Here are children’s shows that support Mandarin Chinese language learning. I think they’re high quality, and my child likes them, too!
媽媽老師 Mama Laoshi (YouTube Channel)
(Ages 2 to 10) Mama Laoshi creates engaging kid-friendly educational videos in Chinese about various topics like baking, gardening, music, animals, transportation, etc. She explains each topic to her two cute daughters, Winter and Summer. I love that each episode is 15 to 20 minutes long, has a wide variety of words, and keeps kids entertained. It’s a great way for kids to learn Chinese!
YouTube: @MamaLaoshi
Website: mamalaoshi.org
Lele TV (YouTube Channel)
(Ages 2 to 10) This feels akin to a Taiwanese government version of PBS, but I think it’s run by a private company, Xiao Xing Xing. The episodes aim to teach kids positive behaviors, have fun adventures, and showcase Taiwanese landmarks and culture. The main character, 樂樂 (Le Le), goes on fun and silly adventures with his friends while also learning important lessons about kindness and empathy, or he visits different areas in Taiwan and meets locals who explain what makes that place special. Note that some episodes are produced in Taiwanese or in a mixture of Taiwanese and Mandarin Chinese.
YouTube: @XIAOXINGXING-樂樂TV
Website: site.parenting.com.tw/littlestar
Bluey (Disney+)
(Ages 2 to grownups) I love Bluey – it’s a show that I would watch for fun even if my daughter wasn’t around. Parents will have a great time relating to the characters and the messages aimed at adults, which are often smart, deep, and funny. Kids will enjoy watching Bluey and Bingo’s shenanigans at home and adventures outside. Something to be mindful of: some kids (mine included) might take up the silly or unwanted behaviors without learning the lessons that come with them. So it’s a case-by-case basis when kids are mature enough to watch the series. Bluey is in English. You can find some episodes on YouTube, but you’ll need to watch the show on Disney+ (which requires a subscription) in order to switch to Chinese audio and/or Chinese subtitles.
Streaming Services
Speaking of Disney+, many streaming video services offer children’s shows with Chinese audio and subtitles. For instance, I saw Chinese language options on Netflix for Gabby’s Dollhouse, Not Quite Narwhal, Peppa Pig, Hilda, KPop Demon Hunters, My Little Pony, and Llama Llama. But note that on some shows, for some reason only certain episodes included Chinese language options.