5 childhood classic shows to watch with your kids

Our childhood was filled with awesome shows we still adore today. They weren't the current CGI formats, but they had plenty of heart and kept us entertained for hours on end. Moreover, the shows had lessons embedded, so we learned something new each time we watched them.

As we gain new generations, we want the kids to experience the magic of our childhood wonder, even though they weren't there when we embraced it. Early Millennials and late Gen-X feel nostalgic (or just me?) for the past, as it was pretty much stressless and simpler. The '80s and early '90s were the ideal times for growing up since the digital and electronic surge hadn't happened yet, but we had Nintendo and those lovely vintage Apple computers with the classic game The Oregon Trail.

Since, we're in a flashback mood, here's five shows from childhood to watch with your kids.

5 childhood shows with heart and warmth to share with your kids

Original Care Bears: 1985-1988)

Where to watch: Tubi

The Care Bears began as stationery for American Greetings in 1982 and became an overnight success. The brand spanned into toys, clothing, household goods, artwork, and other merchandise while keeping the "We Care-A-Lot" theme. In 1985, the now-defunct animation studio DIC produced the first season of The Care Bears. In each half-hour episode, the colorful bears with tummy symbols helped someone, usually a child, to dismantle their feelings. A year later, Care Bears migrated to Nelvana for their remaining two seasons and even was a soft "reboot" in terms of character designs, with a very small, if noticeable, dose of '80s sarcasm.

After 65 episodes, the animation was quietly cancelled, much to the diappointment of its young viewers. Even after 40 years, the Care Bears still teach the power of kindness, positivity, and self-worth.

Arthur (1996-2022)

Where to watch: PBS Kids and Amazon Prime

It was always a "wonderful kind of day" when Arthur aired on PBS and became engrossed in the books authored by Marc Brown. The beloved and bespeckled 8-year-old Aardvark was the quintessential kid of childhood. Like the best of us, he had his share of highs and lows and grew up like the rest of us. The show taught kids the essence of kindness, acceptance, friendships, and even responsibility.

Arthur ended in 2022, concluding with 25 seasons and so many memories.

Dinosaurs (1991-1994)

Where to watch: Disney+

Dinosaurs is another must-watch to watch with your kids. In this modern-age prehistoric sitcom, a family of dinosaurs named the Sinclairs (after the Sinclair Oil Company) face the same issues we humans do every day, such as handling a job, raising families, financial anxieties, and even dealing with personal stages. Aside from these topics, Dinosaurs touched on LGBTQA, drugs, harassment, and even environmental preservation. In fact, in the series finale, the Sinclairs and the rest of the living faced and accepted extinction, thanks to the patriarch's company releasing chemicals that destroyed the Earth. The actions caused the Ice Age, leading to their end.

The ABC series was the last conception of Jim Henson before his untimely death, and then his son took over. The dinosaurs and other animals were life-sized (human) animatronics and were created and assembled by the Jim Henson Creature Shop.

Garfield and Friends (1988-1994)

Where to watch: Peacock and YouTube

That sarcastic, lasagna-loving orange tabby had his own TV show and was one of my Saturday morning highlights. Garfield and Friends follows the adventures of America's favorite cat and his family as they get into hilarious but meaningful situations. Before the series premiere, Garfield had a few TV specials, including Garfiled's Halloween Adventure, Garfield In Paradise, and Here Comes Garfield. More specials followed after the show's premiere until the early 1990s.

The series appealed to both adults and kids, as for the former, many dry humor jokes were incorporated into the scripts, which flew over the latter's heads. But if you were like me growing up in Chicagoland, you caught on quickly.

Aside from a successful TV franchise, Garfield and his creator, Jim Davis marketed immensely in toys, clothes, books, household goods, food, Mastercard, and of course, comics, which were first published in 1978 across several newspapers.

Although the fat feline's legacy and pop culture permanence is just as strong as ever, it's nothing like the original CBS productions. But, I'm glad that Garfield lives on, despite being 46 years old.

The Simpsons (1989-present)

Where to watch: Disney+, Hulu (season 35 and up), and Fox

Ah, The Simpsons, TV's longest-running Primetime show, must be included on this list. I vividly recall that my family (especially my older brothers) all watched the first episode, "Simpsons Roasting On An Open Fire," in 1989. We haven't stopped since, along with the "dangerous amount of laughter," were memories.

While The Simpsons did raise some hairs in schools, as it was the first of its kind to project animated satire and the typical 10-year-old kid behavior (though exaggerated), the series also reflected family values and life lessons, just not in the traditional sense. Nothing should be out-of-the-box perfect, nor should everything be black and white. Besides, I credit The Simpsons and a couple of other favorite shows (both on off this list) for my entertainment and lifestyle journalism career.

If you're unsure whether to let your kids watch The Simpsons, feel free to check out our Parent's Guide for it.