25 Best Cartoons for Kids (That Parents Actually Like)

Originally airing from 1990 to 2000, Pingu is a Swiss stop-motion animated series featuring a mischievous penguin communicating in a unique "Penguinese" language.Its universal humor and lack of spoken language contributed to its global popularity, and th series has remained a beloved classic among fans of all ages.

Lisa R said:  Pingu is a claymation series about a penguin boy and his slapstick adventures in the arctic. It's pretty silly and doesn't involve any language, which makes it a win for toddlers. At the same time there are lots of visual jokes for grownups and it shows a wider range of behavior and emotions than typical kids' shows.

Hello Ninja is an animated series that follows a young boy and his cat as they imagine themselves as ninjas on adventurous missions, combining fun action with problem-solving and teamwork.

Amy S. said:  Hello Ninja follows the adventures of best friends Wesley and Georgie as they transform into ninjas and move through magical worlds in the name of problem-solving adventure! Although it has enough gentle action to satisfy ninja-curious toddlers, the show is rooted in friendship, responsibility, and critical thinking. It’s beautifully animated, too.

PJ Masks is a popular animated series about three young friends who transform into superheroes at night. With an emphasis on teamwork, bravery, and problem-solving, and plenty of age-appropriate, action-packed adventures, it's a great TV show for preschoolers that combines social-emotional learning with entertainment.

Mommyx3 (Monique H) said:  This happens to be my son's favorite show and I can't lie, its grown to become one of my favs as well lol. It's about three 6yr old children who are your average children by day and by night they are masked up super heroes fighting crime and saving the day! One is an owl, a cat and a lizard(gecko).

Trotro is a French animated series that follows the everyday adventures of a curious and playful little donkey named Trotro. Through simple, humorous stories, the show teaches preschoolers lessons about friendship, problem-solving, and navigating daily life.

Lisa R said:  TroTro, about a preschool aged donkey and his friends, was one of the first shows my kids watched. It is extremely gentle and each episode is only a few minutes. It is available on YouTube in English and French and is an easy way to expose very young kids to another language. I liked using it as a way to refresh my own own language skills.

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! is a classic cartoon with enduring appeal. A group of teenagers and their talking Great Dane solve mysteries involving supposedly supernatural creatures. Blending humor, suspense, and problem-solving, the show teaches kids deductive reasoning skills while enjoying fun, spooky adventures.

Brittany Kozielski said:  Sometimes you have to go back to the old classics. My kids love watching Scooby Doo. I have found this cartoon keeps me interested as well. We have a great time trying to solve the mystery before the Mystery Gang does. There is a little something for the boys and girls in this cartoon, and let's be honest us parents are entertained as well.

A team of superhero children jump into storybooks to solve problems using reading and literacy skills. This educational show emphasizes phonics, spelling, and comprehension, helping preschoolers build foundational reading abilities while engaging in fun adventures.

Sue Krawitz Tandoc said:  My kids and I loved Super Why when they were young! It not only helps kids learn to read but helps them learn the meanings of words and sentences in a team-oriented fashion as the four friends go on adventures throughout the Storybook Village.

A bumbling, gadget-equipped detective attempts to thwart the schemes of the evil Dr. Claw in this classic TV show for kids and families.

Michael Farina said:  The good-natured but hapless Inspector blunders his way through dangerous situations, while his quick-thinking niece Penny and her faithful dog Brain reliably save the day. This Netflix reboot captures the silliness of the cartoon that I grew up loving, while improving on the mix by adding one recurring villain who is -- if not quite 3-dimensional -- slightly puffier than flat. This show has no learning value, but it's fairly harmless fun.

This action-packed animated series about a group of puppies who embark on rescue missions has been a popular mainstay for the preschool crowd for years, and now includes a couple of feature length films they can enjoy along with the cartoon show.

Rosie's Rules is an animated preschool series about a curious and imaginative Mexican-American girl exploring the world around her. Each episode delves into everyday topics like family, community, and problem-solving, presenting them through engaging stories and catchy songs.

Lisa R said:  Rosie's Rules on PBS is a sweet show about a little girl in Texas figuring out the world by asking questions and seeking help from her supportive family, including her abuela in Mexico City, who she video calls once an episode. The show weaves in multicultural elements without feeling forced since the premise is just following Rosie through her regular routines and relatable problems.

If you're looking for STEM TV shows for kids, this cartoon for preschoolers on PBS introduces computational thinking concepts like sequencing, patterns, and flexibility in a fun, story-driven way.

Lisa R said:  Work it out Wombats is a newer PBS show (February 2023) that my three year old fell in love with and my seven year old isn't unhappy to watch alongside him. Three wombat siblings live with their grandma, who is the "super" for their "treeborhood". Each episode has a problem they have to solve, usually by breaking it down into steps and working each step in order.