3 Year Old’s TV Programs – An Amateur Review Blog

TV. It’s a great (one of the best, actually) and often (but not always) successful way to distract an almost/just turned four-year-old from the havoc they’re likely wreaking. There are so many TV programs to choose from to keep the little ones entertained; popular shows with merchandise, YouTube channels and, sometimes theme parks created in their honour; I could genuinely go on and on and on. There is Peppa Pig, there is Bluey (which will feature in a later piece), there is Gabby’s Dollhouse, there is Shark Dog, Mr Tumble, Hey Duggee, Bing and so many more. I could write a book on what’s featured on our TV, but I’ve stuck to her five favourites, at the time of writing.

Pip & Posey

A mouse and a rabbit, best friends ‘til the end; or at least for the duration of the TV show. This is based on a book written by Camilla Reid, which was illustrated by Axel Scheffler (famous for his illustrations on many Julia Donaldson books, like ‘The Gruffalo’) and has been very good for my littlest girl’s learning. They cover number bonds (she repeats these regularly as it’s her favourite episode), positioning (lower, higher etc), colours, maps and so much more.

The language of the show is really easy to follow for a little infant, it’s so much more juvenile than any of the other programs I’ll mention in this piece (even the one where a literal toddler is the star), and it breaks things down in a way that is easily understandable. I find the whole thing quite grating if I’m honest, the way they talk, I can imagine, is like two five-year old’s conversing on the playground (and I have enough of this, having to listen to my little girl many times in the day, who speaks enough for two!): “five and five make your pants come alive!” Lines for this show will pop into my littlest girl’s head at the most inopportune moment, like when I’m trying to get her to settle at bedtime!

Cocomelon Lane

Cocomelon Lane is an extension to the popular music YouTube channel, Cocomelon (formerly ABC TV). It follows main character, JJ, and his friends as they go about their lives on, you guessed it, Cocomelon Lane. I like the storylines on the show and its diversity (it certainly goes out of its way to ensure that numerous cultures, ethnicities, and lifestyles are demonstrated in its programming, which to me is no bad thing), while the songs are very familiar too (thanks to the aforementioned YouTube channel). JJ helps at a foodbank, Niko goes for a photoshoot with his two dads and dresses up in all kinds of costumes, while Nina makes Empinadas with her grandma. Its teachings are a little on the nose, but their well worthwhile in showing how people from different backgrounds can get along.

It's an entertaining show, if a little basic (I know, what do you expect of a show created for three-year-olds?), however what is very annoying about the show (and Cocomelon in general) is that the songs just stick in my head. I could watch it while my littlest girl is eating her breakfast and be humming the melodies as I go to eat my lunch at midday (thank God I work from home!). Their voices have been known to infiltrate my brain and take over as I try to write a paragraph or two after work, and it gets worse as my youngest child sings the songs at bedtime, when she’s supposed to be relaxing and getting ready for sleep (similar to the Pip & Posy lines). All in all, Cocomelon Lane is a decent combination of fun and learning, but that does not make it any less aggravating at times.

Supertato

Speaking of getting songs stuck in your head, cue the theme tune to Supertato! It’s so repetitive and can be running around and around in my head for hours at a time. The show itself is based on a popular book about a superhero potato, who is constantly saving the veggies in the supermarket from the dastardly evil pea. There are whimsical characters, like the clever, gadget-loving carrot, the enthusiastic yet childish tomato (who seems to get himself into the most bother), the hot-headed chilli and the adventurous yet sometimes sheepish broccoli.

I think the point is to try and get kids to not be so scared of eating veggies, but I think making characters out of them could almost have the opposite effect. The show does go some way towards teaching them about everyday situations (like tying a knot while camping, making a wish using a lantern or performing in and watching sports), all the same. It is not so obvious in its teachings as the other two and is pretty farfetched at times (like carrot building a bread rocket for broccoli) but I suppose it is more about entertainment than learning. I’m not too keen, but the kids seem to like it (especially the youngest). 

Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom

Now this is the one that’s perhaps most up my alley of those my littlest girl frequently watches, and it is one that my little girl will also pay attention to from time to time. Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom boasts fantasy and humour, with characters that many can relate to, and the storytelling is the best of the lot. It’s about an elf and a fairy princess, who happen to be best friends, and is played by a lot of the same voice actors as Peppa Pig (although none of the characters are anywhere near as whiny). I like my fair share of fantasy and magic in the books I read and shows I watch, so that’s probably why this program sticks out to me.

It is more subtle from an educational perspective, focusing more on entertainment, although it does have its moments, like teaching viewers that chickens lay eggs, where the stars go at night and the basics of how to make flour. This, while sticking to a fantastical plot that I would expect can keep eyes on the screen more than a lot of other TV shows. It is more than likely my favourite on the list, but that does not mean I am not looking forward to the day my littlest girl grows out of it and wants to watch something a little more thought-provoking.

Alphablocks/Numberblocks

Here are two different shows, but I’ve grouped them together as they’re oh so similar (although my number obsessed three-year-old slightly prefers Numberblocks). One teaches children about the alphabet, the other about maths (it’s all in the name, I suppose) and each are fantastic at enabling the little ones to pick up the little tricks that will help them out in school. As a parent, it’s hard to fault them in this respect, and my littlest girl has learnt much through the repetition of the shows – but, oh, the repetition!

They do make up their own stories, and the short, sharp episodes go some way to allowing me to avoid the monotony of some of the others (sometimes), but that can be short-lived some days, as I hear it on repeat when the little one is wandering around the house and playing with the Numberblocks toys or (sense the theme here) at bed time!

So, there are five brief reviews of TV programs my four-year-old has been known to watch. I can see their benefits and can feel what makes them annoying. I apologise if I’ve missed any that your little one loves!

By Calum Dewsbury