How Kids' TV Got Way Too Normal
11 hours ago
- #psychology
- #children's media
- #parenting
- Levi, the author's son, prefers older movies and TV shows like 'Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory' and 'Pee-wee’s Playhouse' over newer children's content.
- Older children's media often blends psychological ambiguity with psychedelic silliness, reflecting the complexity of a child's mind.
- Modern children's content tends to prioritize clear moral lessons over exploring life's messiness, leading to less psychological depth.
- The shift in children's media began in the 1980s due to commercialization and media consolidation, reducing creative freedom.
- Age-specific programming and streaming algorithms further homogenize content, favoring generic, widely appealing shows.
- Parents today often prefer educational content, reinforcing the trend toward less ambiguous, more didactic media.
- Experts argue that children benefit from media that acknowledges emotional ambivalence and life's chaos, helping them feel normal.
- The mental health crisis among children may stem from discomfort with complex feelings, exacerbated by overly simplistic media.
- Shows like 'Pee-wee’s Playhouse' offer lesson-proof content that allows children and parents to experience emotions without explanation.
- Parents today feel pressure to rationalize every emotion for their kids, but unstructured, ambiguous media can relieve this burden.