ABC
We all know there are plenty of life skills children can learn from watching cartoons – how to share with your friends, how to cross the road safely, how to build an awesome trap to take care of that pesky Road Runner once and for all … But animated shows and films can also teach grown-ups a thing or two as well. And I’m not talking about how to court controversy, a la Family Guy.
I recently sat down with my 5-year-old to sample the new episodes of Bluey (weekdays at 8am; ABC Kids), the series about a 6-year-old Australian Blue Heeler dog – the titular Bluey – and his family. We’re a bit slow to jump on the Bluey bandwagon in our house, but the overwhelmingly positive response the initial run of episodes received late last year prompted me to give it a look – and I’m very glad I did.
As far as my daughter is concerned, the TV is just about the best thing ever invented, but other than when she’s jumping around the lounge room emulating Skye or Owlette, she often sits slack-jawed, staring vacantly at whatever is on the screen. Not with Bluey – she was totally engaged, her eyes lit up.
Meanwhile, I found Bluey made a few, quite pointed observations I could take on board. Like in the episode “Fairies” when Bluey’s dad learns he should pay more attention to Bingo and Bluey and spend less time sending work emails on his phone. Or in “Pirates”, when Bluey’s dad realises he shouldn’t be embarrassed to play in front of other dads. I’m sure Bluey’s mum faces some hard truths about herself as well.
For some reason, when it’s a cartoon dog learning how to be a more tuned in parent it hits home more than if it was one of the adults in, say, Riverdale, where the vast majority of parents could do with lifting their game. But the best cartoons have always operated on two levels – delighting little ones and offering something for grown-ups in the way of social commentary that goes over kids’ heads. And jokes – gags that kids don’t get are always welcome.
Another thing Bluey does well is depict and elicit emotions. For kids, it’s helpful to see characters navigate fear, anger and sadness, and learn ways to process those emotions themselves. As an adult, there’s something quite affecting about watching animated beings grapple with those feelings – and remembering it’s perfectly fine to tear up ourselves, even if it is over a cartoon.
Who didn’t get emotional in Toy Story 3 when the toys faced certain death in a fiery furnace? Or turn into a sobbing mess during the flashback sequence in Up? If not, my advice is to watch Bluey, stop repressing those emotions and show kids it’s fine for a grown-up to cry.
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