Peg + Cat

What the likes of WordWorld and Sesame Street have done for pre-reading skills, this show offers preschoolers in the way of math sense, initiating kids in the basics of numbers and how they work. Each story packs in multiple opportunities for viewers to identify numbers and practice counting before experimenting with more complicated concepts like grouping by tens or visualizing proportions, all of which are flawlessly integrated so kids don't realize they're learning. Think your kids are too young to grasp these concepts? You'll be surprised how quickly they pick up the basics of proportions when they're assigning vehicles based on the characters' sizes, for instance. Even better, if you watch with your preschoolers, the show will generate ideas for how you can incorporate this kind of hands-on learning into your own daily routine.

But even though math is its primary focus, Peg + Cat doesn't limit itself to those skills alone. There are lessons in collaboration and teamwork, rhyming and alliteration are present in the characters' dialogue and in musical segments, and cause and effect is explored in kid-friendly ways. Often it's not Peg's first idea that proves successful, either, reminding viewers of the value of perseverance and thinking creatively. No effort is wasted in this delightful series with multiple diverse learning opportunities for preschoolers.