'Bluey Isn't Just A Kids Show,' Mom Shares Realizations After Watching With Daughters

Bluey is an Australian animated television series for preschoolers. Bluey has a younger sister named Bingo, and their parents are Bandit (the dad) and Chili (the mom). A lot of parents recommend this show because they say it promotes personal and family values.

One day, I sat down with my daughters to binge-watch Bluey episodes. We laughed so hard at several episodes, but there were moments when my heart was touched by some quotable and relatable quotes from the dog family.

Here are some reasons why you should watch Bluey with your kids.

Why moms recommend Bluey for their kids

1. Bluey reminds us to cherish the moments of playfulness and presence with the whole family.

In one episode from Season 1, titled "The Weekend," Bluey and Bingo play over the weekend. Bingo pretends to be a statue, which Bluey sells to her dad. When his daughters reveal that the statue is actually Bingo, he pretends he didn't know.

"Is there more weekend tomorrow?" Bluey asks.

"Of course, there is," her mom replies.

This reflects the endless possibilities and excitement children feel during weekends and holidays when they can explore and enjoy time with their loved ones.

2. Bluey teaches kids about emotional resilience.

In another episode titled "Favourite Thing," Bluey's family was having lunch and trying to recall favorite moments from the past. It’s a funny storytelling session, and they all laugh when they recall how Bingo once said "trifficult" instead of "difficult." But instead of feeling happy, Bingo feels sad. So, Bluey tries to remind her of more fun things from the past. However, Bingo still feels sad.

"But why is she still sad? I thought I fixed her," Bluey asks her mom.

"You can't always fix people, sweetheart," Chili responds.

This episode highlights a life lesson about acceptance and empathy. It's a gentle reminder that while we can offer support and comfort to others, we can't always solve their problems or erase their sadness.

3. Bluey reminds us to find joy in the simplest things.

In an episode titled "Relax," Chili is desperate to get her daughters to relax at the beach, but they prefer to linger in their hotel room first. When Bandit tells Chili to simply relax, she goes alone to the beach to unwind, but too many thoughts bother her. When she returns to the hotel, she notices how her daughters find amusement in simple things like the clean toilet and fantastic scenery.

"Bluey teaches these topics with sensitivity and grace, offering children (and even adults) valuable insights into the complexities of life."

When Bingo asks her what book she's reading, Chili says it's about "How to be Happy." Bingo responds, "It's easy to be happy," and shows her that by simply smiling, you can be happy.

Sometimes, as adults, we forget to be happy with simple things because of life’s complexities, but our children remind us to slow down and live in the present.

4. Bluey emphasizes that losing and letting others win can also make you happy.

In the episode "Pass the Parcel," Luigi's dad changes the rules of the game—instead of having everyone win every time they open the parcel, only one person in the group gets to win. Initially, all the children are upset that they don't win any prizes. Over time, however, as the new rules are applied, everyone gets used to losing and letting one person win.

One of the challenges parents face today is that children dislike losing. Initially upset, Bingo eventually tells her mom, "When Lila's happy, I'm happy!" Her mom responds, "I think you're doing good at losing!"

It teaches us that we can be happy for others. When it is their time to win, we can cheerfully applaud them. Later in the episode, Bingo finally wins a prize from "Pass the Parcel," which also teaches her patience.

What else can kids and adults pick up from Bluey episodes

Apart from these values about living our lives in the present and cherishing moments, Bluey also delves into heavy themes that children need to process, such as grief, infertility, and death.

Bluey demonstrates how grief is part of accepting that some things that happen are irreparable.

Bluey enjoys mimicking her dad's actions and words for fun, but things become more serious when she discovers an injured budgie. This leads to an urgent visit to the vet for the bird's injuries. However, the vet tells them that the bird has died.

"I don't want the budgie to have died," Bluey sadly tells her dad.

"There's nothing we can do. It's out of our hands," he replies.

Bluey is just at the right age to begin to understand death as permanent and irreversible. In the latter part of the episode, they reenact how they found the budgie, and when her mom tries to change the narrative to say that the budgie lived, Bluey tells her she doesn't need to alter the story because she has learned to accept what happened.

Bluey shows how we can empathize with others when they encounter sensitive challenges such as infertility.

Brandy, Chili's sister, visits Bluey's family after four years. She appears uneasy in the presence of her nieces, hinting at an unspoken reason for her absence. Chili shares with Bluey that, during a moment of hiding in a bathtub from Bingo (a typical family escapade), Brandy faces infertility.

"This is the first time I've actually felt 'seen', and I'm just sad that it's taken a children's cartoon to make me feel this way. Thank you to the writers for addressing such an intensely emotional subject, for so many, with such kindness, empathy, and consideration," one mom wrote.

Bluey isn't just a kids' show; it's a heartwarming journey teaching valuable life lessons. From episodes showcasing the magic of playtime to those addressing heavier themes like grief, infertility, and loss, Bluey teaches these topics with sensitivity and grace, offering children (and even adults) valuable insights into the complexities of life.

Gone are the days when adults overemphasize academic excellence; we need emotionally resilient children who will soon be adults in this complicated world—and Bluey teaches us how to be.

Bluey is available on Disney+ and on YouTube.

Do you and your kids also watch Bluey? Here's a list of Bluey merch that you might want to buy.