13 Best Cartoons For Kids that They Will Love To Watch

When the discussion revolves around children watching cartoons for kids, it is always considered a sheer waste of time. It isn’t easy to believe that their downtime boosts their learning and increases their IQ. All kids love to watch cartoons, which is one of the biggest concerns of today’s parents. But let all parents be assured that some incredible cartoon shows enhance learning and make their screen time worthwhile. Some educational cartoons for toddlers strengthen their essential learning, be it science, maths, general awareness or language building. Some shows focus on enhancing values and life skills so the child can safely navigate life.

Best Educational Cartoon Shows for Kids

Kids immensely love watching cartoon shows based on values like friendship and sharing. They are most impressed watching some conflict, any antagonist and otherworldly characters like aliens, superheroes and mystic dragons. Some educational animated shows can be excellent entertainment time for the whole family. Some animated shows take children out of the confines of the classroom and teach them when relaxed so they can absorb the desired knowledge. Some children have even proved to perform better by gaining ample knowledge and have developed sensitivity towards others by imbibing the values and morals imparted by TV shows. A list of educational cartoons for kids is here for you to use to teach your child a concept through entertainment.

1. Dora and Friends: Into The City

Dora and Friends: Into the City is a popular series whose themes revolve around problem-solving, community service, and friendship. Dora and her friends are portrayed as hardworking and ideal role models who desperately try to transform their hometown into a better place by doing so in their own small way. Kids relate to the series better, as Dora is shown in her school-age years, and children love to emulate her in real life.

Suitable For

5 Years and above

2. Elena of Avalor

These stories highlight the value of friends and family. Elena is the ideal Latina role model, depicted in the stories as kind and feisty and upholds the values of friends and family. When the kids watch Elena go off on her adventures, they infer the values of honesty and kindness and learn them passively. The children learn about Latin culture through the dances and songs they watch and the Spanish language.

Ultimately, it helps in expanding the concept of diversity in young minds.

Suitable For

4 Years and above

3. Arthur

The show Arthur is appropriate for kids above five to understand sibling arguments presented lightly. It is a fun-filled and charming cartoon that shows how social situations are tackled. It imparts a lot of education when kids see how the titular character, Arthur, navigates friendships and overcomes fears. It is also learning when the titular character, Arthur, speaks about his anxieties openly and finds creative ways to solve his problems, remaining determined all along.

Suitable For

5 Years and above

4. Nutri Ventures

Another popular animated series is Nutri Ventures, which emphasises good nutrition and healthy eating habits. Children understand the significance of good health and a love for good food. At a very early age, kids can be taught how to avoid fast food and junk food, which reign supreme in their reference options, and to prefer healthy food over it. Health and nutrition awareness helps the child grow in the most disciplined way.

Suitable For

4-10 Year olds

5. Sid the Science Kid

Kids as young as four find discovering and learning about the world around them fascinating. The animated series Sid, the Science Kid is recommended for that age group to arouse curiosity and wonder. This urge and curiosity further change their love for science in their later age. The humour and music heighten the impact and make the child interested, making them think while having fun. It hones their creativity, too. So, the time spent watching it is finally a win-win situation.

Suitable For

4 Years and above

6. Word Girl

This animated series is created to strengthen different subjects. The Word Girl enhances the vocabulary of the kids. The heroine outsmarts the villain with the power of her vocabulary and thus saves the day. The series helps widen the horizons and helps kids pronounce words correctly, which is very helpful at this stage. Parents like to allow their children to watch the show, which, in a way, improves their speaking skills.

Suitable For

4-9 Year olds

7. Daniel Tiger’s Neighbourhood

Children love to learn in a fun and gentle manner. An important life skill that children ought to know is to handle their emotions. According to their age, kids should know how to embrace their feelings and deal with social strategies. If learnt in a fun and joyful way, this life skill will help strengthen their bonds with family and friends and maintain a balance. Daniel Tiger’s Neighbourhood also belongs to the same category of shows.

Suitable For

2 Years and above

8. Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood

It is a well-loved classic tale. The show teaches the children to manifold values and skills required in modern times. It teaches them social skills, which we need to exercise daily. This leads to finer values such as social responsibility and self-respect. It allows children to empower their imagination through music and make-believe situations. The tales teach children the higher values of overcoming fear, friendship, honesty, and complex feelings about losing a loved one.

Suitable For

2-5 Year olds

9. Sesame Street

It is one of the shows that depicts memorable characters and has unforgettable episodes. Generations of children have grown up watching, enjoying, and learning simultaneously. Children for ages have expanded their vocabulary and turned into voracious readers. Moreover, they scored higher grades in science, too. Watching this children’s show also sparks their creativity.

Suitable For

2 Years and above

10. Blaze and the Monster Machines

This is a kid’s cartoon narrating a story of nine friendly trucks gifted with varied abilities. Each episode is genuinely educational and interactive, and the learning thus acquired is deeply embedded in the mind. The show teaches everything worthwhile as the children learn about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). It is an American English Cartoon

Funny and Entertaining Cartoon Shows for Kids

While learning is a crucial part of a child’s life, having a laugh and enjoying themselves as much as possible is important because you only get to be a child once! Here is a list of the best children’s cartoons that are light-hearted, funny, and entertaining!

1. Shape Island

Based on the award-winning children’s book, ‘Triangle, Circle, and Square’ by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen, this quirky cartoon is set on a fantasy island and tells the story of Circle, Triangle, and Square, 3 anthropomorphic shapes that have vastly different personalities. It uses humour and fun to show how they navigate life and their differences while going on adventures and having fun. It is an adorable cartoon that teaches children friendship, kindness and honesty.

Suitable For

1 Year and above

2. Bossy Bear

An endearing Koreatown-inspired cartoon, Bossy Bear is the story of extroverted Bossy, a Bear and introverted Turtle, who have silly, fun, and sweet adventures that impart some valuable lessons about communication, teamwork, understanding and navigating differences, and friendship! 

Suitable For

3 Years and above

3. Pingu

An adorable cartoon catered to all ages, Pingu is a young penguin who lives in Antarctica and has hilarious encounters with his family, his sister Pinga and his best friend Robbie the Seal. While Pingu and Robbie get into misadventures occasionally, he also learns some valuable lessons along the way. Pingu speaks “Pinglish,” so look for quirky words your child might pick up!

Suitable For

2 Years and above

FAQs

1. Do educational cartoons improve academic performance?

Research shows that children who watch educational cartoons and are taught using traditional teaching methods tend to do better academically than children who are simply taught using the latter (1). This is because educational cartoons teach complex Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) concepts in a simple and entertaining manner, making them more memorable. They also help improve cognitive and learning skills.

2. How much cartoon time should be allowed per day?

A study published by the American Academy of Paediatrics indicates that children 2 years and above should only be exposed to high-quality programming for 1 hour a day or less (2).

3. What are some common themes found in educational cartoons?

Cartoons for children’s educational development do more than teach language, STEM and other academic concepts. They also delve into topics that aid emotional and interpersonal skills development. Such cartoons often touch upon subjects of understanding and embracing feelings, respecting diverse cultures and differences, the value of teamwork, family, and friendship, concepts like kindness, patience, honesty, and empathy, and learning from our mistakes.

Many parents call the TV set an ‘idiot box’,’ not realising that some cartoons and kid shows hone the children’s innate faculties and keep them up-to-date with their times. There is an abundance of cartoons for 1, 2, 4 and 5-year-olds, which, if viewed with the proper perspective, can improve the reasoning faculties of a child. Many parents feel that playing outside, reading, solving a jigsaw puzzle, and creating artistic things are the only productive activities. But we are here to show you that TV shows can be educational, too. This list of best cartoons for kids is a starting point for parents to promote holistic development in their little ones while having fun!

References/Resources:

1. Kathiah, R., Daya A. P., Mp, S., & Selvakumar, S.; Evaluating the Impact of Cartoon-Based Learning on Student Performance and Engagement in Medical Education: An Experimental Study; Cureus; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10960565/; 2024

2. Radesky, J., Christakis, D.; Media and Young Minds; American Academy of Paediatrics; https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/138/5/e20162591/60503/Media-and-Young-Minds?autologincheck=redirected; November 2016

Also Read:

Animated Movies for Kids
Best Educational Movies All Kids Should Watch
Positive and Negative Effects of Cartoons on Children
How to Choose the Best Movies for Kids to Watch?

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