There is a heated topic in the parenting world–screen time. How much is too much? When is an appropriate age to introduce screen time? Are we frying our children’s brains?
And then there is the debate about the quality of the screen time. Children should only watch low stimulation shows or only educational shows. I do mostly agree with the latter statement because there are some shows that are arguably better than others. One of those shows is Bluey.
If you are a parent reading this, Bluey does not need an introduction. However, if you are like me and late to the Bluey bandwagon, I will give a quick rundown of the show.
Bluey is an Australian children’s show that features the life of a school-aged dog, Bluey (6), her sister, Bingo (4), and her parents, Bandit (dad) and Chili (mom). There are several overarching themes in the series, and the ones I love the most are the lessons that the young characters learn through play and their relationships with their siblings and peers.
These five episodes have great lessons for young children, and I think they are good reminders for the adult audience as well.
Episode: Shadowlands
When Bluey and friends play shadowlands, Coco learns that rules can make games more fun.
This episode teaches about the flow state of mind. In a flow state of mind, you experience the perfect balance of difficulty and enjoyment. Although some games and tasks can be difficult, if you stick to the “rules” of the game, there is a great reward in the end. Taking the easy way out diminishes the feeling of accomplishment and victory.
Episode: Bike
Bluey’s struggling to ride her bike. But inspired by her friends, she refuses to give up.
Bluey learns about perseverance and a growth mindset in this episode. After quickly giving up on learning how to ride her bike, Bluey is inspired by her sister and other friends in the park who are also struggling with a difficult task. Even though it seemed that they were at a breaking point, each character found a new way to achieve their goal. Bluey jumps back on her bike and continues to practice.
A growth mindset is so important for the human experience. The ability to pivot our perspective allows us to learn new skills and to open other opportunities that we didn’t know existed.
Episode: Take Away
Five minutes feels like an eternity as Dad and the kids wait for their take away order.
“Flowers may bloom again, but a person never has the chance to be young again.” This message is in Bluey’s fortune cookie, and after a long wait with the children being wild and messy, Dad realizes that it’s okay to have fun and to just be kids. I love that this episode teaches us to take things easy. As a parent, you will be tired. Sometimes, you just want your children to be quiet for a little while. But children have an abundance of energy, and they want to play! So, get a little messy, let go, and have fun.
Episode: The Pool
Bluey and Dad miss Mum being over-prepared when they go swimming and forget everything!
The theme of this episode is the urge to skip out on boring and mundane responsibilities, such as brushing our teeth or remembering to bring the essential items to the pool on a hot day. The lesson is to be prepared and to remember that the boring stuff is important too. In parenthood and adulthood and just life, it is important to think ahead and prep for what we know is coming.
Of course, there will be surprises and unavoidable things. But I am talking about those daily activities and routines that can be planned out. Being prepared can help avoid the stress of rushing, and our children benefit from this habit as well. They thrive on routine and knowing what to expect. And not surprisingly, so do us adults.
Episode: The Creek
A trip to the local creek opens Bluey’s eyes to the simple beauty of nature.
This episode is a wonderful reminder about disconnecting from our manmade world and reconnecting with nature. It’s also a lesson in bravery and trying new things, even if they seem scary. Bluey is unsure of the creek and all its bugs, creatures, water, and mud. But as she explores more and immerses herself in nature, she begins to find beauty in the creek. With everything available to us through technology, science, and evolution, it’s just as important to reconnect with our earth and mother nature.
So go on and get out there. Take a hike. Go for a swim. The world truly is a beautiful place.
About our guest writer:
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