Everything Early Childhood Educators Need To Know About The “Bluey” Phenomenon
One challenge of being an early childhood education is keeping up with pop culture trends and what movies, music, tv shows, and books young children are into. There have been few bigger cultural phenomena for preschoolers than the TV Show Bluey. This article gives and overview of the show so early educations know what it is all about, a Bluey related lesson plan, and finally a bibliography of articles with more information on Bluey.
Bluey is an Australian animated television series that has captured the hearts of children and adults alike. The show follows a family of blue heeler dogs: Bluey, her sister Bingo, and their parents Bandit and Chilli. The show is set in a familiar and relatable environment1 with lovable and engaging characters. The storylines are funny and heartwarming1, teaching kids important life lessons while also allowing parents to relate to the struggles that the characters face1.
One aspect of Bluey audiences consider particularly relatable is the family dynamic, including the games Bluey and Bingo play with their resourceful parents. The show can be read on multiple levels, which is why it can appeal to adults too. For instance, a recent Father’s Day episode saw Bluey’s dad, Bandit, discuss his conflicted feelings about fatherhood.
In addition, the show has educational and complex themes.
Some of its educational themes are typical of the kid’s show genre — how to be a good friend, how to be kind — but “Bluey” also tackles some much deeper topics. There are episodes touching on loss and grieving, infertility, fear and speaking up for yourself. The series presents parental figures who are very much attuned to their kids and who aptly balance the demands of work and family. Even when they’re not directly involved in their kids’ play, their presence is known in the story and their influence is felt in how the youngsters interact and solve problems.
The show also has an appealing animation style. The animation process for Bluey involves scripting, storyboarding, voice recording, animatic, background, animation VFX, music, and sound to sync across departments. The fact that Bluey has its own VFX department is unusual and speaks to the high quality of its animation.
Another one of the strengths of the show is its voice acting.
Bluey and Bingo are voiced by children of the television production crew 12. Bandit is voiced by David McCormack, who is also known as the lead singer of 90s indie rock band Custard 12. Meanwhile, actor Melanie Zanetti (Tidelands, Young Rock) plays Chilli 3. The show also features guest stars such as Patrick Brammall, Claudia O’Doherty, and Daley Pearson.
Critics have praised Bluey for its ability to teach valuable life lessons to both children and parents. The show has been described as relatable with real-life lessons and a healthy family dynamic. The quality of Bluey’s writing, animation, and acting has been described as astonishingly good for a kids’ show. Critics have also noted that Bluey transcends the kids’ TV genre by offering resonant pictures that every human can relate to.
Bluey has been a financial success since its debut. The show is produced by Ludo Studio, an Australian company that received initial funding for the show from the BBC, local governments, and the Australian Broadcasting Corp. Disney acquired the rights to air Bluey in all but a few countries. The show has become an international phenomenon with huge domestic success.
There are 110 merchandising licensees internationally, and more than 1000 Bluey-themed products are available in the marketplace.
The Bluey website has a variety of games that promote key learning skills such as problem-solving, creativity, and critical thinking. Some examples of games available on the Bluey website include Keepy Uppy, where children can keep a balloon off the ground, and Magic Xylophone, where children can explore music and create their melodies.
To get children away from the screen, there are many picture books available that feature the Bluey characters. Some examples include Bluey: Easter Bluey, Bluey: Baby Race 1, Bluey: Nochebuena con el Balcón de Santa, Bluey: 12 Days of Christmas, and Bluey: Merry Christmas: A Coloring Book
While some preschoolers do not allow lesson plans involving characters from pop culture, for those that do, here is an example of a Bluey lesson plan to help children learn more about their feelings using Bluey characters.
Title: Exploring Feelings with Bluey and Friends
Age Group: Preschool (3-5 years old)
Objective:
To help children recognize and express their feelings
To teach children empathy towards others' emotions
To foster a safe and supportive classroom environment
Materials:
Episode clips of Bluey (optional)
Bluey characters (plush toys, figurines, or puppets)
Drawing materials (paper, crayons, markers)
Emotion flashcards or posters
Introduction (10 minutes):
Greet the children and introduce the topic of feelings. Ask them how they are feeling today and discuss their responses.
Explain that today, we will be talking about feelings and how we can understand and express them.
Activity 1: Emotion Matching (15 minutes):
Show the children emotion flashcards or posters, and ask them to identify the feeling shown.
After discussing each emotion, hand out Bluey character toys to each child and ask them to show how their character would feel in that situation.
Encourage the children to share their thoughts and feelings with the group.
Activity 2: Bluey and Friends Express their Feelings (20 minutes):
Show an episode clip of Bluey where the characters experience different emotions.
Pause the clip at different points and ask the children to identify the characters' emotions and discuss why they think the character is feeling that way.
Using the Bluey characters, encourage the children to role-play different scenarios and express how they would feel in that situation.
Activity 3: Drawing our Feelings (15 minutes):
Ask the children to draw a picture of themselves and how they are feeling today.
After they finish, have them share their drawings with the group and describe how they are feeling.
Use this opportunity to reinforce that it's okay to feel different emotions and encourage empathy towards others' emotions.
Conclusion (10 minutes):
Recap the lesson on feelings and discuss how we can understand and express our emotions.
Remind the children that it's important to listen and show empathy towards others' feelings.
End with a positive affirmation and praise for the children's participation in the lesson.
Overall, Bluey is a show that both parents and kids can enjoy together. It’s full of energy and enthusiasm while also including themes and jokes that will appeal to adults as well 3.
Below is a bibliography of article links about Bluey for those looking for more information:
The cult of Bluey: how a kids’ cartoon became a bible for modern parenting | Bluey | The Guardian
Why 'Bluey' is the ultimate kids' show for grownups | Mashable
‘Bluey’ Is About Everything, Especially Music - The New York Times (nytimes.com)
What is 'Bluey' and why is the world obsessed with the show? (sfgate.com)
'Bluey' is a kids show with lessons for everyone : Pop Culture Happy Hour : NPR
7 Fun ‘Bluey’ Facts You Might Not Have Known (msn.com)
I've learnt a lot from Bluey, but can the show be more representative? - ABC Everyday
The kids’ show Bluey is a lesson in the power of imagination - Vox
The subtle sophistication of Bluey's soundtrack helped propel it to stardom (theconversation.com)
