5 parenting lessons we learned from ‘Bluey’

Since first premiering in 2018, Bluey has been a favorite between kids and parents alike (it’s no surprise the show has a 9.4 rating on IMDB). For five years, our littles have been growing up with The Heeler family. Over the summer, Disney+ dropped 10 new episodes that continue to pack an unbelievable amount of heart, comedy and smarts into seven minutes.

While at its core Bluey is a children’s show, parents can learn just as much (if not more) from Bluey and Bingo’s mom and dad (Chilli and Bandit Heeler) as they navigate the ups and downs of modern-day parenting—activating “Dance Mode” optional. 

Here are 5 parenting lessons from ‘Bluey’ we’re cherishing

Parents can learn just as much (if not more) from Bluey as kids—“for real life!”

1. Run your own race

“Baby Race” is one of the most popular episodes of Bluey, and not just because it features its titular character as an adorable pup. The episode gives first-time moms the important reminder that kids develop at their own pace, and that’s OK—banishing milestone anxiety in its tracks. 

2. Kids learn by observing

Kids watch our every move, and the best way they learn is by example. In “Queens,” Chilli shows Bluey and Bingo that she’s not afraid to work hard and in the process teaches her daughters not to be afraid of a challenge by following her lead.

3. Be truthful about death, but let kids choose how to process it

Bluey learns about death in “Copycat” after finding an injured budgie that doesn’t make it. Though visibly upset, Bandit doesn’t shield his daughter from the hard truth and tells her there’s nothing they could do, it was out of their hands. When they get home, she chooses to process her grief by re-enacting the day through play. That also doesn’t go as planned, and when Chilli sits next to Bluey to reflect, she repeats what her dad told her earlier: there’s nothing they could do, it was out of their hands.

4. Teach kids resilience by allowing them to fail

As a parent, it’s hard not to jump in when we see our child having a hard time learning something new. “Bike” demonstrates the importance of teaching kids resilience by giving them a safe space to recognize failure is part of the process, no matter how frustrating it can be. It also shows just how rewarding it can be to succeed after working something out on your own.

5. Kids respond best to PLAY!

The Heeler family adhere to the “play is the work of childhood” mindset, and then they take it one step further: in nearly every episode the parents play with their kids, and many of the show’s most memorable moments (and teachable lessons) are showcased through full-family play.