A common challenge among parents is getting the right content for the kids’ screen time and blocking the harmful content from being accessed either intentionally or accidentally.
Statistics from KidsHealth Medical Experts show that kids will view 200,000 violent acts on television before they are 18 years old.
This article focuses on ten mindfulness kids’ TV shows and animation that will make screen time more fun and beneficial.
What is mindfulness?
Mindfulness is defined as paying attention to what is going on by blocking distractions. The mental state of mindfulness requires a person to slow down and be calmly focused.
Almost all parents will relate to the struggle of unsuccessfully trying to get a kid to do something meaningful without being distracted. No worries!
This is simply because most kids lack the mindfulness skill necessary for them to complete a task of several steps without being overwhelmed by distractions.
How TV Shows can help your kids practice mindfulness daily
Kids that practice mindfulness benefit in the following ways:
- They learn more and faster
- They can stay calm when under stress
- They become less responsive to anger
- They develop patience
- They develop interpersonal skills
A recent report by the CDC shows that kids Ages 8-18 spend an average of 4.5 hours watching TV each day; this makes ensuring the kids are watching the right content a high priority issue.
“All television is educational television. The question is: what is it teaching you?” Nicholas Johnson
In most of the available TV shows, there is a theme of making kids understand the concept of choices and consequences. For instance, people who do good even when others are doing wrong end up gaining the most in the end.
Below are ten mindfulness TV shows and animations that would greatly benefit your kid.
1. 3rd & Bird (Ages 3-5)
This is an animated TV show about a community of birds that live, learn and play on the branches of an old tree.
The story gets to show the interactions between the adult birds and the baby birds. The characters in the show encounter various challenges and require specific skills to succeed or survive.
This TV show teaches kids how to be patient as well as kind to one another.
2. Addison (Ages 3-6)
This is a TV show about Addison, a young girl who undertakes brain-teasing adventures when she’s not creating innovative items.
The mysteries she solves require emotional intelligence and patience, a virtue that is important while nurturing mindfulness.
Addison also cooperates with the friends to solve the mysteries, overcome setbacks, and support each other through the mystery-solving process.
By encouraging the kids to use their imagination, Addison challenges the viewers to expand their reasoning limits while perceiving the world around them.
3. Creative Galaxy (Ages 4-7)
This animated TV show features Arty and his sidekick, Epiphany, who uses art to solve problems creatively.
The two use their wits to create a fun environment that nurtures their creativity that is later expressed in their art projects.
One of the important lessons that kids learn from the show is the need to plan before embarking on the project. Having just a simple plan allows the two main characters to remain focused on the task and complete it within a short period of time.
By getting an idea of what the two want to accomplish, they can maintain their focus throughout the process.
Mindfulness requires focus and the ability to block out distractions in the process, a skill that kids can gain from watching Creative Galaxy.
4. Doc McStuffins (Ages 3-7)
This is an animated series about Doc McStuffins, a 6-year-old doctor who takes care of unwell toys.
The series teaches about compassion and a can-do-attitude while solving problems.
Although Doc McStuffins understands all toys, he still takes time to treat each toy individually and communicate with it.
This show teaches kids to value mindfulness while dealing with others.
5. Elena of Avalor (Age 4-6)
This is an entertaining animated series about Princess Elena’s adventures.
On her quest to regain the throne taken from her parents, Princess Elena employs the wisdom imparted on her by her ruling council.
At first, you might get lost, but the innate lessons of mindfulness start to project themselves in her decision-making process soon enough. It combines the thrill of her adventure with lessons in kindness, patience, and self-esteem.
The best thing with this series is that as a parent or guardian, you start to get sucked into the story soon, making it a great show to watch with your kid or kids.
6. Franklin (Ages 3-6)
Franklin is an animated series about Franklin and his friends.
While it outlines gentle moral lessons at the end of each episode, the series does an excellent job of teaching the values of honesty and patience throughout the episode.
Kids learn about mindfulness when interacting with friends from Franklin while still getting a good laugh out of it.
7. Healing Power of Dudes (Ages 8-13)
This series is about an 11-year old boy who suffers from social anxiety disorder and is comforted by a loving dog.
Noah finds strength and courage from his relationship with his dog Dude. This story’s inspiring storyline dwells on the fact that it’s okay not to be perfect and it’s okay to seek help when in need.
The simplicity and brevity with which the series communicates this makes it easy for kids to understand.
Mindfulness at any level requires self-awareness and self-acceptance, a point emphasized by Noah’s story of resilience.
8. George & Martha (Ages 4-6)
This is an animated series about two friends who have many issues usually resolved using constructive dialog and open communication.
Kids can learn how to resolve conflicts in a non-confrontational way and listen to their friends’ concerns. Patience and listening are skills that can be taught when the kid is still young. Kids with these skills can readily embrace mindfulness in their interaction with their friends and family.
9. Mickey House Clubhouse (Ages 2-6)
This classic TV show has been a favorite for many kids for more than a decade now.
The show teaches kids about being there for each other, treating each other with kindness, and the value of honesty.
The best part about this show is that it combines social lessons with academic lessons in a fun way that makes your kids' learning experience fun.
Your kids would have fun watching the show and still get valuable life lessons about kindness and patience as an added benefit.
10. Mouk (Ages 4-7)
This is an animated series that promotes cultural diversity. The main character of this show is a fun bear that goes around the world on a bike, encouraging kindness and respect.
With Mouk, you get a simplistic TV show that addresses issues that kids are bound to face in their interactions with other kids from different backgrounds.
It encourages learning more about how other people from different backgrounds live and appreciating each other’s diversity.
Embracing new experiences helps kids value the concept of mindfulness as they focus on learning new ways of doing things.
Conclusion
Screen time utilized on the right content provides an excellent opportunity for kids to gain essential life skills and qualities such as mindfulness.
Choosing the right content is very important, and parents should ensure that they understand the content the kids are being exposed to during screen time.
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