With apologies to “Miss Rachel” and “Paw Patrol,” two of the few children’s shows I find somewhat tolerable, as well as “Sesame Street,” which my kids sadly don’t really care for, there is one program my three-year-old boys watch that stands head and shoulders above the rest. In a world of mind-numbing drivel (watch “Blippi” or “Cocomelon” at your own risk), “Bluey” is a beacon of light in the dark sea of children’s entertainment.Anyone who has watched a few episodes of “Bluey” likely understands. For those who haven’t, I’ll try to explain: The seven-minute episodes follow a family of anthropomorphic heeler dogs living in Brisbane, Australia - Mom, Chilli; Dad, Bandit; and children, fouryear- old Bingo and six-year-old Bluey - through playtime, errands, housework, school, and vacations. The episodes are typically scored to classical music, including some of the most famous works in history and original compositions made for the show.“Bluey” is a co-production ofABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) and BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation); it airs on Disney in the U.S., with episodes debuting stateside long after their original run in Australia. Episodes play with traditional narrative form and style, and appeal to adults while still being very much aimed at young children.The show, to me, is a minor miracle. It’s comfort foodthat excites my kids while regularly bringing my wife to tears. One episode will focus on cleaning up your toys, while the next one will visualize a child’s dream (“Sleepytime” is truly seven of the best minutes of animation I have ever seen). There have been many tough days where the 15 minutes I spend watching that show with my kids before bed has been the definitive highlight.I’ve watched the 150-plus episodes available on Disney+ well over a dozen times each. It’s not justmy favorite children’s show, it’s one of my favorite shows, period. This is not a joke. It’s that good. In addition to having clothing, stuffed animals, books, and toys formy kids, I personally own multiple “Bluey” T-shirts and two vinyl records of music from the show. Most mornings, I pour my coffee into a “Bluey” mug emblazoned with a quote from the show (“You’re doing great”). In 2021, we dressed as the Heeler family for Halloween. In the spring, we might take them to see “Bluey’s Big Play,” a stage show that is coming to Newark and Morristown.Watching “Bluey” before bed each night is something we ...
