Some parents would argue that the shows kids watched in the ‘90s are far better than what modern television broadcasts.

A big discussion about this arose online around April of this year after Lauren from Mamas and Messes shared her discovery of putting on some nostalgic ‘90s shows for her little ones. 

"As I started introducing some of my childhood shows to my toddler," the Mamas and Messes wrote in an Instagram post, "I noticed he enjoyed them but didn’t need them."

Before making the switch to ‘90s shows, her toddler struggled with turning the TV off. Taking away screen time would come with a lot of meltdowns when it was time to move on to something different. The family relied on it a lot since the youngest child was born with some medical complications. 

It’s common for parents to experience meltdowns when it’s time to take the screens away, as, according to experts, today’s content is designed to be highly addictive. The shows that kids are watching nowadays are incredibly stimulating and engage the part of the brain that is involved in addiction.

Since kids can’t yet deal with the psychological discomfort of being pulled away from such a source of entertainment and enjoyment, meltdowns start.

But Lauren was surprised to find that when they started watching ‘90s kids shows, Ollie greatly liked it, but when it was time to shut it off, he didn’t resist at all. On top of that, she noticed that the shows from a few decades ago were less stimulating and fostered creativity and imagination. “The shows were made to teach kids lessons, not just provide entertainment. They don't have all the flashy graphics or high stimulation like today's kids shows,” Lauren said. 

The switch had a positive impact on her toddler’s sleep as well. “Ollie was struggling with waking up in the middle of the night saying he was scared. I really think it was based on the movies and shows he was watching on tv, that was causing him to wake up feeling scared,” she said. 

Prior to becoming a stay-at-home mom, Lauren acquired her degree in early childhood education and taught first graders for six years. Having seen such a positive change in her children, she puts on ‘90s shows for her kids most of the time. 

“I think I'm a bit more partial to 90s shows based on the changes I saw with my child, but do we still watch Disney movies and some Ms. Rachel or Bluey? Of course! But for the majority of the time, we stick to more simplistic child shows from the 90s!” noted Lauren.

A Penn State University study has also found that the 1990s shows included more prosocial themes through the episodes like helping others, standing up for good ideals, supporting friendships, and refusing to use aggression for personal gain. And involved less intense acts of violence, which are known to increase hostility, decrease empathy, and cause fear in children.

If you’re a parent who is looking for calmer and more creatively stimulating cartoons for your children or you’re just an adult looking to revisit your favorite shows, pediatric speech pathologist Deborah Brooks recommends watching Sesame Street. “[It’s] filled with songs and actual human characters alongside the beloved monsters, interacting, problem-solving, and learning. There are a variety of music and sketch segments that promote entertainment and learning. The cast is diverse and the subject matter is inclusive.”

Another great suggestion is the 2000s Curious George. “That monkey is so smart and I loved how kids learned so much from watching George interact with humans. There was knowledge and smart thinking involved, which at their age of 2 to 4 was simply brilliant. The plots were always so good,” said neuropsychologist Sanam Hafeez.