Should You Be Concerned If Your Baby Adores Cocomelon at the Babies Funland?

Are you a parent if you don’t sing “Today is the day, it’s the first day of school” while getting your little one ready for preschool?

If you sang the song while reading the above lines, you are not alone! Cocomelon’s nursery rhymes have become a global phenomenon and babies and toddlers all over the world love watching their videos. But how did Cocomelon become so popular? And are there any concerns we should be aware of while our little ones enjoy JJ’s videos?

A Small Rewind

Cocomelon started in 2005 as a series of educational videos for older children called ABC TV. In 2017, it rebranded itself as Cocomelon and transitioned into 3D animation, following the life of little JJ.

By December 2028, Cocomelon was getting 2 billion views a month! Its popularity continued to grow, especially after media giant Moonbug acquired the company and translated the videos into more than 10 languages.

What Made Cocomelon Stand Out?

Among many other popular video channels that rose and fell over time, Cocomelon stood out for several reasons:

1. Short and engaging episodes: Each episode is less than 3-4 minutes long, making it easy for little ones to consume.

2. Familiar characters: They took popular rhymes and gave them a new spin, making the characters household names. Babies today call their brothers Tom Tom and sisters Yo Yo!

3. Diversity and inclusivity: Cocomelon introduced characters of different colors, making it inclusive and attracting audiences from around the world.

4. Longer videos for parents’ breather time: They combined short videos into 30 and 60-minute videos, giving parents some time to themselves while toddlers watched without getting bored.

5. Colorful animations: The sharp colors and animations made the characters come alive on the screen, attracting kids’ attention. However, some experts have raised concerns about this.

6. Focus on love and happy families: Every episode revolves around love for kids, parents, and friends, creating an acceptable and positive environment for children.

7. Regular updates and trending content: Cocomelon keeps updating its playlist with new videos, timed with festivals and global events to stay relevant and entertaining.

As a work-from-home mom, I appreciate shows like Cocomelon that engage and entertain my kids while I complete my tasks. However, in recent years, there have been concerns about the show’s suitability for long hours of consumption by little kids.

Why Parents & Experts Are On the Fence About It

Despite its popularity, there are concerns among parents and experts about Cocomelon’s impact on children. Here are some reasons why:

1. Not truly educational: While the show claims to promote educational content, experts argue that the quality is not high enough.

2. Speech delays: Some parents have claimed that their children developed speech delays and became addicted to the show. However, more research is needed to determine the cause.

3. Hyperstimulating: The rapid image changes in Cocomelon, with new images every 3-4 seconds, have raised concerns about the show being too stimulating for young children.

What To Do Instead

If you have concerns about your child’s TV consumption, here are some tips to navigate it:

1. Co-consume with your child: Whenever possible, sit with your kids while they watch and engage with the show. Sing along, talk about the content, and make it an interactive experience.

2. Set screen time limits: Establish rules for screen time that fit your family’s schedule. Let your children know when their TV time is up and stick to it.

3. Prepare for tantrums: Your child may get upset when you turn off the TV, but have other activities ready to distract them. Go for a walk, read a book, or play a fun game together.

4. Talk to your child: For older toddlers, have conversations about why you turned off the TV and express your concerns about their eyesight or excessive screen time. Involve them in the decision-making process.

Remember, a little TV time is okay as long as you are aware of the content your child is watching and it entertains them without causing harm.