Alternatives to Dora The Explorer?

February 7, 2007 4:18 AM

My daughter is mad for Dora The Explorer. I think it's a good enough program for her if she's going to be watching TV; we get involved and she doesn't just vegetate in front of it. That said, the repetition is doing our heads in. What are some alternative programs that she might get as much out of but will give her Mum and me a little variety?
posted by adamt to media & arts (43 comments total)

Backyardigans is fun. The imagine themselves in different places and times, and have some good music.
posted by saffry at 4:26 AM on February 7, 2007

Seconding Backyardigans. Also, we're big fans of Blues Clues - not only genuinely educational but a relatively quiet show, which is nice.

Also, enthusiastic about HBO's "Classical Baby" series, which is on DVD. These are the high-water mark of children's entertainment, IMO.
posted by jbickers at 4:27 AM on February 7, 2007

Old school sesame street?
posted by sperose at 4:31 AM on February 7, 2007 [1 favorite]

Go, Diego Go! is an actual spin-off from Dora. Maybe aimed at slightly older kids, but probably still good for any Dora fan. Third for Backyardigans, and I'll add my daughter's new favorite: The Upside Down Show. Not quite as active as Dora, but very interactive, and it brings the wacky, which I think is missing from most kids TV these days.
posted by Rock Steady at 4:43 AM on February 7, 2007

Yeah, Sesame Street (at least from the early 80s) taught me how to read. I walked into the kitchen one day and read the sports page headline out loud and my mom looked at me like I was an alien. I don't know what age I was, but apparently it was a pretty big surprise.
posted by AlisonM at 4:58 AM on February 7, 2007

Harold and the Purple Crayon and Wonderpets are pretty decent.

I hear ya on Dora man...
posted by thilmony at 4:59 AM on February 7, 2007

Depending on how old your daughter is - Balamory? Wikipedia, one of the DVDs. To be honest though I think they all get pretty dull after a few repetitions.
posted by paduasoy at 5:04 AM on February 7, 2007

This is a tough one because it's really such a matter of taste, for you and your daughter.

I've always loved Blue's Clues. It's a little old, now, but I think they still show the old Steve episodes as well as the more recent Joe episodes frequently. It can be new to you and your daughter. It was sort of the father of this new generation of very interactive kids' shows like Dora. And I actually find it laugh-out-loud funny at times.

I don't know if by "old school sesame street," sperose actually means Sesame Street Old School, which is the first season of Sesame Street from 1969 that recently came out on DVD, or if they just meant Sesame Street from the 80s and 90s. But I would NOT recommend Sesame Street Old School as an alternative for Dora. I scoffed when I heard that the DVD carried a disclaimer saying it's not for preschoolers, but it really isn't (even though it was once). It's interesting for lifelong fans like me, but if you want to show your child Sesame Street, there are tons of DVDs with more recent vignettes and songs that are much more appropriate and fun for kids, and much funnier and more entertaining for adults. I think Sesame Street is the gold standard when it comes to interactive television for children that is also enjoyable for adults, and that applies to new episodes as well as shows from the past 25 years or so. If you're just looking for something to try out as something your child might like, there's nothing wrong with the current episodes. It may seem like they're not as good as they were when we were kids, but let's face it--that's our own nerdy nostalgic hang-up, and current preschoolers have no such preconceptions.
posted by lampoil at 5:13 AM on February 7, 2007

Good question, my dad was just complaining about my niece's insatiable demand for Dora! For his sanity, he prefers some of the newer Sesame Street stuff, but I wonder if it's only more tolerable because the characters are more familiar to him. There's also the Baby Einstein series, which is definitely for the pre-literate set; the music isn't so bad since it's mostly based on classical pieces, and it tends to be light on dialogue, so I find it easier to tune it out when the niece demands her 20th viewing of the day.
posted by sonofslim at 5:31 AM on February 7, 2007

Balamory
Blue's Clues
Curious George
Bob the Builder
Arthur
posted by unSane at 5:58 AM on February 7, 2007

1. Oswald
2. Blue's Clues
3. Oobi
4. Wow Wow Wubsy
5. Jack's Big Music Show
6. Lazytown

Any of these are far superior to the plotless, mindless recycled-clippery of Dora or her zombie clone, Diego.

Be warned: watching Lazytown is roughly equivalent to dropping 150 micrograms of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, though far from the lethal doses of Teletubbies or [shudder] Boobah.
posted by designbot at 6:20 AM on February 7, 2007

Backyardagins
Wonder Pets are great
Blue's Clues isn't bad
Play with me Sesame is great (a 30 minute spin-off of Sesame, same characters, short format, a lot of repeats, but it's great for younger kids who don't really pay attention until Elmo's world at the end)
posted by Numenorian at 6:28 AM on February 7, 2007

If she's into animals, look for Zaboomafoo.
posted by ewagoner at 6:52 AM on February 7, 2007

Showin' my love for the Wiggles. Their songs are catchy as hell and my 6 y/o still loves them.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 7:03 AM on February 7, 2007

Miss Spider's Sunny Patch Friends
Tiny Planets
posted by Kirth Gerson at 7:12 AM on February 7, 2007

Just a suggestion: avoid Boobah at all costs. Even my daughter was all "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?" when it came on.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 7:18 AM on February 7, 2007

What, nobody recommends Barney?
Even though he's universally despised by adults, non-verbal children love him.
posted by dkippe at 7:20 AM on February 7, 2007

Between the Lions is my four-year-old's current favorite.
posted by The corpse in the library at 7:23 AM on February 7, 2007

Peep!
posted by mrbugsentry at 7:26 AM on February 7, 2007

My daughter goes nuts over Backyardigans.
She also loves Jo-Jo's Circus, which is designed to be interactive (ie, she asks the viewers to be physically active and do things that she's doing). Good music.
She used to really like The Koala Brothers - very sweet show, but not as engaging as Jo-Jo.
My nephew really likes Zooboomafoo.
posted by plinth at 7:27 AM on February 7, 2007

Little Einsteins is a favorite around here. And the kids always enjoy whatever is on PBS.
posted by Sassyfras at 7:35 AM on February 7, 2007

If it's physically active you're after, there's Boogie Beebies, encouaging children to move around and dance. That might do your head in too, though, especially the bit where the presenter says "that's called the chorus. And if you didn't catch it that time, don't worry - it'll be coming round AGAIN AND AGAIN!".
posted by paduasoy at 7:44 AM on February 7, 2007

If she's into animals, look for Zaboomafoo.

My wife and her friends all joke about how much they like watching Zaboomafoo. Mostly they discuss which Kratt brother is hunkiest.
posted by GuyZero at 7:51 AM on February 7, 2007

The biggies for my 20 month old -
Curious George
Clifford
Calliou (which I hate)
DragonTales
Diego and Dora

Thankfully he shows no interest in Barney ;)
posted by ducktape at 8:24 AM on February 7, 2007

Calliou is a whiny little asshole. My little ones like Max & Ruby, but Ruby's voice is teeth on a fork.

Oswald is a quiet show (and it's got great voices...watch for the episode with Lenny and Squiggy as penguin cousins.)

If you're looking for something you can both watch together (that leans towards the absurd), I'd recommend The Muppet Show, which is available on DVD.
posted by ColdChef at 8:41 AM on February 7, 2007

Oh, and I can tolerate The Wonderpets, even though there aren't many episodes, so you get a lot of repeats.

Warning for parents considering Sesame Street: Beware the two most annoying children's television characters--Elmo (evil incarnate) and "Speech Impediment Bear" (I don't know his real name, but he curdles my blood.)
posted by ColdChef at 8:47 AM on February 7, 2007

Little Einsteins.

I'm not a huge fan, but I don't love Dora either. My almost-three year old son loves both, which is not surprising because Little Einsteins was apparently created by someone connected to Dora. They both break the fourth wall (i.e., talk to the viewer), which gets kids involved, which you seem to like.

Little Einsteins tries to teach kids about art and music -- there is a featured artist and a featured composer for each episode. Given its title, the show would be nice if it had some science, or if the characters were at least constrained by the same forces that operate in the non-TV world. I suppose that things like gravity and the laws of thermodynamics just don't have a lot of appeal to toddlers.
posted by lionelhutz5 at 8:47 AM on February 7, 2007

I should also have mentioned NODDY.

It's got morals and teaches a word or phrase from a non-English language each episode. If I remember correctly, the only real interaction is when Noddy looks out of the screen and asks "can you say gracias [or something, like whatever the Swahili word for chocolate is]?"
posted by lionelhutz5 at 8:52 AM on February 7, 2007

Between the Lions is great! It's the Seseme Street that doesn't suck (oh how I loathe Elmo). Unfortunatly I haven't been able to find it on DVD yet but we have some tapes the grandparents recorded.
posted by Riemann at 9:11 AM on February 7, 2007

I'll throw in my 3yr old's favs (or at the very least what's in the Tivo for him that he watches):

Bob the Builder
Krypto the Superdog
Backyardigans
My name is Todd
Jack's Big Music
JoJo was good when he was younger, now not so much
Wiggles
posted by niteHawk at 9:16 AM on February 7, 2007

Get the DVDs of Pee-Wee's Playhouse. This ended up being our toddler's favorite program for a long while. The attention span on it is kind of short, which may be a good or bad thing depending on how you view it, but the creativity is awesome and the visual and audio detail is very rich. It's also got just enough CGI and video effects to be kind of hip, but without going overboard like so many shows these days.
posted by rolypolyman at 9:18 AM on February 7, 2007

Calliou is a whiny little asshole. My little ones like Max & Ruby, but Ruby's voice is teeth on a fork.

Weird, just the other day I was thinking "dissociated from the rabbit, that voice is kind of hot."
posted by rolypolyman at 9:25 AM on February 7, 2007

I vote for Backyardigans.
The only shows we've seen are Sesame and Blues Clues.
But I saw Backyardigans the other day and I liked it.
(They are twin 3 year olds and seemed to like it almost as much as me!)
posted by beccaj at 9:35 AM on February 7, 2007

The Upside Down Show is amazing - my 3yr old likes it and its actually fun for adults to watch too, since the 2 guys also perform for adults (as the Umbilical Brothers). It's on Noggin.
posted by selfmedicating at 9:40 AM on February 7, 2007

Kipper the Dog (on PBS Sprout). Funny stories, decent music and it's all bearing up to repetition. So far.
posted by firstdrop at 9:54 AM on February 7, 2007

No one's mentioned the Doodlebops yet? It's not as big on the teaching aspect, but it's great for getting the kids moving (kinda like Jojo's Circus, which HAS bee mentioned).

And I'm a Backyardigans fan. They have the most interesting music of any kid's show I've ever watched (from being a kid up to being a parent).
posted by solotoro at 10:16 AM on February 7, 2007

2nding Backyardigans and Kipper. Love them. Also, my daughter likes old Winnie the Pooh vids.
posted by 4ster at 10:49 AM on February 7, 2007

The Doodlebops are sent straight from hell. Do not start your child on this show.

On the other hand I'll n'th the Backyardigans.

Little Einsteins are also very fun and now every time my son hears a classical piece featured on that show he sings it and associates it with the show so its clearly having an affect.

I love Wonderpets. Its just too adorable not to.

The Wiggles seem very weird at first but are so much fun once you realize that the guys actually inject a little but in the show for the parents entertainment- kinda like looney toons.

Am I the only one that thinks Calliou looks like he's currently undergoing chemo?
posted by Thrillhouse at 1:12 PM on February 7, 2007

The Wiggles are kings in our household. Other favourites include Bob the Builder, Fireman Sam and anything Sesame Street related.

I'll also recommend avoiding Boobah if you're tired of repatition.

I have to be off now, there are some Hot Potatoes and Cold Spaghetti that need my attention.
posted by bangalla at 3:33 PM on February 7, 2007

Lazytown Lazytown Lazytown. It gets the kids up and moving.
posted by IndigoRain at 6:42 PM on February 7, 2007

My kids are loving Curious George right now. It's on PBS and does a pretty good job of injecting a little science into each episode.

I'll 14th the Backyardagains. Catchy tunes there.

My 4-year old daughter really enjoys Spongebob. Some of the episodes are a little beyond her, and some are inappropriate for little kids. But overall, it's a show I love to watch too.

You might also want to try out some Japanese Anime, like My Neighbour Totoro or Kiki's Delivery Service.
posted by fcain at 7:19 PM on February 7, 2007

At our house- In:
Blues clues
Diego
zaboomafoo
theodore tugboat
bear in the big blue house
Arthur
Post cards from buster
little bear
fraggle rock (great for adults too)

Out:
Barney
Caillou
Max and Ruby
Noddy
Dragon tales
oobie
maisy
berenstain bears
posted by kch at 10:45 PM on February 8, 2007

Depending on your daughter's age, if you like shows that have good moral values, I would highly recommend Arthur and Charlie and Lola. If your child is age 4 and higher, I give the Magic School Bus 4/4 stars. For younger audiences, definitely Sesame Street and anything that is visual in terms of colors, letters, and numbers.
posted by dnthomps at 6:45 AM on July 27, 2007