Adults and children adore Bluey. This Australian animated series, which is also a big hit in the U.S., revolves around a family of blue heeler dogs living in Brisbane. The seven-minute episodes focus on 6-year-old Bluey, her 4-year-old sister Bingo, their mom Chilli, and dad Bandit, exploring the joys of childhood and the challenges of modern parenting. As developmental scientists studying children’s interactions with the world, we are fond of Bluey too. The show embodies decades of child psychology research, which highlights that children learn through play. It showcases various age-appropriate caregiving techniques that parents and caregivers can incorporate into the daily life of a child. Below, we outline five lessons from specific episodes and explain how certain scenes can inspire playful learning opportunities for all families.
In the “Rain” episode, Chilli and Bluey get caught in a storm. While her mom hurries inside, Bluey delights in the rain and begins constructing a dam on a walkway. When her hands alone are insufficient, she tries different household items—blocks, an umbrella, a dollhouse—to accomplish her task. Crucially, Bluey remains persistent and continues to devise creative solutions to reach her goal. Experts and leaders across industries identify creative innovation as a key skill for children to successfully face the challenges of the 21st century. Instead of stopping Bluey, Chilli appreciates her determination and steps into the rain to help her build the dam. Chilli exemplifies how caregivers can nurture children’s creativity by asking open-ended questions and allowing them to explore diverse ways of problem-solving.
In “Flatpack,” after returning from a furniture store, Chilli and Bandit throw some leftover packaging from their new porch swing into the yard. Bluey and Bingo transform these items into a fantastical world. They let their imaginations roam, swimming like fish in a foam pond and hopping like frogs on a cardboard island. Play experts refer to such items as “loose parts,” which lack a specific play purpose but can be used in many ways, fostering creativity. This episode shows Bluey and Bingo engaged in free play with these objects, demonstrating how children can play deeply without traditional toys or adult guidance. Play allows children to emotionally process various challenging experiences. Child development experts promote pretend play as a means for children to navigate their fears and emotions.
In “Copycat,” Bluey and Bandit discover an injured parakeet on a morning walk and take it to the vet. Later, Bluey reenacts the scene, casting Bingo as the parakeet. When Chilli, playing the vet, tells Bluey that Bingo is okay, Bluey insists: “No, you have to pretend it’s bad news, that the parakeet is dead.” Although hesitant, Chilli follows Bluey’s lead in the play. Similarly, in “Early Baby,” Bluey’s friend Indy uses play to cope with the difficult experience of having a sibling in a neonatal intensive care unit. In class, Indy and friends pretend to perform tasks like washing hands before handling the baby doll and keeping it in an “incubator,” allowing them to work through emotions.
Episodes focusing on the girls and their grandparents highlight valuable relationships. In “Grannies,” Bluey and Bingo dress up as grannies searching for beans. After scouring the kitchen, Bluey tells Bingo that grannies don’t floss. To settle the debate, they video chat Nana and learn she cannot do the dance. When Bingo gets upset, Bluey helps Nana learn the moves via video chat. In “Phones,” the girls teach Grandad about life in a digital era by crafting fake smartphones with cardboard and crayons. They show Grandad how to use apps to order food, and he uses a stuffed crocodile to create a “Croc Catcher” app for their game. Research indicates strong ties between grandparents and grandchildren benefit both generations. While grandparents share family history, children update them on modern trends. A recent study found video chats strengthen these bonds, as demonstrated in “Phones,” where Nana learns to fit in the video frame and dance. As the girls guide an initially confused Grandad through using apps, they help him adopt these modern conveniences through playful exploration.
The episode “Wagon Ride” presents a typical parenting scenario. While Bandit chats with a friend, his focus drifts away from Bluey. Unable to wait longer, Bluey interrupts her dad. To manage this, Bandit develops a strategy with Bluey to help her control the urge to interrupt while still feeling seen. Whenever Bluey needs his attention, she can place her hand on his arm, and he’ll respond by placing his hand over hers, acknowledging he knows she’s waiting.