Children should watch TV shows that teach them good lessons

I do not have children. But I will continue to say my opinions about how to raise children. And I know I shouldn’t judge how people parent their children but I justify myself because believe it or not I was a former child. Opinions from a former child should suffice the category of experts on how to raise children. 

Growing up I did have some internet and phone usage but I do not remember having it to the point where I would spend most of my day stuck to my phone. This is what I’m seeing a lot in younger children. 

I know this has been a cliche saying since phones were invented but kids really are stuck to their phones all day. I know teens have this issue too but I am specifically talking about very young children, pre-teens and younger. 

Recently Tiktok has coined a new term for children who fit the stereotype of behaving badly and being stuck to their phone or tablet all day. Cocofelons. I’ll explain what that term entails. 

“CoComelon” is a YouTube channel that makes 3D animated videos with characters that sing nursery rhymes and their own original songs. I think “CoComelon” itself is relatively harmless, there are speculations about how the speed of the graphics and quick changes disrupt children’s mental growth but I don’t think that is the issue. 

“CoComelon” is bright in colors, the characters are cute and the songs are catchy for small children. It is an issue when children get heavily addicted to them. Many children are given iPads or phones and are sat down to watch “CoComelon”. 

But it has reached a point that this is used as babysitting. Parents leave their kids unattended with their screens and let them sit and watch for hours. This is the issue. Young children are no longer being babysat by real people but by screens. 

And it has gotten to a point where we have coined them as “iPad kids” because these kids are always seen watching videos all the time. They cannot eat, sit, walk or really do anything without their videos. 

Obviously, this is not all kids in the world but it is enough to where we have to categorize their behaviors. I myself have seen kids like this, they are almost like zombies. And their parents just let it happen. 

Now, the term Cocofelons comes into play when these children are stuck to their phones and have rebellious behaviors. Children get so addicted to their videos that they physically cannot be apart from them. 

It is very visible, in public especially, when children get their phones taken away, because you hear a loud piercing scream ring through the aisles of Target. This is usually followed by their parent saying something along the lines of “Just let me make this phone call and I’ll give it back to you.” 

Children usually behave badly because that is what children do, it’s in their nature. 

But there has been a rise in very common horrible behavior in small children. And I think it is because they are not being parented by real humans, but by their singing 3D animated shows.

“CoComelon” itself isn’t necessarily the issue, but I feel that “CoComelon” doesn’t teach children anything. I think if they are going to be addicted to their video, they might as well learn some basic human manners. 

I personally recommend “Bluey” for young children. “Bluey” is an Australian animated TV series that is geared towards preschool children. “Bluey” teaches children valuable life lessons, songs, colorful visuals and incredible story-building. 

But “Bluey” is not just geared toward children. I think the creators of “Bluey” saw that the parents of children have to hear and watch these shows with their kids, so they decided to make it interesting for parents too. 

“Bluey” touches on themes like friendship, big emotions in children, meltdowns, feeling left out and how to be a great person. But it also has themes of miscarriage, infertility, not feeling like a good enough parent, parents being on active military duty, finding a partner after a divorce and so many more deep and true-to-life themes. 

I watched “Bluey” over the summer because I like watching cartoons. I feel like I am a little kid inside and watching funny and cute cartoons makes me happy. But after watching “Bluey” I was left to deal with the realization that kids finally have a good example to model their lives after. And I wish I had “Bluey” when I was growing up. 

Even though “Bluey” did make me cry with its hard-hitting lessons, I recommend it to everyone. I enjoy seeing kids be kids and learn from their mistakes through the show. But I also like seeing parents and adults being reassured that parenting is not a smooth ride and it is okay to feel overwhelmed. 

I think parents should switch their choice of parenting and sit down and watch meaningful shows with their children. Sometimes all children need is the reassurance that parents will be there no matter what, even if it is just watching a silly cartoon together.