Older children's programming really is peak kid's TV.
Who did it better than Out of the Box, Blue's Clues, Big Comfy Couch, or Gullah Gullah Island? And sure, the science in Magic School Bus is a little outdated, but it gives me a chance to teach Little Miss about things like dwarf planets.
To be fair, Bluey is great. Lots of fun, some good lessons, modernity, and lots of "omg, SAME!!!" moments for adults (and even some that will totally make you cry like Baby Race and the one where Bluey and Bingo get separate rooms for a night). I even have a favorite episode (Rain).
But Out of the Box teaches kids how to craft with household items, expands imagination, and the two adults of the show, Vivian and Tony, seem genuinely kind and great with the kids, and they have lots of energy without me wondering if they took something to help with that (sorry Ms Rachel, you seem like a great person, but that's just TOO much pep for me). They're also really inclusive with the audience, asking them to join in with playing, and explaining how to imagine they have the same props as in the show. Plus, the theme song is a banger (š¶ Out of the box, out of the boxš¶ has been a vocal stim for me since my sister became obsessed with this show in 1999) and the goodbye song is great, too.
Blue's Clues obviously works the brain, getting the audience to try to put clues together, help Steve and others solve problems, and he gives plenty of time for kids to answer him when he asks questions. I also really like how he explains things. And he's got just the right amount of energy, too.
The Big Comfy Couch is super silly, but Loonette (a clown) and Molly (her dolly) also explore some big feelings that toddlers and preschoolers often have. And there's a couple of segments in each episode that encourage kids to be active (clock stretches and dancing). OotB was my sister's favorite show when she was really little, but TBCC was another one she liked quite a lot. There's also a storytime segment where Loonette reads Molly (and the audience) a book. And of course lots of playing pretend.
And Gullah Gullah Island was my favorite as a kid. It follows a Black family from the Sea Islands, off the coast of South Carolina. Natalie and Ron are great parents who can sometimes be very creative when teaching their kids to resolve conflicts. They also occasionally educate their kids (and the audience) about Gullah culture. They have two kids who are around 10 years old (maybe 10 and 8?) and adorable baby Simeon naps most of the show, but we usually see him once or twice per episode. There's also a costumed polliwog, Binya-Binya, who communicates via vague vocalizations, as a kind of stand-in for a young toddler. The two kids have friends that frequently come over to play. And there's usually a segment where at least one of the kids explore something off set, like a market in Beaufort or to the beach to look for crabs. It's another show like OotB that breaks the fourth wall to include the audience.
Both OotB and GGI have lots of songs in each episodes, TBCC usually has one about whatever feeling they're exploring that episode, and Blue's Clues has little jingles throughout the episode.
And they're all live-action, which usually feels a little more chill than cartoons, though Bluey is capable of chill moments.
Well, this was definitely supposed to be shorter and not SO review-y, but, well, that's me š
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