TV For the Next Generation: What Are Kids Watching?

TV For the Next Generation:

What Are Kids Watching?

By: Maxwell Barnes, Talent Assistant at A3 Artists Agency

Tell me if this sounds familiar:

You’re concluding your Sunday night at Chili’s with a “3 for Me” value meal—a beverage, appetizer, and entrée for $10.99. Across the restaurant booth, an all-too-familiar sight catches your eye from across the room:

A toddler, perhaps not even old enough to count, sits propped up in a wooden high chair. She stares hypnotically into an iPad three times the size of her head.

A child watching content is inevitable. But the real worry here is, what exactly is she watching?

Many parents, including my own, used television as a substitute for a babysitter. As a child, I moved around a lot, and TV characters were one of the few constants I had between moving vans and different houses. These characters eventually felt like close friends. 

Today, as I peek at the iPads of the children around me, I can’t help but wonder: is kids' content getting worse? And is some of it potentially even harmful?

When I was in grade school, there were limited, but dependable, options for kids channels on cable. With the rise of streaming, the floodgates have now opened. With such a plethora of choices, children simply don’t have access to the same types of programs across the board, making their viewing experiences not only individualized, but also extremely isolating. I remember all of my friends connecting over our shared experience watching last night’s episode of Total Drama Island or Adventure Time. This is no longer the case for today’s children, some of whom watch Gabby’s Dollhouse on Netflix, some watch Paw Patrol on Paramount Plus, and some of whom watch Young Jedi Adventures on Disney+.  

I won’t name names, but some streamers have been doing better than others at producing kids television that is creative, educational, and respects the emotional intelligence of the child. Other distributors spew out the children’s TV equivalent to clickbait—usually as YouTube videos complete with soft animation, cushy music, and cheap storytelling that’s packaged to pump clicks and generate millions in ad revenue without actually helping to develop the creative minds of the future generation.

The latter form of content is unfortunately what many adults think kids will like. But you and I were both kids once, and we know that kids can smell B.S. from miles away. Kids want to be challenged. They want to see nuanced family dynamics, similar to their own, on screen. They want to see mirrors of themselves in characters as well as windows into the lives of characters who are nothing like them. They don’t want to see 30 minutes of brain-decaying singalongs.So, what can we, the Hollywood assistants, do? Focusing on ensuring that kids are watching the right shows might be where to begin. 

To start, take a peek at the winners and nominees from this past year’s first annual Children’s and Family Emmy’s. Awards are a good indicator that the content has been vetted and is likely full of more refined, engaging material. Someone with young children simply might not know what’s out there, and now you can tell them! Some of my favorite suggestions right now are Bluey, Frog and Toad, and City of Ghosts.

Secondly, think about the shows you loved as a kid. Chances are, those shows are still great, and you’d still enjoy them today. If you work in development, or want to work in development, you’ll be wise to remember Jim Henson, creator of The Muppets and Sesame Street, and his “entertainment for all” philosophy when it came to creating captivating artwork. Henson made sure never to underestimate children’s abilities to engage with entertainment, even if the subject matter was challenging or philosophical. Look for programming that kids and families can both enjoy.

Lastly, even if you don’t interact with kids or family media on a regular basis, remember that it’s just as important a part of our industry as prestige dramas or films. Speak up about a kids show if you feel it does a good—or bad—job at cultivating our youth. Our next audience is already here, and they’re going to need your support.