Best TV for an almost two year old?

[crumbs76]

I was really hoping to manage no screens at all until two, but I’ve come to realise that it’s just not realistic for me, as I do need a break sometimes and a chance to get things done.

Since my toddler is going to watch some TV, can anyone recommend some good programmes or videos for this age group? If they’re going to have screen time I’d rather it was something educational and beneficial in some way rather than just rubbish. Thanks!

Cbeebies is generally very good. Something like Yakka Dee can be good for speech development. Purely for entertainment purposes then try Hey duggee or Bluey. Stay away from Bing if you can

Mine loves hey duggee and coco melon. He’s at nursery full time so I could not bring myself to get wound up over a couple of hours of tv background noise on a weekend

Bluey and jojo and gran gran are lovely and gentle. Agree with Bing 😣

Pokoyo is good too, and cocomelon. Also twirliwoos

A lot of the stuff on cbeebies is pretty good. I would definitely start there.

Best thing is to just try a few different ones and see what your toddler takes to, and what you don't find completely irritating.

Hey Duggee is great.

@ooosnedh thanks! Where would I find those programmes - are they on Youtube? Also is Cbeebies on the BBC app? What sort of shows do they have on there? I don’t think I was looking in the right place, as all I could see when I tried to find it was Teletubbies (which I can’t stand!) and some other programme about patchwork animals? I don’t watch a lot of TV myself so a bit clueless

What about shows like Postman Pat - are they too old?

It has its own channel (644 on sky) and is on iPlayer 👍🏽

The Julia Donaldson adaptations on Ceebebies are really good - just search Julia Donaldson on the iPlayer and they should come up. They're about 25 mins

Cbeebies in general is great. Yakka Dee helped my daughter learn how to talk! My daughter loved the Baby Club when she was younger as well. Hey Duggee and Bluey are genuinely entertaining to watch Bing gets a hard time (because it's unbelievably annoying) but having watched it more closely, I think it's probably quite helpful to small children in helping them to navigate emotions and social interactions. Might a bit lost on a

My daughter started watching TV at 2 and she really loves Something Special - she loves signing along and know quite a few now

(The 2020 lockdowns turned me into a kids TV connoisseur. I swore no screens before at least two, but needs must!)

And there are new postman pat episodes! On CBeebies...There's also a film of it on Amazon Prime

I'd just stick Cbeebies on. I read it's a good idea for them to watch people as well as cartoons so things like twirliwoos or teletubbies are good. My DS also liked "my family/my first...." and something special.

Bluey and Duggee are the best but I think they only understand when they're a bit older.

@crumbs76 Both are on I player ☺️ on Amazon prime there's also A Snowy Day.
Is also avoid coco melon - probably the opposite of those!

@crumbs76

What about shows like Postman Pat - are they too old?

Mine loved old shows like postman pat, road runner, bag puss, the magic roundabout etc. Hey Duggee and Bluey are good. Stay away from Peppa Pig and Bing at all costs - PP is a complete brat, and Bing is whiny and spoilt and will drive you mad!

Cbeebies is the best - you can put it on and walk away knowing that all the content is safe, child friendly, and lots of educational content. My almost 2yo loves Hey Duggee, Bluey and Go Jetters.

Whatever you do, avoid blippi and Ryan's world! Paw patrol isn't particularly educational but it is fun

My two year old loves Hey Duggee, Twirlywoos and especially Clangers. Something Special and The Toddler Club are also good, although she has a short attention span so won’t sit that long for those (this makes it sound like she spends all day watching tv, she really doesn’t!).

She has also been vaguely interested in In The Night Garden but I refuse to have that on as it’s too weird and makes no sense.

Octonauts was the out right favourite here. I'm almost tempted to watch the new episodes myself.

2 might be a little young but Alphablocks was brilliant helping with phonics. I believe there's a number version too now.

I thought this thread was going to be asking for recommendations for an actual TV set for a 2 year old

Show me show me on Cbeebies is great. Real people, children, singing. Much better than cartoons imo. It's on iplayer.

CBeebies is your best bet. No adverts and a good balance of programmes.

Avoid:

In the Night Garden - it's bloody awful and goes on for about 3 hours an episode.
Bing - Jesus it took us ages to get over the Bing phase. Whiny little shit that he is.

Watch:

Hey Duggee is the best - very gentle and fun and adults like it too.
Moon and Me - like In the Night Garden tbh but shorter episodes and at least the characters talk.
My little boy is train mad so loved Chuggington

Once your little is about 3-4 years then Alphablocks and Numberblocks are great

Don't, whatever you do, introduce your child to Peppa Pig.