Parents and caregivers know that
screen-time rules for toddlers can be tricky. The current guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) say that there should be no TV or movies — just video chats — for kids under 18 months of age. Then, for kids ages 18 to 24 months, the AAP says parents should choose “high-quality programming/apps and use them together with children, because this is how toddlers learn best.” Older toddlers, between the ages of 2 and 3, should be limited to less than an hour of programming per day, and co-viewing is also encouraged (as is making sure that screen time doesn’t interfere with sleep).
Knowing that every minute of screen time counts, and understanding that “high quality” benchmark, these are the best toddler shows to watch in 2023. Some of them try to impart facts about topics kids care about, like animals, the environment, the way things work and — of course — dinosaurs. Others work on softer, social-emotional skills, like how to overcome setbacks or how to recognize and regulate emotions when tempers flare. There are plenty of shows that parents of a certain age might remember from when they were young, but made fresh for a new generation of TV viewers. And others are just plain entertaining, something that you wouldn’t mind sitting to watch with your kids. Put one of these shows on next time you need a minute, and let the screen-time guilt melt away.
Looking for more recommendations for kids’ entertainment? Check out our lists of the best toddler movies, the best movies for kids and the best TV shows for kids.
