The Top Three TV Programs for Preschoolers

In spring of 2006, the ratings came in for the previous year's highest rated television shows for the preschool group. Nickelodeon seized the top five shows: Dora The Explorer, Go, Diego, Go!, Blue's Clues, The Backyardigans, and LazyTown. If you are not familiar with these shows, you are truly missing some exceptional programming for children! Bright colors, interactive formats, and friendly characters keep children hooked. The following are the top three television programs for your preschool aged children.

"Come on! Vamanos!" Dora The Explorer aired in 1999. This friendly bilingual seven-year-old girl soon had children speaking Spanish phrases. Created by Chris Gifford, Valerie Walsh, and Eric Weiner, the show focuses on solving problems. In each episode, Dora needs to help or find an item/animal/friend. She relies on the help of her map and various friends in order to follow directions, tackle obstacles, and outsmart the crafty fox named Swiper.

Each Dora episode involves the children at home by pausing after questions so that the child has the opportunity to locate and point to the appropriate object on the television screen. For instance, Dora will ask children to find an item that might help them fix a broken bridge. She opens her backpack and reveals a number of objects. Children find an appropriate object, like a piece of wood, and then point to it. After a short span of time, Dora rewards the children at home with an enthusiastic compliment.

If you have ever watched an episode of Dora with a preschooler, you will know that children just do not sit down while spending time with Dora. Most jump up and dance along. This helps provide additional activity while a child's mind is stimulated.

Last year, Dora's cousin Diego joined Nickelodeon with his own show, Go, Diego, Go! Diego is a bit of a wildlife lover, and his show revolves around him hearing the cry of an animal and heading off to save it. Chris Gifford and Valerie Walsh team up to create this lively show that brings children closer to the wildlife surrounding them.

In Go, Diego, Go!, Diego relies on his rescue pack and other friends to help save animals in distress. Children learn about their environment, other countries' environments, and different tools like binoculars, magnifying glasses, and GPS devices. Each episode begins with a cry for help. Diego must listen to the sounds and determine which animal it is. Children watching at home learn facts about different animals including their attributes, needs, and habitat. Children play along by helping Diego make appropriate choices. Actress Rosie Perez lends her vocal talents by providing the voice for Click, Diego's camera.

Blue's Clues became a preschool smash around one decade ago. Angela Santomero, Traci Paige Johnson, and Todd Kessler came up with an idea for an interactive show where children sitting at home could interact with both a live person and animated characters. Blue is a computer-animated puppy that lives with her owner Joe (originally Steve.) Steve left the show a number of years ago to tackle other acting roles, and his "cousin" Joe took over. Joe/Steve helps uncover things Blue is feeling or wants to do by playing a game of "Blue's Clues."

With the game, children watch the television screen for Blue's paw prints. The paw prints are the clues that help solve the mystery of what Blue is thinking, feeling, or wanting to try. Because each episode takes ten months to complete, there are only a few new episodes aired per year. The show relies on intensive computer animations and editing. This is only part of its charm.

These top three children's television programs will provide your child with fun and educational entertainment.