Millennial mom played ’90s cartoons for her 'overstimulated' toddler, left stunned by the change in her

The exposure children receive, be it from people, the environment, or even media, crucially impacts their development. Parents have long debated whether screentime is good for their kids and what would make the perfect visuals for them. A mom named Linnea Dubravac was also careful about what she allowed her 2-year-old daughter to watch, per Newsweek. With so many aggressive, subconsciously violent, and negative portrayals even in kids’ cartoons, the mom decided to tune into her '90s favorites and see if there was something better for her daughter to watch. Sharing the report on November 28, Dubravac was stunned by the results. 

The mom noted how even children’s shows and cartoons of late seemed unappealing, negative, and harsh for a child’s growth and development. Be it the bright colors or passive-aggressive characters, all of it made her feel uneasy. “I wanted any screentime to feel intentional, calm, and supportive of her development rather than overstimulating,” she remarked. The mom does indulge in educational shows like “Ms. Rachel” among others, but is very careful about other entertaining cartoons. She decided to turn to shows from the 90s to see if they had a better impact. “They have gentle storytelling, longer pauses and natural colors, which create space for imagination,” Dubravac explained. 

In the video shared by Dubravac, her 2-year-old was watching “Little Bear,” a popular 1995 show for kids. With other decades-old cartoons introduced, she soon noticed something reassuring. “She seems grounded and peaceful afterward rather than wired or overstimulated,” the mom explained. She also noted that the shows gave a sense of comfort and serenity. Her toddler was no longer throwing tantrums to watch another episode, but would consider playing or getting to other activities. The mom also shared a couple of other shows like “Clifford, Teletubbies, Max & Ruby,  Magic School Bus, Dragon Tales,” and so on. 

In a survey shared by Zero to Three, it was revealed that on average, children from birth to 23 months old spend 42 minutes with screens a day. While 2- to 4-year-olds spend 2 hours and 39 minutes a day. 72% of screen time is associated with watching television. The survey also reported that 98% of homes have access to mobile phones — another source of media exposure. A majority of families also use tablets, iPads, and other devices, and it is very important to pay careful attention to the type of media the kids consume. Keeping these things in mind, the mom switched to a few oldies. 

"As a mom, I want to raise a confident, curious, and grounded child. This experience reminded me that often the simplest moments are the most meaningful,” Dubravac added. Fellow parents were delighted by the news. To others, it was a wholesome trip down memory lane. @brittanytavares_ noted, “Look how slow the transitions are compared to today’s kids' shows.” @christymoussi_ added, “This is so interesting.” @moonbaby1999 remarked, “I’ve been doing the same for my child and it’s the best thing I could have done.” @callmerodnika wrote, “Does anyone remember Oswald? I’m 33 and still watch it for a full night’s rest when I can’t sleep. The music is so soothing.” 

You can follow Linnea Dubravac (@linneadubravac) on Instagram for more content on parenting. 

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