Good children’s programming is just good programming. I remember my parents enjoying watching along to Max and Ruby and Spongebob, though they didn’t quite care for Ed, Edd, and Eddy or Total Drama Island. Some kids shows are just for kids, with their bright colors and obnoxious behavior, and some shows factor in the adults who are likely watching along as they make dinner. The best shows can court both audiences at once. Bluey is a perfect example of this. It was the most streamed TV show of 2024 for a reason. 

Bluey is equal parts educational and entertaining. They take on tough subjects like grief, loss, and anxiety and bring them down to a level that children will understand without making the mistake of condescending to them. It’s calming but also hopeful, feeling like wholesome, quality entertainment for both kids and the ones who raise them. The proof is in the pudding. Kids are addicted to Bluey.