The new series of Aussie cartoon Bluey just aired, and with it kids – and adults – everywhere are excited! Telling the story of seven-year-old blue heeler dog ‘Bluey’ and her family, younger sister ‘Bingo’, Dad ‘Bandit’ and Mum ‘Chili’, plus a gaggle of pup friends, the TV show Bluey is beloved because it’s so relatable.
Bluey learning how to share? Check.
Mum and Dad explaining grief to their kids? Check.
The pitfalls and wins of screen time? Check.
What it means to grow up? Check.
Personality differences in the school yard? Check.
All that to say, when it comes to kids TV shows that are both entertaining and teach emotional intelligence, Bluey is at the top of our list. One of our favourite moments comes from the episode Stickbird in season 3. In it, the little blue heller comes with the goods: she teaches her sister (and dad) how to identify uncomfortable emotions, feel them, and then let them go.
In it, Bluey encourages her sister to “collect all the upset and angry” by feeling “where it is and go get it”. Uncomfortable feelings are normally in our belly and neck, so the pups start by ‘taking’ the feelings from these areas….and then they knock it out of their ears. Just in case.
Now they are ‘holding’ their hurt and upset, they decide if they want to keep it or throw it away. It sounds like a small thing, but this moment is essential for kids and adults. We can identify our hurt and angry, but we need to hold and acknowledge it. That’s how we process the feelings, learn what they are telling us, and come back to peace! For some people holding the feelings and ‘throwing’ them out to sea like Bluey, Bingo and Bandit might be enough. Other people might need to journal, draw, exercise, or talk out their feelings to let them go. And of course, counselling or different forms of therapy can also help.
Next time you or your child has big feelings, try Bluey’s tactic (that she learned from Mia and Mum). The angry and sad don’t have to hurt us, they just tell us it’s time to learn from our bodies and let it go.
Watch the clip from Bluey here:
Does your child have big feelings?
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