We watch a lot of PBS, some of the shows tend to be for smaller children like Clifford the Big Red Dog, Dragon Tales, etc...and some of the others are geared to older preschool age kids, they help learn reading basics, but they are not harmful or "above" any childrens level, they just may not be as interested in them at this young age.
PBS Kids Shows:
http://pbskids.org/findit/
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
We also watch a lot of Playhouse Disney shows:
Mickey Mouse Club House, Handy Manny, Little Einsteins, Imagination Movers, Chuggington, Special Agent Oso, etc....Phineus and Ferb is the best cartoon I have enjoyed in a long time.
http://disney.go.com/preschool/videos/nc/?int_cmp=phd_Grp...
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
As for Nick Jr. We don'tlike Spongebob because they make Patrick stupid, there is absoltely no reason to make a character who isn't smart enough to recognize his own parents or to make a character like Mr. Krabs who is so greedy he steals from his friends.
We do like Dora, Diego, Kai-Lan, the Fresh Beat Band, Backyardigans, Wonderpets, etc....
http://www.nickjr.com/shows/
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
There are lots of cartoons out there that are more appropriate for preschoolers and schoolage kids, they can wait until the little ones are older.