Not so long ago, my colleague Alan wrote about the perils of certain content (Paw Patrol, if you’re asking), limiting children’s ability to think critically – it’s excellent and thought-provoking (ICYMI, here it is).
However, it got me thinking: is that always the case? And I’m less sure. Exhibit A in the defence of kids’ TV? Bluey – an Australian show which has taken the world by storm. Let me enlighten you with some surprising stats. In the US, Bluey has been the most-streamed show (across all categories, not just children) since 2024. This year alone it’s racked up more than 25bn minutes streaming. The same is true in many other parts of the world; Bluey is popular, and that is an indisputable fact.
I’m familiar with Bluey because my daughter is 8 and we’ve watched it together for a few years now. In a nutshell, Bluey is a 6-year-old blue heeler (a hardy breed of dog, popular in Australia for its reliability and toughness) and the show follows her adventures along with the rest of her family: Bingo (her 4-year-old sister), Chilli (mum), and Bandit (dad). A regular supporting cast feature as with many popular long-running series. Bluey’s global success is probably attributable to both characterisation (which is nuanced, funny, insightful and compelling) and storytelling – this is no wash-rinse-and-repeat deus ex machina problem-solving sausage factory (sorry, Paw Patrol). But what on earth might this have to do with children, critical thinking, or even negotiation?
I’ll pick a couple of episodes to illustrate. In Dance Mode (Series 2, episode 1), Bingo is upset at Bandit – frankly, this is entirely fair as Bandit has just guzzled her last chip. To make up for this egregious offence, Bandit and Chilli offer Bingo three goes at “dance mode” (in which Bingo can flick mum or dad’s tail and they are obliged to dance like nobody’s watching, irrespective of the circumstances they’re in at the time). The problem? The other family members can’t resist taking Bingo’s dance mode goes for her. We’re looking at a concession gone wrong, from the negotiation standpoint – one driven by third parties. It’s multilateral, involves complex trading (Bandit trades dollarbucks for Bingo’s last dance mode, Bluey then imposes her will on Bingo, forcing her to buy a toy she doesn’t want with the bribe), and does rather look like it’s going to lead to a sad ending. It doesn’t – look it up on iPlayer or Disney Plus.
The second episode is "Cricket" (Season 3, Episode 47). So popular was this particular episode in the US – a country not famed for its love of leather on willow – that it spawned the publication of a book there. Why? Brilliant storytelling – drawing from parables and a deep insight into the human condition. In Cricket, Rusty (one of the regular supporting cast and a friend of Bluey’s) joins his local cricket team, only to be intimidated by the opponent’s fast bowler (in stereotypical Aussie fashion, this bully is ironically named Tiny). What to do? Well, Rusty digs deep. He practises – taking into account all conditions, bowling variations and pace – using whatever is available from cracked paving to tree stumps. He continues to practise until his batting enables him to flay Tiny and Bandit’s bowling all over the ground. Preparation and practice? They’re valuable lessons for anyone who negotiates regularly. One of the kickers in this episode (it’s not as basic as only one moral, folks) is that not only does practice matter, but so does teamwork. Rusty is at the crease and could bat all day long – but instead, seeing his sister Dusty at mid on, he sends he a dolly of a catch. So we have insights into both competitive and collaborative mindsets as well as the value of practice and preparation, all in 7 minutes.
All in all, I’d say I’m happy with my wee toot absorbing some of that – although at the same time and in deference to Alan, I’d equally admit that I’ve done all I can to avoid her watching Paw Patrol (with some success) for the very reasons he cited.
