Researchers watched 150 episodes of Bluey. here’s what they found

She is six years old, lives in brisbane and maybe one of the best resilience Coach on television.

we are talking BlueThe animated Australian pup whose adventures have captured the hearts of families around the world.

but like us new study Turns out, Bluey isn’t just entertaining kids, she’s modeling how to deal with life’s ups and downs.

Why is flexibility so important?

Resilience isn’t just “toughing it out.” It is the ability to deal with challenges, accept failures and overcome difficulties. It is an important part of healthy child development.

Research shows that resilience helps children manage stress, regulate their emotions, build better relationships, and even perform better in school. Without it, children may be more susceptible to Worry, Depression and poor coping skills later in life.

Children today face increasing mental health challenges, including anxiety and emotional dysregulation. For example, the 2023 National Resilience Survey of approximately 140,000 students found that more than one in four primary students and one in three secondary students reported high levels of psychological distress.

Research shows that the sooner we support resilience-building, the better. Early interventions help build healthy coping skills before negative patterns become dominant.

How can TV help?

storytelling in films, books and TV Can teach kids how to deal with challenges — not through lectures, but by modeling behaviors like emotional regulation, problem-solving, and empathy.

Animal characters in storytelling also provide valuable learning opportunities for children, who are naturally attracted to animals.

Bluey first aired in 2018. It has since become Australia’s most successful children’s program, receiving billions of views worldwide.

It is known for its realistic portrayal of young family life. Yet, until now, no one had systematically examined how this – or any children’s TV show – presents resilience on screen.

So we watched all 150 blue episodes

In our study, we analyzed every episode of Blue from seasons one through three. The 150 episodes featured Blue, Bingo, Chili, Bandit and their friends for 18 hours.

For each episode, we looked closely at the story, characters, and themes, identifying moments where a character rose to challenge and showed a flexible response.

To guide our analysis, we used the Grotberg Resilience Framework. It is a widely recognized model Psychology Which breaks down flexibility into three key elements.

1. I have: This includes the support systems around the child, such as family, friends, and community role models that they can rely on.

2. I can: Incorporating practical coping skills, such as solving problems, managing emotions, and asking for help when needed.

3. I am: such as involving the child’s inner strengths Self-confidenceOptimism, emotional regulation, and sense of self-worth.

‘It’s out of our hands’

Our research found that almost half of all episodes (73 out of 150) included an explicit resilience message as a primary or secondary theme.

About two-thirds of the resiliency moments were facilitated by parents – mostly by Bluey’s mother. This fits with the “I have” category of resilience, which highlights how children draw strength from caring adults when things get tough.

For example, in The Show (season two episode 19), Bingo accidentally drops the breakfast tray and bursts into tears. Mom gently models emotional coaching, explaining her coping process: “I cry a little, I collect myself, dust myself off, and keep going.” Research shows that when caregivers model acknowledging distress, expressing emotions, and then recovering peacefully, children gradually learn to manage negative emotions effectively.

Later in the episode, Bingo repeats the same exact words when things go wrong again.

‘well that was fun’

Bluey and his sister also often demonstrate practical combat skills on their own.

In Keepy Uppie (season one, episode three), the final balloon of the game pops. The kids stop, take it and smile. “Well, that was fun,” he says. In a single moment, we see frustration, emotional regulation, and reprogramming – the core of the “I can” category.

Everyday moments, powerful messages

We also see the characters overcoming challenges through their inner strength. Pom Pom in Seesaw (season two, episode 26) shows determination and confidence to get to the top of the seesaw and save her friends, in the example of “I Am”. As she declares, “Pomeranians are a small but courageous breed”.

We found that Bluey has an impact on almost all the core elements of resilience: trusting relationships, emotional communication, problem-solving, self-regulation, empathy, and more.

In Sheepdog (season three, episode 11), mother Chilli tells her family that she needs “20 minutes” of alone time. Bluey is worried that he has done something wrong. Later, during play, Bluey softly repeats his mother’s words to a toy: “Taking care of you is hard work. I just need 20 minutes.”

That simple moment shows self-care and perspective taking, as well as empathy. For children, learning that adults need comfort too is a powerful message.

How to watch Bluey with your kids

Of course, no screen can replace real relationships. But when parents watch shows like Blue with their kids, they become powerful teaching tools.

So the next time your child wants to watch an episode for the tenth time, don’t feel guilty – join them. When parents watch too, those moments become conversation starters. For example, “What do you think Bluey felt then?”, “Have you ever felt like that?” or “What would you do in that situation?”

Talking to kids about what they see on the screen can help them reflect, process, and build the skills they need to cope, adapt, and thrive.

CQUniversity student Kelly Bohl and Mary Bolling, co-host of the Blue podcast Gotta Be Done, contributed the original research on which this article is based. Bradley Smith is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at CQUniversity Australia.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. read the original article,