The Save-Ums!

My three-year-old daughter loves this show. Two phrases that we particularly like from the title song are "To help is beautiful," and the last line, "Small is powerful! Believe it!"

The characters are a little strange-looking, like dolls made with little regard for the human form. But it's certainly not the only show to have strange-looking characters, and I think in a way that helps foster the idea that it's okay for other people to look different -- they are still people who can be your friends.

In every episode, the Save-Ums get a call on the Save-Um screen. They hear a request for help from one of their many friends, decide which two or three of the Save-Ums will go, and then head out. The problems are the kind that children can relate to, like not being able to find a friend during hide-and-seek, or having an argument with a sibling. The solutions provided by the Save-Ums are creative, but interestingly, rarely work on the first try. This requires them to study the problem a little more and come up with a second, more workable solution. The Save-Ums encourage each other and their friends to be persistent in finding answers to their problems.

I recommend this program for toddlers.