The calmest kids' shows on PBS

Of the kids' shows we've calm-rated on PBS, these are the least over-stimulating, sorted calmest first, with Mister Rogers' Neighborhood at the top. Each rating comes from how fast a show cuts, how loud and busy its sound is, how bright the picture runs, and how much tension the story carries. How the rating works.

1. 1
   Mister Rogers' Neighborhood Calm · ages 2–4 · PBS, Amazon

   Fred Rogers welcomes children into his home and the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, talking directly to them about feelings and everyday life.

2. 2
   Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood Gentle · ages 2–4 · PBS, Amazon

   A four-year-old tiger and his friends (heirs to Mister Rogers’ puppets) learn to handle big feelings and everyday challenges through little songs.

3. 3
   Carl the Collector Gentle · ages 2–4 · PBS

   Carl, an autistic raccoon who loves collecting things, navigates friendship and big feelings with his woodland friends in Fuzzytown.

4. 4
   Elinor Wonders Why Gentle · ages 2–4 · PBS

   A curious young bunny named Elinor asks questions about nature and her community and explores the answers with her friends.

5. 5
   Zoboomafoo Gentle · ages 3–6 · PBS

   The Kratt brothers and a lemur puppet explore real animals, for preschoolers.

6. 6
   Arthur Gentle · ages 5+ · PBS

   Arthur Read, an eight-year-old aardvark, navigates school, family and friendships in the town of Elwood City.

7. 7
   Molly of Denali Moderate · ages 5+ · PBS

   Ten-year-old Molly Mabray, an Alaska Native girl, helps run her family’s trading post and solves problems using maps, signs and other texts.

8. 8
   Word World Moderate · ages 3–6 · PBS

   Animals made of letters spell and build words together, for preschoolers learning to read.

9. 9
   Clifford the Big Red Dog Moderate · ages 3–6 · Amazon, PBS

   A giant red dog and his owner learn life lessons on Birdwell Island, for preschoolers.

10. 10
    Sagwa, the Chinese Siamese Cat Moderate · ages 3–6 · PBS

    A Siamese cat and her family learn about Chinese culture and values, for preschoolers.

11. 11
    Alma's Way Moderate · ages 3–6 · PBS

    A Puerto Rican girl in the Bronx works through everyday problems by thinking them out, for preschoolers.

12. 12
    Donkey Hodie Moderate · ages 2–4 · PBS

    A spirited donkey (granddaughter of the original Mister Rogers puppet) and her friends tackle playful challenges in Someplace Else.

13. 13
    Work It Out Wombats Moderate · ages 2–4 · PBS

    Three wombat siblings in a treehouse apartment use playful computational thinking to solve everyday problems.

14. 14
    Between the Lions Moderate · ages 3–6 · PBS

    A family of lions runs a library and teaches reading through stories and songs, for preschoolers.

15. 15
    Wishbone Moderate · ages 5+ · PBS

    A dog imagines himself in classic novels, introducing great literature to grade-schoolers.

More calm-show guides

YouTube · Netflix · Disney+ · Amazon · BBC · Paramount+ · Max · Ages 0–2 · Ages 2–4 · Ages 3–6 · Ages 5+ · Calmest overall · Bedtime · Cocomelon alternatives