How much screen time young children should have is a hotly debated topic amongst parents and childhood experts alike. But it’s worth remembering that not all screen time is created equal. In fact, there’s one ’90s kids show that can actually help educate your little ones about emotional intelligence: Bear in the Big Blue House.
It was a staple for children in the late ’90s and early 2000s, but nearly three decades after it originally premiered, it remains one of the most helpful shows for teaching kids about feelings, says child psychologist Dr. Tori Broems, PhD. She works as a school psychologist in New York’s Harborfields School District and also has a private practice, and she thinks this low-stimulation show for toddlers is a great way to encourage emotional development.
“If you’ve ever seen social media posts showing parents armed with stickers, coloring books, Magna-Tiles and endless restaurant activities while joking that they’re ‘fighting for their lives not to raise an iPad kid,’ then you know how challenging it can be to navigate parenting in the age of information,” she tells Parade.
But parents don’t have to be so black-and-white about screen time. Dr. Broems says that when you watch Bear in the Big Blue House with your child (aka co-viewing), it can encourage your kiddos in helpful ways.
“It creates meaningful opportunities for conversations about emotions,” she adds. “One of the show’s greatest strengths is that it treats emotions as a normal part of everyday life rather than problems that need to be eliminated.”
Here’s everything you need to know about why this show that ended 24 years ago can be so beneficial for kids.
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The Beloved ’90s Classic: What Was ‘Bear in the Big Blue House’?
Originally created by the Jim Henson Company using Henson’s signature puppetry style, Bear in the Big Blue House premiered in 1997. It follows Bear and his cast of animal friends who share a big blue house together while going on adventures, learning to solve problems and more.
The series was produced until 2002, and the property was then sold to Disney by Henson’s company in 2004. The final seasons premiered on Playhouse Disney from 2002 until 2006, per IMDb. Now all four seasons can be streamed on Disney+.
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Why a Child Psychologist Calls ‘Bear in the Big Blue House’ the Ultimate Tool for Emotional Intelligence
Dr. Broems appreciates that when the show features emotions like fear, sadness, anger and more, the characters don’t just rush past the experience.
“The show allows characters time to feel their emotions, name them, talk about them and move through them,” she says, adding, “[That] encourages a deeper understanding. Emotions are understandable, temporary and something we can talk about. This foundation is a key component of emotional intelligence.”
She applauds the show’s pacing regarding how much time the characters are given to solve their own problems.
“[They are] often given opportunities to work through challenges independently, allowing viewers to observe social interactions and conflict resolution in a realistic context,” she points out.
The psychologist also adds that watching the characters’ coping strategies and seeing things be resolved helps children to understand not just “what emotions are, but they learn how to respond to them.”
While some children’s shows focus on teaching kids tangible concepts like the letters of the alphabet, Bear in the Big Blue House spends more time on concepts like exploring big feelings, which can be somewhat nebulous to children.
“As both a school psychologist and a licensed psychologist who works with children, women and mothers, I frequently hear concerns about academic readiness,” Dr. Broems notes. “While early academic skills are important, young children [can be] simultaneously developing the emotional and social foundations that allow them to access those academic skills successfully.”
She adds that emotional regulation is hugely important for kids, and it’s one of the things the show does such a good job modeling. “Emotional competence involves recognizing internal states, understanding the emotions of others [and] communicating needs,” she explains.
“[Bear in the Big Blue House] models important social skills such as sharing, turn-taking, friendship, perspective-taking, communication and asking for help,” Dr. Broems says. “It also introduces concepts like patience, waiting, coping with disappointment and problem-solving.”
Though a show alone can’t give a child everything they need to succeed, she says parents shouldn’t dismiss screen time entirely.
“Shows like Bear in the Big Blue House can become powerful teaching tools when paired with conversations, emotional coaching and modeling from caregivers,” she states. “Integrate that within daily life as well and your child may pick up more than you think with regard to social-emotional learning.”
Related: 6 Ways To Raise Emotionally Intelligent Children or Grandchildren
The Science of ‘Low-Stimulation’ TV: Why Modern Cartoons Fail Where ‘Bear in the Big Blue House’ Succeeded
Many modern children’s shows are highly stimulating with bright colors, fast-paced action and loud sounds. Bear in the Big Blue House, by contrast, takes a low-stimulation approach with gentle songs, slow story pacing and more.
“Part of the show’s calming nature comes from its simplicity, routine and predictability,” says Dr. Broems. “Bear in the Big Blue House creates space for reflection… the characters move slowly, and emotions are communicated through dialogue, tone of voice, body language and relationships rather than through constant visual effects or rapid scene changes, which are frequently part of modern-day children’s television.”
She adds that the house itself serves as a consistent setting that children can come to expect. “Rather than transporting children through a series of visually overwhelming worlds, the show creates a sense of comfort, stability and home.”
Dr. Broems cites research published in Infant Behavior & Development, noting that “what children watch, not just how much they watch, matters.”
“In a longitudinal study of 195 families, children whose favorite programs were both slow-paced and rich in prosocial content demonstrated stronger gains in sharing behavior over time,” she explains.
In another study published in Pediatrics, Dr. Broems states, “Four-year-olds who watched a fast-paced cartoon performed significantly worse immediately afterward on measures of executive functioning, including working memory and self-regulation, compared to children who watched educational programming or participated in drawing activities.”
Overall, she thinks the research shows that “pacing and content can influence children’s attention, executive functioning and social behavior, all of which are critical aspects of brain development.”
In alignment with The American Academy of Pediatrics’ 5 Cs of Media Use, the psychologist encourages parents to prioritize high-quality content that’s interactive versus passive scrolling—as well as watching with their child and encouraging discussion afterwards.
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How the ‘Welcome’ and ‘Goodbye’ Songs Create a Secure Psychological Routine
“One of the most distinctive features of Bear in the Big Blue House is its predictable beginning and ending,” says Dr. Broems, when speaking about the consistent use of the same Welcome and Goodbye songs that bring the viewer in and then recap the day with them at the end.
“The opening communicates, ‘We’re here. We’re together. Let’s check in,'” she points out. In every episode, Bear greets viewers by “smelling” them in a playful ritual that encourages connection.
“Although children are not literally interacting with Bear, the repeated fourth-wall engagement helps create a sense of participation and relationship,” she says.
At the end of the episodes, Dr. Broems says, “The Goodbye song provides a predictable endpoint, which is especially important for young children.”
“Predictability supports emotional security, and research has linked consistent routines with stronger emotion regulation while household chaos is associated with greater emotional difficulties,” she adds.
Related: Child Psychologist Is Begging Parents To Teach Kids These 7 Daily Habits
Where To Watch ‘Bear in the Big Blue House’ Today
You can find Bear in the Big Blue House streaming on Disney+. There are over 100 episodes to choose from, but a good starting point for parents is this list of episodes that deal with big feelings about fear, sharing, being left out, changing routines and more.
Season 1, Episode 8: “Share Bear” Season 1, Episode 25: “Lost Thing” Season 2, Episode 8: “Back to Nature” Season 2, Episode 16: “Change is in the Air” Season 2, Episode 22: “Afraid Not” Season 2, Episode 29: “The Way I Feel Today” Season 3, Episode 3: “Nothing to Fear” Season 3, Episode 5: “You Never Know” Season 3, Episode 9: “What’s Mine is Yours” Season 3, Episode 14: “Wait for Me” Season 4, Episode 3: “Show and Tell” Season 4, Episode 12: “Big Blue Home of the Brave” Season 4, Episode 25: “Let it Go”Up Next:
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Source:
Dr. Tori Broems, PhD, works as a school psychologist in New York’s Harborfields School District and also has a private practice. Prosocial television and prosocial toddlers: A multi-method, longitudinal investigation (2021). Infant behavior & development. The immediate impact of different types of television on young children’s executive function (2011). Pediatrics.Hence then, the article about this popular children s show ended 24 years ago and a child psychologist says it s still one of the best ways to teach kids about feelings was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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