Maybe this is something I worry about more than I should, but I think a lot about the kinds of shows my kids watch. Because that stuff does influence them. For the parents out there, I had an idea to start a thread where we can list kids shows that are solid choices for us as leftist parents. I'm not expecting some cartoon characters to start discussing dialectical materialism. But I'm thinking shows that highlight values like empathy, community, etc. I would also include shows that simply avoid a lot of capitalist bullshit or cop worship (hard to avoid that one in kids shows, surprisingly). Also, we can use this thread to list shows we think kids should avoid.
Some of them that I came up with:
Mister Rogers Neighborhood - Fred Rodgers, while I don't think he was explicitly a leftist, really did seem to focus on really good things. Might be hard to get kids interested in a show that looks as old as this one, but it's honestly pretty great.
The Joy of Painting - Just a chill dude painting landscapes. Wouldn't think of this as a kids show but my kids loves it. I have friends with kids who say the same thing, too.
Eleanor Wonders Why - I like this one because the titular character observes the world around her and then wants to use science to explain what's going on. Just like our boy Karl Marx!
Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood - In general I think PBS does a good job in most their shows of not promoting capitalism or bourgeois values. Daniel lives in a neighborhood that doesn't have the obligatory "good cop" in it, which is good enough for me. Overall seems solid.
Bluey - this show is pretty great, I love it. However, keep in there's one episode that's devoted entirely to troop bootlicking (really gross for a kids show), so just skip that one and you're good.
Doc McStuffins - this show is ok but I'm recommending it because the lead character is POC, and even in 2021 I'm kinda surprised by how many shows still feel they need a white lead character with POC characters off to the side.
And a show I'd recommend against is Paw Patrol, I think for obvious reasons. I'll stop here and then add more in the comments as I think of them. Please share yours!
Spongebob was pretty great when I watched it growing up. Haven't really seen many episodes past the first film release though, so I can only assume its grown stale since the original creator passed away. Mr. Krabs is probably the best representation of a greedy, parasitic, small-business owner you could ask for. Along with this it's fairly obvious to even kids that Spongebob is incredibly naive and how he gets taken advantage of, such as when he tells Patrick how lucky he is for only having to pay Mr.Krabs $50/hr to work for him, as when he started he had to pay Mr.Krabs $100/hr. Or how ridiculous it is for Spongebob to be forced to take a vacation by Mr. Krabs, ironically due to the Fry Cook Union threatening to fine the Krusty Krab a nickel due to Spongebob accumulating too much vacation time. Then of course there are simpler episodes like the reef-blower episode in which Squidward builds up existential dread having gone to live in the suburbs with people who live just like him, only to find the ceaseless monotony and conformity as even worse than dealing with the chaos induced by Spongebob and Patrick.