21 children’s shows that proved there’s good in the world

Fred Rogers, more lovingly known around the world as Mister Rogers, was sincerity in human form. While so many others in children’s television embody the same spirit as him, there’s no denying that he’s the reason for that. He set the bar high, and since his passing, new generations have been lucky enough to catch clips online or watch Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, an animated show inspired by one of the characters Rogers helped bring to life.

Muppet Babies wasn’t necessarily an educational show, but it taught kids pop culture in a way that was somewhat easier to understand with their take on the likes of The Wizard of Oz and Star Wars. In turn, this allows kids' imaginations to run even wilder.  

What made Gullah Gullah Island even more believable was that the couple was married on screen and in real life. Their chemistry only enhanced the watchability of it.

Phineas and Ferb found a way to make summer vacation even better.

LeVar Burton’s Reading Rainbow took reading to a new level. It showed kids that the words on those pages were adventures ready and waiting to be enjoyed.

On the surface, Recess was just your average after-school cartoon, but digging a little deeper, one would find that the Disney show covered a lot of topics that can often be left out of conversations with children, like what it’s like to be the new kid and even the reality of death.

Ms. Frizzle would have been fired the second she left school grounds for a regular field trip to the zoo, so one always has to wonder what kind of reprimanding she would’ve gotten for, say, shrinking down her kids and taking them inside one of their classmates to learn about immune systems. Her teaching methods may have been out there, but that doesn’t mean The Magic School Bus didn’t drive kids into various fields of science.

Looking at the news, perhaps it’s time someone reboots this environmentally-conscious cartoon.

Heartfelt and genuine, Sesame Street delivered on diversity long before it felt like pulling teeth to get studios to focus on inclusion. It is the gold standard for children’s TV and TV in general. It’s also managed to keep up with the changing times better than any show on television, including giving their more famous puppets social media accounts that are hilarious and only add to why they’re beloved.

Raven Baxter, forever and always, that girl.

There’s something special about a show that, even decades later, the host can make a video that makes former viewers weep. Steve from Blue’s Clues did that when, in 2021, a video was released of Steve Burns in character telling grown-up fans he never forgot about them. It’s safe to say that a lot of millennials were left weeping.

Bless Paul Reubens for showing young people that it’s okay to be a little out there, a little weird, a little outside the box because not everyone will naturally fit into said box, and they need to know that’s okay.

Yo Gabba Gabba may have had more adult fans due to guest appearances from Hollywood’s finest like Jack Black to emo greats My Chemical Romance to sports icons like Tony Hawk, but kids still enjoyed it for the silliness the giant puppets provided.

Bluey tapped into something that is rare in children’s television, and that’s being able to create a show that is as enjoyed by kids as it is by their parents. Good writing that appeals to the masses is why Bluey, although not that old, is already a forever favorite.

For some reason, Barney received way more hate than a purple dinosaur singing about love should have, but he did. While that was unfortunate, the world can’t forget that Barney preached not only love but also imagination, friendship, and creativity.

Steven Universe focused on friendships and family, embracing differing body types and LGBTQ+ representation.

Doc McStuffins is far from a licensed professional, but this pint-sized stuffed animal practitioner has done a lot of good in terms of inspiration. Because of her, who knows how many little girls — particularly girls of color — will grow up to work in medicine to some degree?

Girls Meets World gave fans of the original what they wanted while still allowing the new cast of characters to stand out on their own.

Wishbone proved the best way to teach classic literature was via a talking dog in impressive costumes.

Older kids also need programming that knows how to balance what they’re going through from a more family-friendly approach, and Lizzie McGuire did just that. It may have only gotten two seasons and a movie, but because of the writing and attention to detail, the impact is everlasting.

Jim Henson may have already passed by the time Bear in the Big Blue House came to be on Disney Junior, but his creative spirit and the joy he spread to the world via puppets was still going strong with this creation that the late creator’s company dropped in 1997.