11 Best Educational TV Shows for Kids in 2025

Inspired by Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, Daniel Tiger is one of the best educational TV shows for toddlers and preschoolers. The animated series follows 4-year-old Daniel Tiger and his friends as they navigate everyday challenges. Through catchy songs and gentle storytelling, the show helps young children learn social-emotional skills like empathy, sharing, and managing big feelings.

Alexandra F. said:  I think Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood is children's television at its finest, and hands down one of the best cartoons for toddlers and preschoolers. Inspired by Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, each 11-minute episode follows Daniel through typical preschool experiences like going to the potty, learning to share, or welcoming a new sibling. The same lesson usually weaves across two connected episodes, including a short, simple tune that offers parents a great way to reinforce the good social skills being modeled even after the episode is over. This (and Bluey!) is always what I suggest my kids watch during screen time.

The Magic School Bus is one of those classic educational shows that has stood the test of time - and even earned a popular Netflix reboot, The Magic School Bus Rides Again! Adventurous Ms. Frizzle (or in the reboot, her kid sister Fiona) takes students on fantastical field trips to unlikely places aboard a magical bus, including inside a human body, into the depths of the ocean or the far reaches of outer space. Each episode explores science concepts in fun, imaginative ways that make learning fun and accessible for kids.

chi_parent4 said:   While it is an older show, we watch this on Netflix with our kids during dinner and there really is nothing quite like it! The kids actually learn about important science topics in a fun/clever way and ask lots of good questions after the show!

Streaming on Tubi & Peacock

One of the most fun educational shows for elementary kids, Wild Kratts follows brothers Chris and Martin Kratt as they explore the animal kingdom. Using "creature powers," they introduce fascinating wildlife from around the world and teach science concepts about biology, habitats, and conservation.

Michael Farina said:  Chris and Martin Kratt lead a team of curious and animal friendly adventurers, as they explore the globe, using their "creature powered" inventions (inspired by the animals they meet) to solve problems and right wrongs. The show is good natured and funny for both kids and adults, appealing to fans of both cartoons and nature shows. Recommending this as a cartoon may be cheating, since each episode is bookended by the real life Kratt brothers interacting with live animals to learn about the origins of the creature powers.

Curious George is an animated series based on the children's picture book about the adventures of an inquisitive little monkey and his friend, The Man with the Yellow Hat. Through George’s curiosity and playful mischief, young children learn about problem-solving, science, math, and discovery in everyday life.

Alexandra F. said:  This show on PBS Kids is based on the classic children's picture book about that lovable, curious monkey and his friend, The Man in the Yellow Hat, and in my opinion is one of those rare instances where the show is actually (much) better than the books! Wonderful characters and short, well-written stories that are funny, engaging and easy-to-follow make it one of the best kids cartoons, and our family's favorite for many years. My teens and I still enjoy watching it as much as our preschoolers! The holiday specials and full-length films are definitely worth checking out as well.

Buddy the T-rex is adopted by a Pteranodon family and they ride the "Dinosaur Train" through the Mesozoic era, meeting and learning about various dinosaur species. Featuring engaging characters, catchy songs, and lots of dinosaur facts, this is a great show to encourage curiosity and exploration.

Jennie Utsinger said:  Dinosaur Train was a favorite of all three of my children when they were preschoolers.

This cartoon was a wildly popular YouTube channel for kids, garnering hundreds of millions of views before moving over to Netflix, where curious kids can continue to follow the five bots on their adventures to answer kids' questions on a wide variety of topics, such as how people catch colds or why night happens.

Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum teaches kids history alongside social-emotional lessons in an engaging and educational animated series about three young friends who travel back in time to meet historical figures as kids.

Nicole LeClerc Mosher said:  I love that it focuses on short biographies that are based off of Brad Meltzer’s series of children’s biographies. It appeals to young kids because they see the people as little kids and adults. The message that kids can change the world is inspiring.

Planet Cosmo is an animated educational series that follows a young space explorer and his family as they travel around the solar system. The show introduces preschoolers to basic astronomy concepts, planets, and space science through fun adventures and colorful visuals.

spanmendoza said:  Wizz Explore - Planet Cosmo on Youtube is such a cute show with great songs about space and planets!

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.

Odd Squad is a family-favorite and Emmy Award-winning educational TV show designed to help kids learn math and problem solving skills. The popular live-action show centers on four young agents who are part of the Odd Squad, an agency whose mission is to investigate strange happenings. Every episode features a math concept that the Odd Squad uses to set things right.

After decades of offering educational content for young kids, Sesame Street continues to combine puppetry, animation, and live action to teach children foundational skills like numbers, letters, and social-emotional learning. The long-running show passes on important lessons in a way that is fun and accessible for kids, through music, play, and storytelling.