Miffy. I still love Miffy, a sweet little bunny.

If you are interested in making sure your kids see appropriately paced shows, including educational and age appropriate TV, there is a great streaming site specifically for preschoolers. Check it out, it's definitely worth trying, www.kidobi.com

I can totally recommend Pocoyo, as another PP did! Also check out Pingu (originally Italian, I think). Pingu has no actual language in it: it's mostly emotional expressions and physical humor. Nice and slow.

My 3 year old loves the original Paddington Bear shows.

Something 'old-fashioned' that tells a story, like HEIDI or SINDBAD or WICKIE THE VIKING -the Japanese cartoons. Probably noone here knows what I'm talking about... I'm sorry. I don't even know if they show these anywhere ... they have no fast cuts or crazy action at all.

64 Zoo Lane. British, very calming and sweet. It's on On Demand under Cbeebies and on netflix streaming.

OP here, thanks everyone! So helpful! We have Netflix streaming (and DVDs) and I added several to our queue thanks to you. I also appreciate the book recommendation and article about Blue's Clues--very interesting, I will check it out.

ditto pp's recommendation of the leapfrog videos, specifically the letter factory one.

My kids also love Word World.

The 'Mr. Men' show on YouTube. wonderful shows at a simple slow pace (like the books).

Anonymous wrote:What's Franklin? I keep thinking of "Arrested Development" (!). OP, along with what some of what others have already said, we like Olivia.

Franklin is a turtle, and he has some other animal friends he interacts with. I would say the show is similar to Little Bear or Berenstein Bears in terms of its storylines/level of action.

My kid loves Shaun the Sheep, and thought it has no redeeming educational value, I do like the slower pace of the claymation. And the episodes are really funny. I'd say it is for older preschoolers, though - my son got into it at about 4.5 or 5.