What to watch: Bluey
Where to find it: Disney+ (it also airs on the Disney Channel)
Run time: 8 minutes
Best for ages: ALL!!!
Why We Recommend Bluey
One afternoon, I took my five-year-old daughter Everly to feed the ducks at our local pond. After we ran out of oats (did you know ducks can't eat bread?), she found a little girl her age to run around with for a bit. At one point they were pretending to be frozen, an activity that the other girl's mom informed me was inspired by the show Bluey. A children's show that I had never heard of that inspires fun? I had to check it out!
A few days later, I found Bluey on Disney+ and turned it on for Everly. Usually, I put on a show so I can bop around the house doing laundry or unloading the dishwasher but the first few seconds of this show captured my attention. Within minutes both Everly and I were cracking up. It struck me as rare to find a kids' show that we both found entertaining. Episode after episode, we both fell in love with each and every member of this charming dog family.
Named after the eldest daughter, Bluey is simply about a family of heelers in Australia who have a ton of fun playing together. They take pretend play to another level. If I had an ounce of the imagination that Bluey, her little sister Bingo, and their parents have, I would never have to buy a toy for my kids again. This is why I cannot recommend Bluey as a show to put on to distract your kids while you get something else done—pick a different show for those moments. At only 8 minutes per episode give your feet and back a little break, sit down with your kids, and enjoy the hilarity. I promise you will laugh and you will walk away with several fun new ideas for playtime with your kiddos.
Like most kids' shows, Bluey offers some great lessons for the little ones such as, why it's important to take turns, be patient, and appreciate nature. Many episodes also have some great lessons for parents as well.
Season 2 of Bluey just became available on Disney+. I haven't seen every episode but here are a few of my favorites from both seasons so far:
Season 1
Magic Xylophone
Keepy Uppy
Takeaway
Taxi
The Creek
Faries
Season 2
Dance Mode
Daddy Dropoff
The Show
Flat Pack
Octopus
Bin Night
Activity
Nearly every single episode that I've seen offers either a fun new idea to incorporate into playtime or a way to make a mundane activity like taking out the trash more fun with your little ones. The best part is, most of Bluey's games are played with ordinary things you probably have in your home or neighborhood. One of the first games we recreated in our home was "Keepy Uppy."
Materials needed:
1 balloon
Optional: fans, hairdryer, spatulas
The third episode (season 1) explains the simple rules of this game: blow up a balloon and work as a team to keep it from touching the ground. After a few minutes when Bluey and Bingo got the hang of it they asked their dad, Bandit, to make it more challenging. He did so by turning on fans, using a leaf blower, and imploring other fun shenanigans. Like Bandit, you can shake things up by using a hairdryer, hitting the balloon with various sized spatulas, or tying one arm behind your kid's back. We even had one parent act as a balloon-eating monster, turning it into a game of keep away.
This activity is great because it can be played inside or outside and with as many people as you'd like. It also opens up the opportunity for your kids to think of creative ways to make the game more interesting.
Share the fun you are having with us on Social Media! Tag us @curiouscouchpotatoes when you try any of our activities.
Educational Insights
When children engage in pretend play, they are learning about the social and emotional roles they (and others) will take on in life. Dramatic play also helps children learn to take turns, share responsibility, and problem-solve creatively. They are adjusting to decisions being made by others, not just themselves, as well as how to communicate their wants and needs.