Looking for alternatives to CoComelon? Worried if these modern kids show are actually rotting our children’s brains? Here’s what the science actually says. Plus, 12 slow-paced alternatives for your kids.
Many parents from all corners of the internet – whether it be Instagram, ParentTok or Reddit groups – have talked about their children’s addiction to CoComelon for years.
Some have called it ‘crack for kids’. Like in this video, where a toddler starts crying when the dad stops playing CoComelon, and says his son will be inconsolable for about 15 minutes.
Other videos show how the CoComelon theme song just summons their toddler – whether it instantly wakes them from their slumber or they come sprinting into the room.
On Reddit, a parent said: “The most epic meltdown we had was while shutting off [CoComelon] to get her ready for her bath, it was on another level. I said right there and then that the show is banned in the house.” Other parents chimed in saying they’ve banned it in their house, too.
But it’s not just CoComelon getting heat. Paw Patrol, Gabby’s Dollhouse, Baby Shark (Oh god, remember Baby Shark!?) are all created with fast cuts, flashy visuals, bright colours and EDM-like music that keep toddlers glued to screens.
Because of this, there is a lot of content creators claiming these types of shows, particularly CoComelon, is ruining your child’s brain development – or turning them into zombies. But is this just fear-mongering? Before we spiral, we looked at some research to keep us grounded (and sane!).
What Does Science Actually Say?
The most widely cited study to support these claims is based off a 2011 University of Virginia study, which found that just nine minutes of watching fast-paced television cartoons had immediate negative effects on a four-year-old’s executive functioning. It noted that preschool-age children were significantly impaired in executive function right after watching nine minutes of these shows, compared to watching educational programmes or drawing.
But in 2015, the same researcher did a follow-up study and found the central problem is actually when the media has fantastical content. It didn’t matter if the show was fast-paced or educational, but if it was based on a fantasy, it found a four-year-old’s effective function was depleted after watching either. In our time, and also what the first study was based off, it was Spongebob Squarepants that was overstimulating us. (Looking back, I won’t deny I had my fair share of tantrums when I wasn’t allowed to watch Spongebob. That was my CoComelon.) Importantly, both studies only measured the immediate effects after viewing.
Another research backed this up. A 2025 study – partly funded by the University of Otago – found that children’s cognitive performance is worse immediately after viewing fantasy compared to realistic media.
So should we ban CoComelon, and similar shows? Rebecca G. Cowan, a professor at Walden University, told Parents: “Without empirical research on the show CoComelon, there is no data to substantiate claims that this show is overstimulating due to the pace of the scenes. Not every child will respond to shows such as CoComelon in the same way… Pay attention to how your child is responding, and if they appear overstimulated or distressed, intervene if you feel it is necessary.” In other words: You know your kid best so it’s your call. But if you are noticing the meltdowns and the short attention spans, science still offers alternatives for screentime without having to cut it altogether.
According to Psychology Today, the conversation around screen time should also centre around quality, not just quantity. Research has found that simply changing what your children are watching to something more educational, interactive or with prosocial messaging, resulted in improved social skills and better behaviour. Think Dora the Explorer, Sesame Street, Bluey, Ms Rachel and Daniel Tiger.
Bringing Back 90’s Cartoons
With how fast technology has evolved, and how ill-equipped we feel about that, there’s no surprise nostalgia is turning into a parenting style. There’s this whole social media trend about how some parents are raising their kids like it’s the 90s – and it’s no surprise that this includes letting them watch shows from that time period.
Those of us who grew up in the 90s and early 2000s had Barney adorably telling us he loved us, Blue’s Clues patiently waiting for us to help them solve a mystery, and Sesame Street teaching us the alphabet without any major gimmicks.
The pacing was slower, realistic and didn’t feed the belly of the ‘attention’ beast. What also didn’t exist back then were iPads, tablets and smartphones that make screens so accessible. Neither did YouTube autoplay, or a streaming algorithm, built to play the next episode before the credits even finish rolling. We’re not saying everything old is better – after all Bluey is a modern kids show that receives high praises. But there’s a reason so many parents are swapping out the overstimulating stuff for something a bit slower and calmer. The research, to the extent it exists, does support slower, more realistic storytelling for young kids.
12 Slow-Paced Shows for Kids
If you want to mix it up – or just give everyone’s nervous system (including yourself) a break – these are the ones experts and parents keep coming back to. The shows listed* have storylines that are grounded in something resembling real life, has an interactive aspect with the viewers, or promotes positive social messaging. Some shows would have had modern remakes and could be slightly more fast-paced, but if you’re committed, I’m sure the originals could be found with some deep internet sleuthing.
1. Bluey
Where to watch: TVNZ+ and Neon
2. Blue’s Clues (Reboot)
Where to watch: YouTube and Neon.
3. Barney & Friends
Where to watch: Thank you YouTube for the original Barney songs.
4. Sesame Street (Reboot)
Where to watch: Netflix and YouTube.
5. Dora the Explorer (Reboot)
Where to watch: Neon or YouTube has some originals.
6. Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood
Where to watch: Youtube.
7. Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood – a modern and animated take on Mister Roger’s Neighbourhood
Where to watch: Youtube.
8. Ms. Rachel
Where to watch: Netflix and YouTube.
9. Winnie the Pooh The classic series, not the newer Disney Junior iterations.
Where to watch: Disney+ and YouTube.
10. Clifford the Big Red Dog (The classic series)
Where to watch: Youtube.
11. Hey Arnold!
Where to watch: Not available on streaming platforms in NZ at the moment. But there some clips on YouTube!
12. Shaun the Sheep
Where to Watch: Netflix
*Streaming platforms can change their content frequently.
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About the Author:
Vivien Beduya is a video journalist and content creator at Capsule. She’s most passionate about inclusive storytelling that centres underserved communities, women’s health, mental health, travel, food and the ways technology shapes our everyday lives. She made a bold (and terrifying) career switch to journalism in her late 20s after years across banking, insurance and travel.
She’s worked for NewstalkZB and TVNZ’s youth news platform Re: News, and has also been published on 1News, NZ Herald, and Stuff. She was selected by the Asia New Zealand Foundation as an emerging journalist for the Splice Beta 2025 delegation in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Vivien lives in Auckland with her partner, close(ish) to the beach, and is always on the hunt for Auckland’s best affordable eats.
You can read other stories by Vivien here or email her here.
