Summary

• 90s toddler shows shaped children with humor, music, heartwarming stories, and educational content.
• Networks like PBS, Nickelodeon, and Disney brought iconic characters for kids to enjoy while learning.
• These shows encouraged imagination and problem-solving skills in children while entertaining them.

The 90s toddler shows that came out in that era have mostly survived the test of time, with award-winners, beloved nostalgic favorites, and long-lasting educational shows that people still talk about three decades later. The shows someone watches as a child can shape them in profound ways, and toddlers from the '90s got lucky with a plethora of solid children's programming. It was not the cartoon commercial period of the 80s, it was a pioneering time of increased learning and interaction. No matter how "educational" these shows were, many were still entertaining.

The best 90s toddler shows gave kids something to look forward to as they prepared to start school in the near future. The music was great, and the stories were funny, heartfelt, and most importantly educational. This was an era where several networks, including Nickelodeon and Disney, tried to replicate what PBS had perfected so many years before, bringing their own iconic characters, from giant purple dinosaurs and little blue dogs to baby Muppets, all with the goal of getting kids ready to start school. For the best shows toddlers could watch in the 90s, there was something for everyone.

10 PB&J Otter (1998-2000)

Three Cartoon Otters Solve Their Problems With A Catchy Dance

When they need to solve a problem, they perform "The Noodle Dance" until someone finds a solution

PB&J Otter was an early Playhouse Disney (now Disney Junior) cartoon. From its catchy name to its brightly colored cartoons, this series was an easy watch for a preschooler at the end of the 90s. Jim Jinkins of Doug created the show, and the look of the two cartoons reveals a bit of a resemblance. The cartoon was about the three children in the Otter family, who live on a houseboat, along with their friends and neighbors. When they need to solve a problem, they perform "The Noodle Dance" until someone finds a solution.

There are some cute jokes for kids, like naming the three siblings Peanut, Jelly, and (baby) Butter. There are also some jokes for parents thrown in there, like the fact the otters live on Lake Hoohaw. The series ran for three seasons, with 65 episodes and 124 total segments (two per episode). It was also critically acclaimed and in 2000, PB&J Otter earned an Annie Awards nomination for Outstanding Individual Achievement for Music in an Animated Television Production for the episode "Hope Castle."

9 Out Of The Box (1998-2004)

An Innovative Arts And Crafts Show With A Contagious Theme Song

A popular Playhouse Disney children's show is Out of the Box. Hosts Tony James and Vivian Bayubay McLaughlin were the definition of innovative children's programming hosts in their 1998-2004 run. They care for small kids from the neighborhood, act out stories, make crafts, and sing songs, all based on the episode's specific theme. The show fostered a creative environment for the children to watch.

The show was thought lost, but in 2019, Disney+ added it to the streaming service, so now fans can relive the kid's series at any time.

The theme song is positively contagious, and going to a clubhouse made out of boxes is pretty enticing for a little one. Out of the Box won three Parents' Choice Awards for excellence in television, and it also picked up a Daytime Emmy win for Outstanding Directing in a Children's Series. The show was thought lost, but in 2019, Disney+ added it to the streaming service, so now fans can relive the kid's series at any time. There are three seasons with a total of 82 episodes.

8 Gullah Gullah Island (1994-2000)

A Children's Show That Explores Gullah Culture With Music, Storytelling, & Art

Ron and Natalie Daise are advocates for Gullah culture. The Post and Courier explains that "Gullah-Geechee people are descendants of enslaved Central and West Africans who labored, then settled on the Sea Islands of the southeast United States [in South Carolina]". On Gullah Gullah Island, the Daises educate children on Gullah culture through music, storytelling, and art. The show captivated its young audience, with each episode as a half-hour sing-along action show that teaches initiative through making smart choices.

The series ran from 1994-1998 on Nickelodeon, with five seasons and 72 episodes. It didn't get much attention from the Daytime Emmy Awards, with only one nomination. However, almost more importantly, the NAACP Image Awards took notice and nominated it three times for Outstanding Educational/Informational Youth or Children's Series/Special and once for Outstanding Performance in a Youth or Children's Series/Special. It also won the Parents' Choice Award for DVDs and Home Video in 1995.

7 Bear In The Big Blue House (1997-2006)

A Bear Cares For His Friends While Sharing Great Adventures

Bear in the Big Blue House began in 1997 and ran for almost a decade. The lovable brown bear was played and puppeteered by Noel MacNeal, who has also worked on Sesame Street. Bear lives in the Big Blue House and is the caregiver for his friends, Ojo, Tutter, Terrlo, Pip and Pop, and Shadow. The cartoons show the characters going on many adventures together that require them to solve problems, learn to share, and cooperate to be good friends with each other.

The show lasted for four seasons and 118 episodes, although it stretched out over nine years, with a three-year break from 1999 to 2002 after Lynne Thigpen, who voiced Luna the Moon died. It was also a critical success, winning three Daytime Emmy Awards during its run, including Outstanding Sound Mixing and two Outstanding Directing in a Children's Series Awards (in 2000 and 2003). Noel MacNeal broke down the show on Kevin Perjurer's Defunctland (via YouTube) with a historical look at the beloved show.

6 Franklin (1997-2004)

Franklin The Turtle Learns How To Be A Good Person

Franklin is a children's cartoon based on the book series Franklin the Turtle by Brenda Clark and Paulette Bourgeois. The Canadian cartoon's original networks were Family Channel and Treehouse TV, but the show was syndicated on networks like CBS, Nickelodeon, and Noggin. The show features the growth and development of Franklin, who can count by twos and tie his shoes, and learns more life skills in each episode as he goes to school and has adventures with his friends.

The show was praised for its respectful storylines, with no fighting, whining, or other bad traits

Franklin's stories were heartwarming, and the young turtle set an example of being a good friend and respecting one's elders. The series lasted for six seasons, and unlike many cartoons for little kids, the seasons were limited to only 13 episodes each year. The show was praised for its respectful storylines, with no fighting, whining, or other bad traits. While not an award-winning cartoon, it spawned books, video games, a live stage show, movies, and a CGI series running from 2011 through 2013.

5 Barney & Friends (1992-2010)

The Big Purple Dinosaur Singing & Dancing With His Friends

Many people who were toddlers in the 90s have a soft spot for PBS's Barney, the Big Purple Dinosaur, from watching him on Barney & the Backyard Gang and then Barney & Friends. Barney helped equip preschoolers to perform functional tasks such as sorting, cleaning, spelling, and counting. It was all rooted in imagination, though. The children must play pretend to see the little Barney doll turn into a life-sized companion, along with dinosaur pals B.J. and Baby Bop (and later on, Cousin Riff).

Sheryl Leach created Barney for her own toddler son when she realized that there were many entertaining educational shows on TV for kids of that age. While it became a brunt of jokes over time to older kids, it was massively successful for its age group, finishing its run with 14 seasons and 268 episodes. It picked up 15 Daytime Emmy nominations during its run, but only won once in 2001 for its sound mixing. The Online Film & Television Association added it to its Hall of Fame in 2022.

4 Muppet Babies (1984-1991)

The Popular Muppets In A Preschool Setting

The Muppets are icons of the small and big screen, and Muppet Babies is a unique spin on the property. The cartoon features a baby Kermit, Miss Piggy, Animal, Fozzie, Gonzo, Rowlf, and more, as they learn life lessons as little kids. Unlike The Muppet Show, which consisted of puppets, Muppet Babies is traditional animation. It follows the baby Muppet characters as they live in a nursery watched over by Nanny. Each episode sees them going on imaginary adventures based on their interests, with the backgrounds being real backgrounds, movie backgrounds, or hand-drawn versions.

The episodes each had a lesson for the small kids to learn, and the imaginary adventures allowed the Muppet Babies to join in and learn...

The episodes each had a lesson for the small kids to learn, and the imaginary adventures allowed the Muppet Babies to join in and learn these lessons as well. The series rebooted in 2018, but the original classic cartoon remains the superior series based on storylines and humor. Though the show originally aired on CBS, it ended up syndicated throughout the 90s on Nickelodeon. This 90s toddler show won seven Daytime Emmy nominations with 21 total nominations.

3 Blue's Clues (1996-2006)

Blue Learns His Letters, Numbers, and More With Steve & Joe

Nick Jr.'s Blue's Clues has been reincarnated a couple of times with Blue's Room and most recently, Blue's Clues & You. The original fans got the gift of Blue in 1996 and witnessed the transition from Steve to Joe as host. While Steve and Joe are real people, the backgrounds of the set appear to be cardboard cutout animation, with Blue the Dog as an animated character. This was to create a storybook look with a real person and the animated blue female dog Blue leading the kids through the episode's lesson.

There were a total of six seasons and 143 episodes, with original host Steve Burns leaving in 2002, replaced by Donovan Patton (who used the name Joe). This specific 90s toddler show gave Nickelodeon a popular show that could give kids what only PBS shows really offered at the time, and it ended up as one of the network's most popular shows. It ended up earning 24 Daytime Emmy Awards nominations, although it never won one. It won a Peabody Award in 2002.

2 Arthur (1996-2022)

One Of The Longest-Running Children's Shows In History

PBS's Arthur premiered in 1996 and finally had its final episode air in 2022, making it one of the longest-running children's cartoons in history. The series is one of the most highly respected children's shows of all time. It is educational, diverse, and entertaining. Kids of different races, socioeconomic backgrounds, abilities, and religious beliefs are featured in having a healthy dialogue about their identities. Arthur and D.W. fight like any other typical brother and sister. They also go through many difficult issues, including dyslexia, diabetes, cancer, asthma, and children on the spectrum.

The series ran for 25 seasons with 253 episodes and 493 segments. Arthur won the BAFTA Children's Award in 2003 for Best International, earned 23 Emmy nominations, winning seven of them, won the GLAAD Media Award in 2020, and was a 2001 Peabody Award winner. Even with the show ending after 25 seasons, it remains online for kids to continue to see new videos released, and more life lessons taught for a new generation of Arthur fans.

1 Sesame Street (1969- )

The Original PBS Puppet Educational Showcase

Sesame Street is the longest-running children's program and one of the longest-running TV shows in history. The PBS and now HBO show deserves its legacy. The smiling, singing puppets have been teaching kids about letters, numbers, colors, and so much more since 1969. The show celebrates diversity, teaches kindness, and prioritizes loving one's neighbor. For good reason, these vibrant members of the Muppet family have won too many accolades in their history to count.

The smiling, singing puppets have been teaching kids about letters, numbers, colors, and so much more since 1969

The show was the backbone of PBS children's educational entertainment for over 50 years, alongside Mr. Roger's Neighborhood and The Electric Company. HBO has now helped deliver it to a new generation of kids who can meet Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, Bert and Ernie, Cookie Monster, and many more as they help kids develop early learning skills. The show has won an astonishing 222 Daytime Emmy Awards and 11 Grammy Awards, far more than any other kid's show in history.