Screen Perfect

In the age of Netflix, Amazon and YouTube offering a wealth of age-specific content, how do you choose what your kids should watch? Ananta Goyal wades through them all to list the best.

- Ananta Goyal

1 Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood

TARGET AGE: 2-5 years

WHERE: Netflix

Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood is an engaging and relatable show that does not stray far from reality. This animated preschool series features Daniel, a shy but brave 4-year-old tiger, who lives in the Neighborhood of Make Believe. With help from his family, friends and neighbours, he learns key skills which helps in school and life. Everyday emotions like anger, frustration and rejection are depicted in a relatable way, which further allows parents to discuss the same in depth with their kids. It uses songs to teach children how to deal with their feelings and make sense of the world at large, which in turn can help in a child’s social-emotional development.

2 Ask the Storybots

TARGET AGE: 2-5 years

WHERE: Netflix

This is an educational series, which parents will enjoy as much as the children. It features five interesting creatures—the Storybots—who live inside a computer, and answer important questions asked by a kid. “Why is the sky blue? Why does night happen? Why should I brush my teeth?” etc are commonly posed by a toddler, and the Storybots travel the world, asking different creatures for help in finding the answer, which is ultimately revealed through a song. The show encourages children to think and ask questions about common things they see around them.

3 Peppa Pig

TARGET AGE: 2-5 years

WHERE: Nick Jr.

TIME: 8-9 am and 11 am–12 noon