Films / programmes for a 3 year old - With Strong Female Characters...

[WhyDidWeNotThinkOfTheCheese]

What would you recommend?

Brave! Merida is awesome! She-ra? Does that still exist? On YouTube possibly. Although I don't know if that would cpoumt because of her costume. Mulan?

The secret garden? I'm having a genuine ponder now..

The new wiggles?

Brave
Tangled (ish)
Sheriff Callie
Doc McStuffins

Sorry - it's all a bit Disneytastic.

how about Matilda, the movie adaptation is brilliant and shows a really positive image of smart and thoughtful little girls.

Me Too! from what I remember (and it's been a while thankfully!) has a reasonable mix of adults who work

Female Doctor, Male Nurse, Male Teacher, Female Taxi Driver

You can't beat Auntie Mabel. She flies her own plane!

Lilo and Stitch
Brave
Matilda
Erm... not as easy as it should be actually

Totoro
Ponyo

Dora the explorer

Marking place. DD got scared by Numberjacks the other day & actually started crying as 4 was in danger from the Numbertaker, so I think I need some on the gentler end...

The Tweenies. Bella and Fizz are definitely running the group.

Come Outside.

Balamory.

Peppa Pig.

Beauty and the Beast?

Katie morag

Peg + cat is good - is that too young?

Also agree with Tangled and Brave.

Sarah & Duck. She knows where it's at. She's down with all the tech, and she's got a favourite bench in the park to sit on as well.

Another vote for Ponyo and My Neighbour Totoro. Lovely.

Hilltop Hospital - old (1999) cartoon series but has a female surgeon who is a strong female character. You might be able to find it on youtube.

Definitely Doc McStuffins, 3yo dd adores her. Also Dora, either in Dora the Explorer or Dora and friends: into the city.

Kimpossible.

DS likes Kiki's Delivery Service.

Despicable Me 2 does reasonably well on female characters. (Minions, not so good.)

Brave was good but the toddler triplets (and everybody else) fight a lot, and DS seemed to be copying so that's now off the list.

Nim's Island is great but might be a little scary at points for a 3 year old (big storm, father gets caught in it).

I'm not a fan of the patriarchally approved beauty standards and teeny clothing but the tinker bell movies are all great.

Wonderpets
Ben & Holly's Little Kingdom (got to love Nanny Plum)
Dora
Max & Ruby
Super Why
Power Puff Girls (may be a little old for her at 3 though)

We were surprised to find the early Barbie movies were really quite good. Great music and she was pretty feisty too.

Otherwise I second (or third or fourth!) the Studio Ghibli suggestions. I'll add The Cat Returns to the Totoro, Ponyo and Kiki suggestions, although I think Totoro is the most small child friendly.

Thanks for answering everyone. I really appreciate all the suggestions.

ThumbWitchesAbroad, we have the dvd of Hilltop Hospital. I love that show!

Another old programme, Rosie and Jim seems to be well liked by my little one at the moment. I particularly like the ones with Pat Hutchins - I think that's her surname. - She is fab.

This thread has given me lots of ideas to check out. What about Abney and Teal? Is the girl one in that any good?

DS2 (2.11) quite likes Abney and Teal, but I think all the characters are about equal in it - but Teal (the female) is a doll, as is Abney - so I wouldn't say it was particularly strong role modelling for a girl. But then I don't have girls, so I might be wrong!

Excellent that you have a DVD of Hilltop Hospital - I love it too!

Just thought of another one - Igam Ogam - that's about a little cave girl, but it's more about her adventures and her being naughty and then making up for it, so again not necessarily good role modelling! Fun though.