IT’S a firm fan favourite across the world for millions of kids.
But now one mum has revealed she’s banned her children from watching Bluey, claiming the beloved Aussie animation was the reason behind her kids’ tantrums.
Michelle Barrow, on social media under her band’s name, Mama Nous, took to Instagram, sharing an update on her household’s ban on the show.
Now three weeks into the bizarre ban, Michelle claimed that she’s noticed drastic changes in the behaviour of her twin boys, aged five.
Michelle’s partner told her followers in the video: ”It typically starts with them just constantly pushing boundaries, or immediate tantrums when the show… is over.”
According to the mum, the episode format was specifically to blame for her kids’ behaviour.
“We don’t see that so much with slower paced shows, but also just longer shows,” she said.
“It didn’t matter with Bluey how much we would set expectations of ‘This is how many episodes we’re going to watch’.
”It’s something about that eight-minute format where they’re just like ‘More, more, just one more’.”
Despite each episode including positive behaviours and encouraging good morals, the parents said their children weren’t receptive to this, adding that they rejected claims it was a low-stimulation show.
“I think the biggest piece that I started to notice after we took a break from it was the ways in which it was making them think that naughtiness is funny, and that pushing boundaries is a joke,” Michelle said.
“There’s not a lot of conflict resolution in an eight-minute episode, and I know that each one wraps up with a moral, but at least for our kids, I feel like they weren’t getting to that moral well.”
The mum added in the caption that ”as an adult” she loves following the adventures of Bluey, mum Chilli, dad Bandit and sister Bingo.
But while for her, the series was ”fun, sweet and cute”, her kids allegedly ”weren’t making it to the moral at the end and that was a problem”.
Now, three weeks into the ban, Michelle claimed ”it’s been a really good choice” for her twins.
How much is the Bluey franchise worth?
THE Australian animated show began in 2018 and ran for three seasons.
It became hugely popular Down Under, as well as in the U.S. and the UK.
A valuation expert told Bloomberg that the brand is worth an incredible $2 billion (£1.5 billion).
While it has yet to be confirmed, Bluey creator Joe Brumm teased the possibility of more episodes to come – with a time jump in mind.
“We get a lot of requests to age the characters up,” he told Deadline. “It would completely change the show, but there would be something really sweet about bringing through the new younger characters and having Bluey and Bingo at that babysitting age.
“That would definitely make a bunch of fans very happy.”
Shown in 60 countries across the world, Bluey was the most-streamed series in January and February and the second most viewed programme in the US in 2023.
Bluey has become essential viewing for preschoolers and their parents – and it has even attracted a host of famous fans.
On why the family show is so popular, Dannii Minogue once said: “There is life before Bluey, and life after. Once you know Bluey . . . you are hooked.
“It is fun for so many ages, as we can all relate to different members of Bluey’s family.”
Podcast couple Chris and Rosie Ramsey also admitted being in tears at the end of the extra-long one-off episode.
Social media debate
Shockingly, the couple weren’t alone in their beliefs, as close to 600 people flooded to comment under the clip which has racked up 1.1million views.
“We had to send Bluey on vacation multiple times. The episodes are too short and seem like cocaine to our kids. Just one more bump!” one parent related.
Another chimed in: ”Literally episode 2: the dad is saying ‘no’ during ‘hospital’ play and the kids are jabbing him roughly repeatedly and laughing.
”If anyone says ‘no’ in our family that has to be a hard stop. I’m raising two boys – I don’t play about disrespecting ‘no’. We never turned it on again.”
However, the naysayers were in the minority, with Bluey-loving fans flooding to sing the show’s praises.
“I actually thought this was a joke to begin with! I feel the opposite,” wrote one Instagram user.
”Bluey to our family feels slow paced and funny with a good message. I also love how much it brings the parents into the show – you rarely see parent characters playing with the children in such an imaginative, kind way.”
“I love Bluey, the messages, the authenticity and the playfulness. It’s one of the best things on television for children,” someone else agreed.
