Researchers watched 150 episodes of “Bluey.” This is what they found

She is six years old and lives in brisbane and probably just one of the best Elasticity Coach on TV.

we are talking about BlueyThe adventures of this animated Australian pup have captured the hearts of families around the world.

But as our new research reveal, Bluey She’s not just entertaining kids, she’s modeling how to cope with life’s ups and downs.

Why is resilience so important?

Elasticity It’s not just about “staying the course.” It is the ability to cope with challenges, adapt to setbacks and recover from difficulties. This 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 anxiety, frustrated and poor coping skills later in life.

Children today face growing mental health challenges, including anxiety and emotional dysregulation. For example, a 2023 national resilience survey of nearly 140,000 students found that more than a quarter of primary school students and a third of secondary school students reported severe psychological distress.

Research shows that the earlier we support building resilience, the better. Early intervention can help build healthy coping skills before negative patterns develop.

How TV can help

Storytelling in movies, books, and books television Children can be shown how to cope with challenges—not through lectures, but through behavioral modeling of emotion regulation, problem solving, and empathy.

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

“Bluey” premiered in 2018. It has since become Australia’s most successful children’s show, with billions of views worldwide.

It is known for its realistic portrayal of young family life. Yet until now, no one had systematically studied how it happens—or in any child. television show – render elastic on the screen.

So we watched all 150 episodes of Bluey

In our research, we analyzed every episode of Bluey from season one to three. The 150 episodes of Bluey, Bingo, Chilli, Bandit and their friends add up to a total of 18 hours.

For each episode, we take a closer look at the storyline, characters, and themes, identifying moments when characters face challenges and demonstrate resilient responses.

To guide our analysis, we use the Grotberg elasticity framework. This is a widely recognized model psychology This breaks down resilience into three key elements.

1.I have: Involves the support system around children, such as family, friends and community role models they can rely on.

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

3. I am: Involving the child’s inner strengths, e.g. confidenceoptimism, emotion regulation, and self-worth.

“It’s not in our hands”

Our research found that nearly half of the episodes (73 out of 150 episodes) contained an explicit message of resilience as a primary or secondary theme.

Nearly two-thirds of the recovery moments were facilitated by a parent (usually Bluey’s mom). This fits into the “I have” category of resilience, which highlights how children draw strength from caring adults when the going gets tough.

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For example, in “The Show” (season 2, episode 19), Bingo accidentally drops his breakfast tray and bursts into tears. Mom gently imitates emotion coaching, explaining her coping process: “I cry for a while, I stand up, dust myself off, and move on.” Research shows that when caregivers model how to acknowledge pain, express feelings, and then recover calmly, children gradually learn to manage negative emotions effectively.

In this episode, Bingo repeats these exact words when things go wrong again.

“Well, that’s interesting.”

Bluey and her sister also often demonstrate practical coping skills.

In Keepy Uppy (season 1, episode 3), the last balloon in the game pops. Kids stop, take it in, and smile. “Well, that’s interesting,” they said. At one point, we see disappointment, emotion regulation, and reframing—the core of the “I can” category.

Everyday moments, powerful messages

We also see characters overcome challenges through their own inner strength. In “Seesaw” (Season 2, Episode 26), Pom Pom shows determination and ego –confidence Take I Am, for example, reaching the top of the seesaw and rescuing her friends. As she puts it, “The Pomeranian is a small but tenacious breed.”

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

In “Collie” (Season 3, Episode 11), mom Chilli tells her family that she needs “20 minutes” of alone time. Lan Yi was worried that he had done something wrong. Later, while playing, Bluey gently repeated her mother’s words to the toy: “It’s hard taking care of you. It only takes me 20 minutes.”

This simple moment embodies self-compassion, perspective-taking, and empathy. It’s a powerful message for kids to learn that adults need a break, too.

How to watch Bluey with your kids

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

So next time your kids want to watch an episode for the tenth time, don’t feel guilty – join them. These moments become conversation starters when parents watch too. For example, “How do you think Bluey was feeling?”, “Have you ever felt like this?” or “What would you have done in that situation?”

Talking about what children see on screens can help them reflect on, process and develop the skills they need to cope, adapt and grow.