Parents and grandparents want to make sure they're teaching their kids (and grandkids) all the necessary life skills to grow up into kind, smart, well-rounded adults. One helpful way to teach empathy is by using children's shows to model that behavior. Many kids' TV shows are not just designed to entertain, they're designed to deliver important lessons in bite-sized ways that can actually stick with the child long after the TV is turned off. If you're looking for one show to try out for its empathy lessons, psychologist Dr. Lauren Mahoney has you covered.
In addition to providing private practice services at Authentically Living Psychological Services, Dr. Mahoney is a New York school psychologist with kids of her own. She's seen firsthand how children's media can be used in helpful ways.
"Parents are often hesitant about screen time, and that concern is valid. But not all screen time functions the same way," says Dr. Mahoney, adding, "A show... can be helpful, but only if it is used intentionally. Screen time does not replace teaching empathy. It supports it when it is paired with real-life interaction."
If you're looking for that jumping-off point to start teaching and modeling empathy, Dr. Mahoney has one show that she always recommends.
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The Best Children’s Show To Work on Empathy in Kids and Grandkids, According to a Child Psychologist
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Dr. Mahoney says, "If I had to choose one cartoon that is especially effective for teaching empathy and prosocial behavior, I would choose Yo Gabba Gabba!"
The show originally premiered on Nickelodeon in 2007, and it blends original music, live-action scenes, puppetry, animated segments and more. The series ran for four seasons (66 episodes total) until 2015, and it can now be watched on The Roku Channel and Apple TV+. The latter streaming platform rebooted the series in 2024 with the show Yo Gabba GabbaLand! Two seasons of the reboot have aired, with the second season most recently premiering in January 2026.
"At first, I honestly did not understand the show," Dr. Mahoney admits. "When my own children were young, and it came on, I remember feeling overstimulated by the colors, the music and the pace. It seemed so bizarre, but they loved it."
She adds, "After repeated exposure, I started to see what it was doing. It was breaking social behavior down into simple, memorable units and pairing them with repetition, music and visual cues."
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One particularly impactful moment from the show for the child psychologist was the “Don’t Bite Your Friends" song from Season 1, Episode 11.
"It felt almost ridiculous the first time I heard it, but when I later used that exact song with a student who was engaging in biting behavior and saw a decrease over time, it completely shifted how I viewed it," she states. "That was a moment where I realized how effective simple modeling and repetition can be when they are done in the right way."
She adds that when working with children, it's important to label a behavior and connect it to something they're familiar with.
"If a child uses gentle hands, shares or pauses before reacting... I might say, 'That’s just like the song, you used safe hands,' or 'You noticed your friend, that was kind,'" she continues. "The show becomes a shared language, which makes the skill easier to access and repeat."
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"Sesame Streetis a long-standing staple for emotional language and inclusion," says Dr. Mahoney. "I personally remember many episodes with Big Bird demonstrating a strong emotion and being moved by it."
Stream on Netflix or HBO Max
2. 'Bluey'
Dr. Mahoney says this show "has become a go-to because it captures real family dynamics... in a way that feels authentic."
Stream on Disney+
Dr. Mahoney says she often uses Inside Outwhen counseling kids. "It gives children a concrete way to understand emotions," she says, adding, "Instead of asking a child to explain a complex feeling, I might ask, 'Is that Anger or Sadness?'"
She says that this conversation shift makes the feeling more accessible.
"It takes something abstract and makes it visual, structured and easier to work with," she says.
Stream on Disney+
4. 'Mickey Mouse Clubhouse'
Dr. Mahoney says this show models "cooperation and helping behaviors."
"My youngest kid was obsessed, and he is one of the most empathetic teens I know," she adds.
Stream on Disney+
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How To Improve Empathy in Kids
Dr. Mahoney says it's important not to just park your kid in front of a show and expect it to teach them something. She recommends watching with the child to encourage a more engaged experience.
"When a child watches a show, even brief comments can activate learning," she explains.
She also suggests the parent make small prompts like, "She looks sad,” “That was kind” or “Why do you think that happened?”
"Without that layer, the child may enjoy the show but miss the deeper message," she tells Parade, adding, "Empathy is not just learned individually. It is learned socially. When children experience these moments alongside adults, the lesson becomes more meaningful."
2. Repetition
"Children do not learn empathy from one conversation," says Dr. Mahoney. "That is why songs, routines and familiar characters are so effective. When a behavior is paired with something memorable... it becomes easier for a child to retrieve in the moment."
She adds, "I have seen children reference songs, characters or phrases during real interactions, which is a clear sign that the learning is transferring."
3. Beyond the screen
Dr. Mahoney says it's important to go beyond just watching educational shows, though.
"Empathy is built in everyday interactions," she says, suggesting that you read books together, talk about emotions in real life and model behaviors for them.
"Children are constantly watching how adults respond. If they see empathy modeled consistently, they internalize it," she adds. "It is about helping them understand what another person might be experiencing and giving them the tools to respond."
She suggests taking moments to say things like, "Look at your friend’s face, what do you think they’re feeling?” followed by, “What could you do to help?”
As Dr. Mahoney explains, "These small interactions build awareness and guide behavior in real time."
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Dr. Lauren Mahoney is a New York school psychologist and provides private practice services at Authentically Living Psychological Services.Hence then, the article about child psychologist reveals this is the best children s show to work on empathy in kids and grandkids was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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