each followed by interactive games to help viewing kids with literary skills such as recall and order of events.