Calming and Slow Paced Children’s TV Shows They Love
Today, I would like to share with you our family’s favorite slow paced and calming children’s TV shows. We have four children ranging in age from 11 to 1, and while the one-year-old doesn’t necessarily watch TV, he certainly feeds off their energy. Hence, calm older siblings makes for a calm toddler.
TV can be an extremely controversial issue these days in the parenting community. The bottom line is, every family has to make their own decision. Our family loves snuggling up together on Friday evenings after homemade pizza with a movie and popcorn date. Some of our best memories and cherished family rhythms have included our Family Movie Nights. However, that doesn’t mean we can’t be extremely intentional with what we watch.
I started noticing, especially as my children got older, that certain behaviors could be attributed to what they were watching. During the winter months, we’d start watching Brain Break videos on youtube to get out energy, but the issue was, the energy never left, it actually increased! On the contrary, when we would watch certain other shows, they were calm, even sometimes drifted off to sleep.
Is Bluey a calming show for kids?
I have to address the room right off the bat. Bluey has grown quite the fandom from children to adults alike. If you searched calming TV shows for children right now, you would likely see Bluey at the top of the list. While it may check off certain visual aspects, it just doesn’t set a calm tone in our home. This isn’t to say we don’t like Bluey and enjoy watching it from time to time, but the silliness usually gets my gets all riled up.
Slow Paced & Calming Children’s TV Shows
Little Bear
Number one on this list is unequivocally Little Bear. This will take even the wildest of child to a calm little snuggly bear.
Franklin
Franklin is another favorite in our home. he tends to be a bit whiney at times, but he usually learns his lesson in the end.
Barney
As a tiny two-year-old myself, Barney was my personal favorite. With every child, I tried to get them into that loveable purple dinosaur. I didn’t have any takers until I got to my daughter. She loves the music and will ask for Barney frequently. It may not have a calming effect on every child, but for her and I, it does!
Tumble Leaf
Tumble Leaf is probably the newest show on this list. Its especially a favorite with my older children, but all of them enjoy it.
Daniel Tiger
Daniel Tiger was particularly popular among my toddler boys. I think they especially enjoyed seeing Trolley. Daniel Tiger is great for helping kids calm and communicate those big emotions.
Berenstain Bears
Somewhere deep in Bear Country, lives the Berenstain Bear family. I don’t know about your children, but mine love the books, as well as the shows. As a Mom, I enjoy how the parents actually parent and there is always a lesson to be learned.
Little House on the Prairie
I know what you’re thinking, but this isn’t a kids show? Technically you’re right, but it is a show that my children enjoy and when they watch it, it doesn’t involve them bouncing off the walls afterwards. There are some heavy topics at times though, so this is certainly one that should be enjoyed as a family.
Thomas the Train
Not all Thomas’s are created equal. There is a new Thomas on Nickeloden that is as far from calming and slow paced as possible. There is Thomas and Friends which is better, but no cigar. Then you have the old school Thomas, also titled, Thomas and Friends. It can be quite confusing, but the older versions of Thomas seem to have the most calming effect.
Curious George
My eldest owned a Curious George Treasury book that literally fell apart from being read so much. He had a Curious George fourth birthday party. Needless to say, we love Curious George in our house. I really enjoy the show and the movies are cute too.
The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
This is an absolute classic from the 80’s. Like me with Barney, this was my husband’s favorite as a toddler. So, it was no surprise, we tried it out with our children. The whole show is so whimsical. From the music, to the animation, it is just so timeless and comforting.
There you have it. 10 of our favorite slow paced and calming children’s TV shows. Do you enjoy any of these? Do you have any that your family enjoys that didn’t make our list? Let us know down below!
Wow!!! I love this post and the idea behind your blog! My personal favorite is definitely the original Thomas and friends. We also have the wooden trains from that era and my nonverbal kids love those.
I’m so glad you stopped by!! Thomas is a favorite here as well!