: What are the best tv shows for a 3 year old I know, I'm a terrible dad but sometimes I have to plop the kid in front of the TV. Are some shows better than others in terms of positive role models for girls, lack of violence,

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Generally speaking, toddlers should not watch a lot of TV, and not in long blocks of time, and certainly not too much action (bad: Tom&Jerry -- better: Barbapapa, Bob the Builder). I would really recommend something that is slow-paced, something that can be enjoyed in small chunks of time, and something you can stand hearing repeated a hundred times over.

I would personally limit it to 15-minute sessions, maybe 2 or 3 times per day if you must, but I know I'm relatively conservative with these numbers. My toddler is happy with a single episode of Barbapapa, but the upbeat Pink Panther cartoons demand two or three episodes.

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I found Dora the Explorer was good, as it seemlessly introduced the concept of multiple languages. But you already have that one.

If you can pre-vet them, try nature programs too. Our girl (now 8) is a huge fan of David Attenborough.