Mental health benefits of watching Bluey revealed in new research
There’s a reason watching Bluey makes you feel good inside – and it’s not just because of its heartwarming family moments. Find out the surprising health benefits of everyone’s favourite TV series
READING LEVEL: GREEN
It turns out Aussie cartoon Bluey isn’t just fun to watch – it’s also good for you. A new study has found the hit TV show could be delivering lifelong mental health benefits to kids around the world who watch it.
Groundbreaking new research has found that the adventures of the Heeler family modelled* resilience and showed kids how to overcome hard times.
Resilience is the ability to cope with difficult situations and bounce back when times get tough. It involves being able to adapt to change and uncertainty and recover from things that might be upsetting or difficult to go through. It can even involve learning and growing from difficult times.
The study by CQUniversity researcher Kelly Bohl is believed to be the first in-depth academic study into the psychology* of Bluey.
Ms Bohl analysed 150 episodes of the show, mapping each episode against a framework that assesses children’s resilience.
“When I started watching Bluey – as an adult who doesn’t have young children, but does have an interest in positive viewing habits – I noticed characters regularly living these lessons in emotional strength, coping, and recovery,” she said.
The lessons that the young characters in Bluey gain in each episode demonstrate that resilience is something you learn, the Townsville-based researcher said.
One example is when Bingo learns to sleep in her own bed during the Sleepytime episode, she said.
“In Sleepytime, Bingo’s dreamy journey through space and learning to sleep in her own bed, viewers see her growing independence through the comfort of knowing she is still deeply connected to her family,” Ms Bohl said.
It may not be obvious to the viewers that the lesson learned by Bingo involves being resilient. But Ms Bohl pointed out that Bingo learns to be strong, brave and to sleep by herself because she knows that “the loving presence of a parent, even from afar,” is there to help her feel safe.
“I also love that kids see resilience doesn’t mean doing everything perfectly or without fear – it means continuing to try, even when things feel overwhelming,” Ms Bohl said.
The research comes after the ABC pulled the Hammerbarn episode from its iview platform because of a commercial deal* between the show’s merchandise rights* holders (the BBC) and Bunnings.
The global popularity of the Queensland-made children’s show has seen it become the most watched television series in the United States.
Ms Bohl also said that parents and carers watching Bluey could learn how to model resilience for children, adding that the parent characters in Bluey acted as role models for resilience-building in 64 per cent of episodes where resilience was a central theme.
“And anecdotally*, parents around the world are watching Bluey with their kids, and modelling their own parenting on the Heeler family,” she said.
Ms Bohl said she was even inspired by moments from Bluey while doing her research alongside other responsibilities that were challenging to manage.
“I’ve thought of Bluey’s mum Chilli’s checklist from the episode The Show: ‘Have a little cry. Then, pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and keep going! The show must go on,’’ she said.
POLL
GLOSSARY
- modelled: demonstrated
- psychology: the study of the mind and how it works
- commercial deal: a formal agreement made between two companies with the purpose of making money
- merchandise rights: the legal right to produce and sell products of a brand or company
- anecdotally: spoken about by people but not measured statistically
EXTRA READING
Bluey favourite pulled from iview
One billion dollar Bluey bungle
Bluey becomes top dog of US TV
QUICK QUIZ
- What is resilience?
- What does resilience have to do with the TV series Bluey?
- What does Bingo learn in the Sleepytime episode?
- How does this lesson involve resilience?
- How do the parent characters help teach resilience?
LISTEN TO THIS STORY
CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
Making connections
Bluey isn’t the only place where we can learn about resilience. Think about some of your favourite books, movies, TV shows, theatre performances, or songs. Can you think of any that explore resilience as a key theme?
Make a list of examples, then choose one to focus on. Describe how a main character in that story showed resilience. In your explanation, include:
- What challenge they faced
- How they responded or overcame it
- Why this example has stuck in your mind
Time: allow 20 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English; Personal and Social Capability
Extension
Write down or talk with a partner about a time that you have needed to be resilient. What was the initial situation and how did it make you feel? What did you think or do that demonstrated your resilience? What was the outcome and how do you feel about it now?
Time: allow 10 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English; Personal and Social Capability
VCOP ACTIVITY
Vocabulary recycle
There is some vivid vocabulary being used in the article, and I am not just talking about the glossary words. Go through the article and highlight the high-level language that you are impressed by in yellow.
See if you can borrow two of these wow words to reuse in your own way.
Remember vocabulary is a great way to connect with the audience, but you need to think about who your audience is so you make great word choices.
Who will the audience be in your recycled sentences?