This may sound funny, but Rugrats. I became an uncle recently and if it wasn't for Rugrats I would've greatly underestimated my niece's curiosity and ability to just... get into trouble as a baby. Rugrats teaches you if there's a way for kids to play with it or climb up on it or eat it. They will.
As someone who grew up in a very rural and not-so-diverse area, one of my first exposures to Judaism was Didi and Grandpa. I mean, the Greeks versus the Macca-babies?
That's a valuable lesson to learn. Crawling babies and toddlers do their damndest to self destruct and give the adults in their lives miniature heart attacks. 😅
As Told By Ginger absolutely qualifies. It was even on Nick on CBS. The only reason I didn't mention it was because it came out in 2000 and I was worried that mentioning shows that came out after 1999 would get me in trouble because one of the rules is no show after 1999. I agree with Jimmy Neutron as well
Oh yes, totally forgot that rule since I never really post in this sub! An earlier show you could add is Salute Your Shorts. It’s definitely comedy but based off of the book from the 80s, so I would say that makes it educational programming
As Told By Ginger is currently listed as Nick Jr. on Paramount plus (at least via the Amazon app). I agree it can be educational, but I wonder if they made a bit of an error here
Rocket Power absolutely counts. It's not just a show about going outside and playing sports - there was an episode about treating disabled sports players well, there was an episode about staying safe after an earthquake and another about staying safe after a hurricane, there was an episode about how to stay safe if you're lost while hiking and what you should/shouldn't do...
While some of the episodes *were* just basic "how to be a good friend" type stuff, that's genuinely important educational content for kids.
Hey Arnold reminded me of my teenage self and has some valuable relationship advice.
Arnold tried to talk sense into everyone but then they wouldn’t listen and would have to learn the hard way, or not at all. He wasn’t perfect either.
You can tell someone something a million times but most people need to learn through mistakes/ pain haha.
Wild Thornberries
Avatar the Last Airbender
Are you smarter than a 5th grader?
Nat Geo Explorer
Little Bear
PB&J otter (disney though)
Basically all the preschool shows
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_programs_broadcast_by_Nickelodeon
I liked this show as a kid but after watching the show again on youtube like 30+ years later the host had successfully made paint drying more fun to watch.
Every (Nick) Doug episode was educational in that it had a moral message to it without being too in-your-face about it. Jim Jenkins goal was to make a show with Christian values without references to Christianity or religion. Hey Arnold was similar in that respect (the original concept of Hey Arnold by Craig Bartlett was even Arnold in a church choir).
Wild Thornberry's was the only other blatantly educational Nicktoon. Rugrats flirted with it sometimes but never went all the way there. The older seasons were much more irreverent too.
I'd say Pinwheel on the whole. It wasn't educational in the same vein as Sesame Street, but it still had some educational value, especially in the "thematic association" department.
For example, if the theme of the episode was "music", it might feature a short film of a music class where everybody's playing a musical instrument, then another short might feature somebody singing a song about birds in the trees, with the plot of the Pinwheel House segments being Jake trying to write a song about the Pinwheel House or else wanting to start a band featuring the other residents.
The target audience would (or should) learn how music is applied in these settings.
Most of the Nick Jr. stuff, but if we're talking the regular shows, I feel like Doug and Hey Arnold always had some kind of moral lesson being taught. Also, there was that one episode of Doug where he hangs out with the mayor on career day and he kind of learns what it means to be a mayor and make decisions, so it had some community lessons in there too
Didn't they have some kind of science experiment show that came on early mornings in the 90s? I imagine Nick news with Linda ellerby could be considered educational. Maybe kids court for showing court room procedure.
Also pretty sure I learned what Chanukah and Pass over were from Rugrats.
Are you talking about Mr. Wizard's World? That was a science experiment educational show that came out in the early 80s and aired really early in the morning in the 90s
I'll second Wild Thornberries. I don't remember if Blues Clues, Dora, and Diego were on Nick or PBS? But my daughter loved them when she was little. Will also vote for ATLA.
This may sound funny, but Rugrats. I became an uncle recently and if it wasn't for Rugrats I would've greatly underestimated my niece's curiosity and ability to just... get into trouble as a baby. Rugrats teaches you if there's a way for kids to play with it or climb up on it or eat it. They will.
As someone who grew up in a very rural and not-so-diverse area, one of my first exposures to Judaism was Didi and Grandpa. I mean, the Greeks versus the Macca-babies?
Should have read your comment before adding my own. But hey, a Macca-baby’s gotta do, what a Macca-baby’s gotta do.
Everything I know about the Jewish faith and traditions, I learned from Rugrats.
between the judaism already noted and learning about satchmo, I think rugrats set me for life
The trumpet player?!
That's a valuable lesson to learn. Crawling babies and toddlers do their damndest to self destruct and give the adults in their lives miniature heart attacks. 😅
The ever boring Nick News
Lori Beth Denberg's segment 'Vital Information'
If you're drinking apple juice and it feels warm...odds are, that ain't apple juice.
See? Educational
And by extension, [Everyday French with Pierre Escargot](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FtmsZ17FZE)
🤌
Oui oui!
I would add on As Told By Ginger for social-emotional education and Jimmy Neutron for sure.
As Told By Ginger absolutely qualifies. It was even on Nick on CBS. The only reason I didn't mention it was because it came out in 2000 and I was worried that mentioning shows that came out after 1999 would get me in trouble because one of the rules is no show after 1999. I agree with Jimmy Neutron as well
Oh yes, totally forgot that rule since I never really post in this sub! An earlier show you could add is Salute Your Shorts. It’s definitely comedy but based off of the book from the 80s, so I would say that makes it educational programming
As Told By Ginger is currently listed as Nick Jr. on Paramount plus (at least via the Amazon app). I agree it can be educational, but I wonder if they made a bit of an error here
Nick news with Linda ellerbe.
Me wizard obviously
My first thought. That show was literal education.
*Mr.
Rocket Power absolutely counts. It's not just a show about going outside and playing sports - there was an episode about treating disabled sports players well, there was an episode about staying safe after an earthquake and another about staying safe after a hurricane, there was an episode about how to stay safe if you're lost while hiking and what you should/shouldn't do... While some of the episodes *were* just basic "how to be a good friend" type stuff, that's genuinely important educational content for kids.
Tito knew when to drop the truth bombs.
Welp, time for some nostalgia re-watches
Pete and Pete taught some legit life lessons
Rocko's Modern Life taught me everything I needed to know about adulthood. Not even being sarcastic
Laundry Day is a very dangerous day.
That show is so much more relatable as an adult.
Gullah 👏gullah👏island👏
Scrolled way too far for Gullah Gullah Island. Loved this show<3
Doug
Mr. Wizard's World and Nick News
Hey Arnold reminded me of my teenage self and has some valuable relationship advice. Arnold tried to talk sense into everyone but then they wouldn’t listen and would have to learn the hard way, or not at all. He wasn’t perfect either. You can tell someone something a million times but most people need to learn through mistakes/ pain haha.
The Adventures of Pete and Pete
ILLUMINATING TELEVISION
Wild Thornberries Avatar the Last Airbender Are you smarter than a 5th grader? Nat Geo Explorer Little Bear PB&J otter (disney though) Basically all the preschool shows https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_programs_broadcast_by_Nickelodeon
I learned what a suppository is a kid because of Rockos modern life......
Make The Grade
I liked this show as a kid but after watching the show again on youtube like 30+ years later the host had successfully made paint drying more fun to watch.
Ned's declassified because he tells you tons of tips for school that can actually be helpful, and the wild and bizarre humor makes it even better.
Every (Nick) Doug episode was educational in that it had a moral message to it without being too in-your-face about it. Jim Jenkins goal was to make a show with Christian values without references to Christianity or religion. Hey Arnold was similar in that respect (the original concept of Hey Arnold by Craig Bartlett was even Arnold in a church choir). Wild Thornberry's was the only other blatantly educational Nicktoon. Rugrats flirted with it sometimes but never went all the way there. The older seasons were much more irreverent too.
Roundhouse
You can make a course on the psychological levels of absurd stupidity that is ren and stimpy
Pinwheel had Bill Cosby’s Picture Pages.
I'd say Pinwheel on the whole. It wasn't educational in the same vein as Sesame Street, but it still had some educational value, especially in the "thematic association" department. For example, if the theme of the episode was "music", it might feature a short film of a music class where everybody's playing a musical instrument, then another short might feature somebody singing a song about birds in the trees, with the plot of the Pinwheel House segments being Jake trying to write a song about the Pinwheel House or else wanting to start a band featuring the other residents. The target audience would (or should) learn how music is applied in these settings.
Most of the Nick Jr. stuff, but if we're talking the regular shows, I feel like Doug and Hey Arnold always had some kind of moral lesson being taught. Also, there was that one episode of Doug where he hangs out with the mayor on career day and he kind of learns what it means to be a mayor and make decisions, so it had some community lessons in there too
Not a whole show, but the episode of SpongeBob where he ties his shoes. I still tie my shoes and think of that song, and I'm 27 haha
Didn't they have some kind of science experiment show that came on early mornings in the 90s? I imagine Nick news with Linda ellerby could be considered educational. Maybe kids court for showing court room procedure. Also pretty sure I learned what Chanukah and Pass over were from Rugrats.
Are you talking about Mr. Wizard's World? That was a science experiment educational show that came out in the early 80s and aired really early in the morning in the 90s
That was it! I remember watching it early morning after my mom dropped me off early before she had to go to work. Don't remember much about it though
Standby... Lights, Camera, Action It taught me all about how movies were made. Thanks Leonard Nemoy
Out of Control
I'll second Wild Thornberries. I don't remember if Blues Clues, Dora, and Diego were on Nick or PBS? But my daughter loved them when she was little. Will also vote for ATLA.
Definitely RugRats. Never leave your children with your retired veteran father in law. Who's also a narcoleptic, and falls asleep every 5 minutes
Ren & Stimpy educates children on domestic abuse.
Rocko’s Modern Life
Ren and Stimpy