Daniel Tiger’s Neighbourhood S1, 3-5

Young children will love the simple, wholesome lessons in Daniel Tiger’s Neighbourhood. The series is a spin-off of Mister Rogers’ Neighbourhood, which ran for 33 years in the US.

Daniel is a young tiger who lives with Mom and Dad Tiger, and, later, a baby sister. The neighbourhood trolley, which takes him to school and around town, is a character in itself, along with Daniel’s friends and neighbours.

Daniel and his friend learn important lessons about things like going to the potty, cleaning their room and coping with a new sibling. There are catchy songs and simple strategies that even very young children can understand.

The series scored 5/5 from Commonsense Media, with an A+ for Educational Value. It says: “Preschoolers will be drawn to Daniel and his friends, and his experiences will validate the emotions they experience — such as disappointment, sadness, frustration, and joy — before demonstrating age-appropriate techniques for dealing with them. The show has strong messages about friendship and family bonds, as well as respect for curiosity, and each story offers opportunities for basic preschool skills like letter sounds and counting. This delightful series is a well-rounded choice for little kids.”