by Harsimar Kang, Contributing Author
Picture this: your toddler is glued to the screen, entranced by CoComelon’s catchy tunes, rapid scene changes, and non-stop action. For a weary parent, this feels like a lifesaver—finally, a moment of peace. But behind the cheerful melodies and vibrant visuals lies an important question: is all this fast-paced stimulation too much for a developing brain to handle?
Some authors have investigated the magic of CoComelon earlier this year after being mystified about the minimal dialogue and lack of a plot for various episodes. One author from The Fordham Ram looked into the addictive nature of the show, discussing how the show created a high degree of stimulation that kids quickly begin to crave. Unlike slower-paced programs that mimic real-life interactions, these types of shows flood children with quick, fragmented information. The New York Times explored the engineering of the production company, Moongbug Entertainment, behind these hit shows. They discovered that there were test groups of children who were shown CoComelon on a big screen. Beside it was a smaller screen, called the “Distractatron,” with videos of adults doing chores. The company made note of every time the child looked away from CoComelon to watch the Distractatron to then change the scene to be increasingly engaging.
A Forbes article summarizes pediatric studies regarding fast-paced children’s shows. They present two primary concerns with CoComelon-esque TV: the first being the pace and second the idea of over and under stimulation. Fast-paced cartoons may lead to rapid stimuli that overwhelms the ability of the brain to effectively process information, leading to decreased attention span and emotional dysfunction. In addition, the passive consumption of TV may actually lead to understimulation where children are not fully engaging in all of their senses necessary for healthy brain development. And when children are actively watching all of the overstimulating action sequences, they may actually overwhelm their senses, which also leads down to the same pathway of hindered brain development. Additional research has been published this year about this very topic. A systematic review in BMC Psychology found conflicting results on the mechanisms by which pacing affects attention, indicating further clinical research needs to be performed in this realm of child development.
But it’s also unfair to put all the worries of the changing landscape of children’s content onto solely CoComelon. For the parent at the beginning of the article who needs a moment of reprieve from a crying child, a highly active show may do the trick to calm the child down and keep them temporarily distracted. And many parents online have shared how similar shows have kept restless kids entertained for the duration of a flight, leading to airlines like American Airlines to carry shows like Hey Bear with the dancing fruit. (Check out this cute distracted toddler). Your old PBS favorites are great examples of a slower-paced TV show – from Sesame Street to Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. They may present an acceptable alternative if screen time is needed to distract a child. More modern show equivalents mentioned in the above articles include Bluey and Puffin Rock, as more relaxing, educational programming. These programs foster attention and learning by allowing moments for children to process what they see and hear. Pairing this with non-screen activities—like outdoor play or reading together—can create a well-rounded environment for brain development without sacrificing your much-needed downtime.
What do you think? Do you notice any effects on your child from shows like CoComelon? Comment down below with your thoughts!
References
Lillard, A. S., & Peterson, J. (2011). The Immediate Impact of Different Types of Television on Young Children’s Executive Function. Pediatrics, 4, 644–649. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2010-1919
Namazi, S. A., & Sadeghi, S. (2024). The immediate impacts of TV programs on preschoolers’ executive functions and attention: a systematic review. BMC Psychology, 1. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-01738-1
Smith, E. (2024, April 17). The “CoComelon” Conundrum: Crack for Kids or Parenting Tool? – The Fordham Ram. The Fordham Ram. https://thefordhamram.com/opinion/the-cocomelon-conundrum-crack-for-kids-or-parenting-tool/
Travers, M. (2024, May 17). Why Kids’ Shows Like ‘Cocomelon’ Hamper Critical Brain Development. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/traversmark/2024/05/17/why-kids-shows-like-cocomelon-hamper-critical-brain-development/
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