Bluey has taken the world by storm, but there are lots of other children’s television shows that transcend the genre in the same way. While waiting for new episodes to come out, there are still lots of options to scratch the same itch Bluey does. While many of these TV shows are geared toward a younger audience, they are great options for the whole family to watch together or any adult who wants a pick-me-up. As the Bluey characters often prove, no one is ever too old to learn about the power of friendship and play.
An Australian program that has been on the air since 2018, Bluey has become so popular largely due to the way it teaches the lessons quintessential to kids’ TV, through empathy and games. Bandit, Bluey’s dad, is always up for a game of make-believe and never squashes Bluey or Bingo’s sense of play, even when it’s time to learn. While Bluey is quite unique and arguably one of the best animated shows of recent years, there are a few series, including live-action ones, that have a similar tone.
10 The Adventures Of Paddington (2019-)
Watch on Paramount+ or Prime Video
The Adventures of Paddington follows everyone’s fictional bear in stories a little bit different from the Paddington movies. Airing on Nick Jr. in the U.S., The Adventures of Paddington explores London and teaches kids about the world. He still goes on adventures with the Brown family and writes letters home to Peru, but in this series, any action or mishap is resolved and always perfectly safe. What does remain is the heart of the Paddington character and his belief in kindness and curiosity above all else. It’s in this way that Paddington and Bluey have so much in common, they each prioritize that childhood sense of wonder.
9 Maya And Miguel (2004 – 2007)
Watch on Freevee or Prime Video
PBS Kids has always been an excellent provider of children’s TV, and Maya And Miguel is no exception. Following 10-year-old siblings Maya and Miguel, the show centers around their Latino heritage and incorporates Spanish into much of the dialogue of the show. Although much of the show follows the twins and their friends, family and the importance of heritage is a large part of the show, as is the sibling dynamic between the central pair. Much like Bluey, Maya And Miguel explore how differences between siblings can be challenging at times, but at the end of the day, they are family and love each other.
8 Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood (2012-)
Watch on PBS Kids
A more recent PBS Kids project, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood is modeled after Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood with the title character, Daniel, being the son of Daniel Stripped Tiger, from the first, Mr. Roger’s. Carrying with it the spirit of original series creator, Fred Rogers, Daniel Tiger focuses on themes of emotional intelligence and how to connect with others. In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, Daniel explores with his friends and learns how to be the best tiger he can be. The treatment of children’s emotions as serious and worthy of respect that Bluey and Daniel Tiger share can be traced back to the Neighborhood.
7 Charlie And Lola (2005 -2008)
Watch on Pluto TV or Prime Video
Charlie and Lola is another series that centers on a pair of siblings and how they learn and grow together. Charlie is the ever-patient older brother to Lola’s more energetic and playfully trouble-making younger sister. The show owes its art style, and stories, to the Charlie and Lola book series of the same name by Lauren Child. Charlie and Lola differ from Bluey in that the parents are never involved in the children’s adventures, instead of being a central part of them. In this way, Charlie and Lola focus on the sibling dynamic even further than Bluey, and from the perspective of an older sibling almost taking on the parental role.
6 It’s A Big Big World (2006 – 2010)
Watch on Prime Video or Apple TV
A less well-known but still special show is PBS Kids’ It’s A Big Big World. Made by the creator of Bear In The Big Blue House, Big Big World takes place in an exciting and beautiful jungle full of friendly animals. One of these animals is Snook, the tree sloth, who lives in the World Tree. Big Big World is unique because of its focus on learning about the Earth and its diversity in both plant and animal life. Bluey also takes on more concrete world issues like this, acknowledging that no one is too young to start appreciating the Earth.
5 Sesame Street (1969-)
Watch on Max
One of the most famous children’s programs of all time, Sesame Street, like Mr. Roger’s, has influenced so many youth television shows, that it’s hard to know where the genre would be without it. Most recently moving to Max, Sesame Street spent most of its time airing on PBS, and was a hallmark of the network. From celebrity guests to the cast of characters that every child knows on sight, Sesame Street evokes the same kind of strength to last the test of time that Bluey does. Like Bluey, Sesame Street has never been afraid to tackle the most serious, and upsetting, issues of life, like grief and discrimination.
4 Puffin Rock (2015-)
Watch on Netflix
Puffin Rock takes place in Ireland and stars Oona the Puffin and her brother Baba from the makers of The Secret of Kells. Along with their friends, Oona and Baba investigate their island and get into their fair share of high jinx. Most recently, there was a film of the same name that was produced and premiered in 2023, following the same cast of characters. Puffin Rock is best known for its focus on nature as well as family and friend relationships. Shedding light on feelings and relationships while also learning about the natural world makes the Irish Puffin Rock a perfect pair with the Australian Bluey.
3 Stella And Sam (2011 – 2011)
Watch on Prime Video
Based on the Stella and Sam books, and featuring the title big sister and little brother pair, Stella and Sam shows a very adventurous take on siblings. With beautiful watercolor-like animation and a focus on the importance of play between imaginative siblings, this series could’ve gone on for several more seasons. Similarly to Bluey, the siblings follow wherever their imaginations take them, often causing a little bit of mischief along the way.
2 Arthur (1996 – 2022)
Watch on Prime Video
Arthur was all about showing differences when it comes to all the ways a person can experience childhood and life in general. Revolving most closely around the life of Arthur Read and his little sister, D.W., the show also took lots of time over its many seasons to introduce characters of all types and fully flesh them out. Arthur had some groundbreaking plot points, like Mr. Ratburn and his husband getting married, and features extended plots about physical and mental differences. The show did all of this creatively, and positively, making it familiar in tone and message to any fan of Bluey.
1 Clifford The Big Red Dog (2000 – 2003)
Watch on PBS Kids or Prime Video
Clifford The Big Red Dog aired on PBS Kids and has had a recent 2019 reboot. Based on the books of the same name, the first Clifford series followed a young girl, Emily Elizabeth, and her larger-than-life red dog, Clifford. Together, they learn lessons about feelings, and friendship, how to play together, and focus on the importance of reading. Any fan of the book loves this faithful adaptation that captures the fun and sweetness of the characters. Not only do Clifford and Bluey have the dog angle in common, but also have the ability to connect with kids of all ages.
