Bluey is the imaginative, enthusiastic and creative 6 year old blue heeler dog, the focus of the most popular animated kids show around, Bluey (Creator Joe Brumm, Brisbane based Ludo Studio, ABC Kids). At the heart of the show is Bluey and her family, Dad Bandit, Mum Chilli and little sister Bingo. They get up to so much fun, just doing everyday family things.
Pop culture icons are essentially the characters we connect with, relate to and look up to for strengths, ideas and frames of reference. Bluey gives kids this same connection in a real and playful way and helps them consider their world and their place in it. It shows kids ways to own our own behaviour and how to get through tricky situations.
Here are a few great gems I have grabbed from some of the episodes I have enjoyed.
- Being Together is all we need sometimes – When “Camping” the family is enjoying the outdoors, Bluey is playing by herself and meets a French speaking dog named Jean Luc. They cannot speak each other’s language, but play and communicate beautifully nonetheless. Bluey shows that connecting with someone does not need words, but simple human communication, an attitude of teamwork, bringing each other’s ideas and strengths together thought trying things out and simply being together in play. I love how kids can easily get along by stepping into a new world they create together.
- How to Compromise and Take Turns – “Hotel” shows the girls running a hotel in the house. Bingo becomes upset because Bluey is directing all the make believe play and Bongo wants to be a Crazy Pillow. Bluey is shown empathising with Bingo and reflecting on how she can include Bingo more. Dad then gets attacked by the crazy pillow lol.
- It’s Okay to Feel Sad when missing someone – The “Camping” episode also shows us how we can miss someone, even if we have only known them for a short time, because their impact on us has been meaningful. Bluey’s Mum helps her understand that it’s okay to feel the sadness of missing someone and that our happy memories can help us with our sadness.
- Being Brave and not being shamed for being scared – In “Pirates” the kids act out Mum’s pirate storytelling, on a pirate ship hammock, when a storm comes along and a big whale. The ship swings violently up and down (by the waves of Dad), the whale swallows the kids and their friend Missy finds a way to be brave and rescue Bluey and Bingo. The parents understand that Missy is afraid and gentle give her time, encouragement, boundaries and use her ideas to help her find her inner brave pirate.
- I am me and being me is great – A lesson in acceptance of who we are and being okay to be me. Bluey in general depicts children, play and behaviour as it is, not painting anything as good or bad but simply showing us how humans are and how we interact, and a few choice kid insults like “More like Poo Whale” haha. A basis for positive self regard and good self esteem is the ability to accept who we are and be proud no matter our mistakes and to not be expected to be perfect.
- The great thing is that each episode respectfully shows is how our behaviour effects others and how situations can make us feel. We can then problem solve in these situations and take responsibility for our actions. Bluey works hard to prove Bingo wrong in “Grannies” which upsets her greatly, Bluey then thinks about her Mum’s words of wisdom, “do you want to be right or do you want bingo to keep playing” and because sometimes we can’t have both she finds a way to make Bingo feel happy to play again by teaching Grannie to dance the floss.
- Dancing is not negotiable!
- Even Blue Heelers can Floss. The Floss is inescapable! Come on, give it a go! 😛
Every kid can learn something from Bluey and her imaginative adventures in everyday situations. The biggest being the ability to enjoy the small moments and make your own smiles – and what better way to enjoy your day than to spend it getting up to good mischief with your family and friends.
Want to watch Bluey? Go to http://www.abc.net.au/abcforkids/shows/s4894252.htm to find out more.
