When I was a kid, I couldn’t get enough of the show Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. When the simple piano melody played and Mr. Rogers swapped his work jacket for a cardigan and blue sneakers, everything felt right with the world. He’d say something warm and welcoming, like “I’m glad we can be together again,” and I felt like he meant it. My heart still picks up its pace when I hear the rumble and “ding, ding!” of the trolley as it rolls into the Neighborhood of Make Believe.
This is why it broke my heart when I showed my then 4- and 5-year-olds the episode when Mr. Rogers goes to the crayon factory on YouTube, and they thought it was “OK, but kinda boring.” I was gutted, but not surprised. Have you noticed how colorful and even frenetic some kid shows are? They’re training our kids to need that type of stimulation to be entertained and even in some cases, they’re creating overstimulated kids. Here’s why the shows you let your little ones watch matter, along with a few shows that are better options.
Why the Show Itself Matters, Not Just the Amount of Screen Time
Children’s programs have a target age. When we let 3-year-olds watch shows meant for 6-year-olds, we are not just exposing them to content they aren’t able to understand, we are putting them at a learning disadvantage. A fast-paced, flashy show engages the senses rather than the brain areas engaged in memory, controlling inhibition, and problem solving.
As researcher Angeline Lillard, PhD, professor of psychology at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, put it, “When a child sees a cartoon character that jumps from one activity to another, much faster than in real life, they become neurologically exhausted and it inhibits the ability to concentrate.”
Signs Your Child Is Overstimulated
Look at your child’s eyes after he watches TV. If he has trouble making eye contact or his eyes look tired but awake at the same time (some call this tired and wired), it’s a sign he’s either watching too much TV or the shows he’s watching are too flashy. Other signs of an overstimulated kid include:
Aggression
Bouts of crying
Can’t sit still
Emotional shutdown or seeming to go numb
Irritability
Meltdowns
Oppositional or defiant behavior
Better Shows for a Small Child
Moms are human, and sometimes we need the TV to entertain our kids. It’s OK. As a mom of a toddler, you’re in a position to start regulating your kid’s programs now. There’s still time. The Instagram account Raising Well Kids has a great list of shows that are slower-paced, less stimulating, and have more gentle themes. Here are a few options:
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie (Amazon)
Little Bear (Amazon)
Puffin Rock (Netflix)
Sarah & Duck (Amazon/Netflix)
The Gruffalo (Amazon)
Elinor Wonders Why (PBS Kids)
Bug Diaries (Amazon)
Nature Documentaries
Reading Rainbow (Amazon)
Through the Woods (PBS Kids)
A Final Thought on Mr. Rogers
If you’ve read about Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, you know Fred Rogers was very intentional about every detail, from the routine of changing his clothes and shoes, to the way he looked at the camera and asked questions, to the personalities of the puppets. Even his frequent factory visits were layered with purpose. Not only did kids learn how crayons, wagons, or macaroni were made, Mr. Rogers is quoted saying “I want children to know that people make things, they just don’t make themselves.”
As I learn about the richness of this show nearly 40 years after watching Mr. Rogers on my family’s big box television, I’m grateful that the program my mom allowed me to watch was created by a man who cared about a child’s needs. Yes, there are shows today that help teach emotional literacy, reading, or kindness, but there are many more shows that are just movement, lights, colors, and sounds.
But remember this: You are in control. If you decide your children’s favorite shows are making parenting harder for you, overstimulating your kids, or forming their character in ways that are contrary to what you’re striving for, just turn it off. Expect pushback, but don’t give in. Mr. Rogers wouldn’t want you to.
If you decide your children’s favorite shows are making parenting harder for you, overstimulating your kids, or forming their character in ways that are contrary to what you’re striving for, just turn it off. Click To TweetWhat was your favorite show as a child?
