By Movieguide® Contributor
Many parents flock to vibrant, colorful children’s shows that appear to be “kid friendly,” but are they really? Unfortunately, their fast-paced and overstimulating nature might be doing more harm than good.
A 2011 study from the American Academy of Pediatrics found that just nine minutes of exposure to fast-paced cartoons can diminish preschool-aged kids’ executive functioning, Psychology Today reported.
“The rapid succession of stimuli overwhelms the brain’s capacity to process information effectively, resulting in decreased attention spans and difficulties with self-regulation,” Mark Travers Ph.D. explained.
Forbes noted that overstimulating shows can affect brain development and sensitivity to stimuli.
Dr. Susan R. Johnson’s research discovered that “watching television has been likened to multilevel sensory deprivation, where the passive consumption of audiovisual stimuli fails to engage the full spectrum of sensory experiences necessary for healthy brain development.” This can result in a decrease in children’s brain size.
Beloved shows like COCOMELON and MS. RACHEL are major culprits, Forbes said. These shows also have some negative, anti-Christian worldview issues as well.
COCOMELON spinoff COCMELON LANE features an episode where a child has two dads who encourage their son to wear a dress.
Meanwhile, MS. RACHEL has an openly transgender character who was born a female but look like a male, which may be confusing to young viewers.
“One questionable element is a character ‘Jules,’ an openly non-binary individual who looks mostly like a boy but has a female voice,” Movieguide®’s review reads. “Although nothing about Jule’s gender is mentioned, the appearance of this person might be confusing to young children. Overall, this show is worthwhile for children, but discretion and even skipping the parts that include Jules is recommended.”
Related: Here’s Why Parents Are Embracing the ‘Slow TV’ Movement
As disappointing as this may be to parents, there are many other options that feature uplifting themes and are not overstimulating for children, such as BLUEY, which Movieguide® nominated for a Teddy Bear Award®. Movieguide®’s review reads:
Season Three of BLUEY on Disney Plus nears the end with Episode 48 and 49, titled “Ghostbasket” and “The Sign.” “Ghostbasket” contains a reappearance of Bluey and Bingo’s favorite game, Grannies. In this episode, Rita and Janet, played by Bluey and her sister Bingo, are trying to stop their house from getting sold. Episode 49: “The Sign” has two main storylines. The first storyline is Bluey and her family as they adjust to the idea of moving away from their home in Queensland. The other is saving the wedding of Bluey’s Uncle Rad and her godmother Frisky.
These episodes are not only well animated but have top notch storytelling. The characters are all relatable by both children and adults. The entire purpose of each episode is to teach important life lessons for every person. “Ghostbasket” shows how the elderly should be treated. “The Sign” is about trusting in a divine plan even when life doesn’t go your way. Thus, both episodes have strong moral worldviews. “Ghostbasket” and “The Sign” are a delight for children of all ages, including parents and grandparents.
As always, Movieguide® recommends children aged two and under have no screen time, while preschoolers aged three to five should have extremely limited and monitored screen time. If you’re looking for wholesome content that isn’t overstimulating, check Movieguide®’s reviews for all details on children’s shows.
Read Next: How to Help Your Kids Limit Their Screen Time
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