I’m a teacher and there’s 3 kids TV shows I absolutely HATE – Peppa Pig is painfully basic, rude & soulless

I’M a teacher and here’s my honest verdict on some of the nation’s most popular kids’ TV shows – and it’s bad news for Peppa Pig fans.

As a primary school teacher, I see first-hand the impact of what children watch in the classroom.

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Kids’ shows influence everything from their vocabulary and behaviour to their social skills and ability to self-regulate.

There’s a lot of pressure on kids’ TV shows these days to be educational as well as entertaining.

It shapes their words, their actions, and even how they handle frustration or share with others.

A study found that many primary school children spend three or more hours a day on devices outside school on weekdays.

In 2025, the average UK child spends about 6 hours 22 minutes daily using screens (all types) with 0-4 year olds averaging nearly 6h 57m.

Over 1 million children in the UK are now spending the equivalent of a full working week (40+ hours) each week on screens.

It’s so important that kids are getting quality screen time that fuels their minds, rather than mindless entertainment or games.

But which TV shows are the best for kids’ development?

I rate the most popular shows kids are watching right now – and I’m brutally honest.

Peppa Pig 5/10

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Honestly, Peppa Pig doesn’t make the cut.

Peppa barely speaks in full sentences, the vocabulary is repetitive and poor, and the narration is painfully basic.

The settings are bland, the script is dull, and the so-called “humour” falls completely flat.

Even the social skills it shows are questionable.

Peppa is often rude towards her friends and disrespectful to her parents – not the best role model.

She should choose kind words and embrace diversity, as well as model healthy habits like eating vegetables, instead of throwing a fit or tantrum when she doesn’t get her way.

It might keep babies entertained, but there’s zero character development or growth.

The show also embraces traditional gender roles, such as girls wearing pink and liking dolls and boys wearing blue and liking dinosaurs.

Every episode feels the same – no emotional range, no depth, and barely any facial expressions or narrative thinking to show how the characters actually feel.

It’s just flat, repetitive and, honestly, a bit soulless.

Cocomelon 3/10

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Sure, the songs are catchy and the colours pop – but it’s overstimulating and endlessly repetitive.

Kids might bop along for a while, but there’s no real learning, story depth, or character development – just a constant loop of noise and flashing images.

Research shows that fast-paced scenes and bright colours creating an overwhelming display can actually have a negative effect on your child’s behaviour and on your child’s attention span.

Kids who watch it could be 7.7 times more likely to have low attention spans and symptoms of ADHD.

When a show keeps blasting kids with non-stop flashing images and endless jingles, it’s not just entertaining – it’s rewiring their brains to need constant stimulation.

A child glued to Cocomelon might get bored with real life, where nothing moves that fast or sings that loud.

It may teach age-appropriate lessons like forming positive eating habits and how to use the toilet – but its fast pace makes it a hyperactive show.

It can also spark behavioural problems like irritability, tantrums, and trouble focusing.

Fast-paced shows train little brains to crave constant novelty, making it harder for kids to settle into quieter, longer activities.

Signs a child is overstimulated include crying, crankiness, or struggling to switch off from screens.

The best way to help? Stay calm, move to a quiet space, and try gentle activities or simple breathing exercises.

Bluey 8/10

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This one’s a winner.

Bluey teaches empathy and family values while keeping things funny and family-friendly.

It’s adventurous, full of different characters with their own families, and each episode has little background stories that make the world feel real.

Perfect for kids who need entertainment that actually teaches something, with a focus on play-based learning, emotional regulation and resilience.

There is an exploration of social-emotional concepts like empathy, conflict resolution, and problem-solving, as well as its positive representation of engaged and present parenting.

Bluey teaches kids about listening, handling emotions, and cultural understanding.

He provides excellent practice for skills needed at school, such as listening carefully, joining in conversations and understanding different perspectives.

He also handles complex topics like loss, grief and anxiety, offering kids and adults a way to process challenging emotions and situations.

Even the adult characters are great role models as they ask open-ended questions and balance work with family.

Ms Rachel 9/10

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Definitely a top pick for little ones.

Ms Rachel focuses on building vocabulary and is highly interactive, helping with speech development.

Her content is built on evidence-based speech therapy and early childhood education techniques.

She uses developmentally appropriate methods like modelling clear enunciation, using simple actions for imitation, and engaging children with a higher-pitched voice that encourages language development. 

She also teaches about big emotions in a way that is easy for young children to understand.

Her videos are designed with clear learning goals.

Add in the silly antics and catchy, educational songs, and it’s both fun and genuinely good for learning — a rare win in kids’ TV.

However, Ms Rachel should be considered a supplement, not a replacement, for face-to-face interaction and real-life interaction with caregivers.

Moderation is key and co-viewing is crucial as benefits are maximised when parents interact with their child during the videos.

Parents should watch with their child to help them learn and to model the techniques shown on screen.

She models effective strategies that parents can learn and use themselves to interact with their child.

Paw Patrol 4/10

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There’s some humour and a fun concept, but don’t expect much learning here.

The show is entertaining enough to keep kids watching, but it offers very little educational value and the characters rarely show growth or problem-solving skills beyond the basics.

There are some skills and foundational lessons, including recurring themes of teamwork, bravery, perseverance, problem-solving, kindness and emotional intelligence.

The adventurous storylines and colourful illustrations can inspire children’s imaginations.

The show also models positive social behaviours, such as facing failure with a positive attitude, as demonstrated by the character Marshall.

It could also ignite discussions about themes like honesty, courage, and responsibility.

But its simplistic nature makes it only beneficial for very early childhood.

Numberblocks & Alphablocks 10/10

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These shows are a brilliant way for kids to learn while having fun.

It’s colourful and interactive, and they use songs and questions to keep children engaged.

The content builds in difficulty, helping to develop skills step by step.

It is perfect for tailoring learning to each child’s level – while making education genuinely entertaining.

It is a valuable resource as it provides a concrete, visual, and tactile way for children to learn foundational concepts.

It aligns with our teaching for mastery principles and offers a hands-on way to correct misunderstandings in real-time.

The physical blocks and supporting resources are very much like the tangible and manipulable objects we use at school.

It can lead to a deeper and more accurate understanding for the child as the characters model and encourage the use of precise vocabulary.

The playful, character-driven nature of Numberblocks and Alphablocks helps keep children engaged and motivated in their learning.