We recently asked members of the BuzzFeed Community to tell us about a time they thought a kids TV show handled a serious subject really well. Here are some of their responses!
1. The "True Colours" episode of That's So Raven where Raven exposes a racist recruiter at a clothing shop who won't hire her because she's Black.
2. When Sesame Street directly addressed the death of one of the shows actors, Mr. Hooper, and Big Bird learns about coming to terms with it.
3. When Blue Peter did a segment explaining racism and the importance of the Black Lives Matter movement.
4. In As Told by Ginger, when Ginger invites her dad to a recital in the hopes he will show up and has to face being let down by him.
5. How The Story of Tracy Beaker showed throughout its run that there's no one "type" of child who experiences the care system.
6. In Doc McStuffins, when she helps someone who is feeling self-conscious about their stutter and reminds them that it's nothing to be ashamed of.
7. How Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood explains how people can be different from us in a way that's super-accessible for small kids, for example when Chrissy tells everyone why she uses crutches.
8. The body-positive moment in That's So Raven, when Raven finds out the magazine she posed for edited her to look thinner, and so decides to call them out on their narrow beauty standards.
9. The depiction of anxiety and suffering from panic attacks in Alexa & Katie.
10. The "Alone at Sea" episode of Steven Universe where Lapis tells Jasper that she doesn't want to be a part of their unhealthy relationship anymore – showing the importance of asserting boundaries and leaving when someone is abusive towards you.
11. When Hey Arnold! showed Helga getting therapy and talking about the difficulties she faces at home with her neglectful parents.
12. And the "Parent's Day" episode where Arnold feels upset about not having his 'real' parents there, before realising his grandparents are just as good as his peers' parents.
13. The "When Carl Met George" episode of Arthur where George makes friends with Carl – who has Asperger's Syndrome – and learns about the way he sees the world.
14. The entirety of Steven Universe Future – which is an epilogue to Steven Universe –and shows Steven processing all the traumatic things he went through and witnessed when he was younger.
15. The Suite Life of Zack and Cody episode where London and Maddie both are affected by hurtful comments about their bodies before coming to accept themselves as they are.
16. When Sesame Street discussed opoid addiction and Karli talks about the support group her mum goes to for it.
17. And the one where Rosita feels upset by the stereotyped Mexican character in the book she's reading, so decides to make her own book.
18. Jessie becoming addicted to caffeine pills on Saved By The Bell showed just how quickly someone can spiral into addiction (FYI, it was initially meant to be speed she was addicted to but that was deemed as too "serious" for the time of day the show aired.)
19. When Stephanie learns one of her classmates is being physically abused by his dad in Full House and decides to tell an adult what's happening.
Submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity.