Activity

Building blocks

Building blocks are one of the first things a young child truly controls: pick one up, put it down, watch what happens. Stacking, sorting and knocking over teaches balance, planning and patience long before a child can explain any of it. A calm, well made series about building gives your child time to follow each step, and often sends them straight back to their own basket of blocks afterwards.

For 2-year-olds

At two, building is mostly about the hands. Your child grips, stacks two or three pieces, and knocks the tower down again with real satisfaction, because making something fall is its own discovery. Look for a series that stays with one simple action long enough to be understood, with clear shapes, an uncluttered background and no rush to the next thing. Repetition helps here: seeing the same build happen again lets a two year old predict what comes next.

S01 E01

Lu & The Bally Bunch

Fruit Caboose

Stimulating

recommended age co-watching from 2

Lu, a gentle caterpillar, invites a group of small bug friends to build together with blocks before heading to the fruit caboose for a snack. When Dean takes a bite of the pear Lou wanted, the two argue, and Lu helps them name their feelings and agree to cut the pear so both get a fair share. The friends then share an orange and finish with a group wiggle-and-flap dance. The episode closes on the credits.

S01 E04

Lu & The Bally Bunch

Tower Tower Wow

Stimulating

recommended age co-watching from 2

Lu the ladybird heads to Shell School, where she and her friends set out to build the tallest tower they can. When Dean knocks Gus's tower down as part of a game his own family plays, Gus is upset because no one explained the rules. A teacher helps the friends talk it through until they realize it was a misunderstanding. They end up happily playing 'tower tower wow' together, finishing with a wiggly dance.

See all Building blocks shows for 2-year-olds

For 3-year-olds

By three, a build has an idea behind it. Your child decides it is a tower, a garage or a bridge, and gets genuinely frustrated when the pieces will not cooperate. Look for a series that shows a plan going wrong and then being tried again, where the feeling is named out loud instead of skipped over. Building alongside someone else matters too at this age, so scenes about taking turns, asking for a piece and sharing space are worth more than a finished result.

S01 E03

Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood

Daniel Visits School

Balanced

recommended age co-watching from 2

Daniel Tiger is about to visit his new school for the first time and tells his mother he feels nervous. Together they sing 'When we do something new, let's talk about what we'll do' and pack a few comfort items before taking the trolley to school. Teacher Harriet welcomes Daniel, and he explores the classroom, tries the drum, finds books, and builds a tower of blocks with his mom. By the end Daniel asks if he can come back, and he shares the same advice with Miss Elaina before the closing song.

S01 E03

Pajanimals

Apollo's Bad Day & Big Feelings

Balanced

recommended age co-watching from 2

Apollo, a green puppy, has a bad day when his play is interrupted, he bumps his head, his favorite rocket-ship sheets are in the wash, and his block tower gets knocked over. He feels mad and sad and cannot sleep. His friends and a gentle, glowing Moon comfort him with the idea that feelings come and go and tomorrow is a brand new day. Apollo feels better, makes up with Squacky, and the friends settle in to sleep.

See all Building blocks shows for 3-year-olds

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Building blocks

For 2-year-olds

Lu & The Bally Bunch

Lu & The Bally Bunch

For 3-year-olds

Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood

Pajanimals

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