The CoComelon Generation

Betty D'Couto

On our trip back after spending some days with our mother, my husband driving, while my eyes were busy devouring the gorgeous green landscapes through my window, my mind raced back to the brief but beautiful times we spend with mummy every time we are together. With a twinkle in her eye, she never failed to recall her childhood pranks, the fun and frolic she and her friends had, the of picking grass flowers or munching on wild berries, or ‘borums’, or playing ‘butch’ (both singularly Anglo-Indian terms). We return, almost always, with a trunkful of tangible, timeless, thoughts from mummy’s ‘memory card’ of a charmed, chaotic, cheerful childhood. Far from being bored or restless listening to these oft repeated tales of wonder and delight, I enjoy mummy’s narrations, sometime adding my own colour to them, in my mind. That I always loved a story is thanks to my dear grandfather, Redver Alfred Doyle, who was a spirited storyteller. I distinctly remember being enthralled by his “Bumboo Road” stories. Bigda (grandfather), only much later did I come to know, made up his stories as he was telling them. A rare gift, if I may add! Priceless possessions, these snapshots of memories that I vividly recall as if they happened just yesterday. Each of us, I have no doubt, has a fund of stored data of memorable moments of our growing years – those transitional phases from childhood to adolescence to adulthood to dotage! Family and friends, toys, fights and games played a vital role at every stage of our life.

While mummy and I were recounting memories of a bygone era, our cousin, Savannah and her two-year old daughter, Arianna, came in. The little angel went about her baby business of running around, playing ball, mummy’s back scratcher serving as her bat. Watching Arianna’s adorable antics, listening to her baby-babble, sensing her sharp mind, and her, oh, so incredible expressions, especially when she displays displeasure – the acme of all expressions – her tiny hands on her hips, little fists clenched, her teeny torso leaning forward, eyebrows knit together, her eyes flashing fire, her baby-bud mouth in a pretty pout… you guessed it; she had us all floored! Arianna’s reactions and responses set me thinking of another toddler I know who also exhibits similar expressions. You have to see that stance for yourself to believe it! A ‘kutty naif waif’ with her outstanding outburst that actually has you wrapped round her pinkie finger! Come to think of it, quite a number of toddlers today seem to manifest similar expressions. This led me to coin the phrase “The CoComelon Generation”!

Often, I find myself mesmerized by the hypnotic effect that CoComelon has on young children. With its bright animation and rhythmic nursery rhymes, there is no denying the cultural shift this shows represents. I believe the CoComelon generation is a real phenomenon, one that raises important questions about early childhood development, screen time and the evolving nature of parenting in a digital age. Unlike traditional children’s programmes which incorporated some form of live action, storytelling or moral lessons, CoComelon distills content to its most basic elements – bright visuals, repetitive lyrics and predictable storyline. This formula has made it an undeniable force to reckon with in children’s entertainment, and now, an entire generation is growing up under its influence. Witnessing the winsome ways of the show that hold children spellbound, I cannot help but also notice the worrisome look on parents’ faces. I’m sure that you too must have seen a screaming child calm down when JJ, the animated protagonist appears on screen, or, alternately, become irritable when the screen is taken away. Makes me wonder whether we are creating a generation that is digital-simulation dependent.

Our generation and the ones before, relied on books, outdoor play or simple toys to entertain us, but today’s parents have an entire universe of digital content at their disposal. While this shift has its benefits – educational videos, interactive learning Apps, and exposure to diverse cultures, it has its downside too, especially for parents, who, invariably have to play the ‘bad cop’ when it comes to screen time when screens have become an integral part of daily life. Some educators and speech therapists argue in favour of the show’s slow-paced, repetitive dialogues stating that, it helps toddlers grasp words and concepts more easily, but others caution that passive consumption does not replace real human interaction which is essential for emotional and cognitive development.

I reckon, like in everything else, as we navigate this new age reality, balance is the key. The CoComelon generation is not inherently doomed to digitalized dependence, nor is the show a foe of childhood development. As is evident, it is a reflection of the world we live in, in which technology is inescapable, and parenting is evolving alongside it. Observing our tiny tots makes me positive that the best approach to shows such as CoComelon is to be used as a ‘tool’ rather than a ‘crutch’. Screentime can be supplemented with real-world experiences – physical playing, face-to-face conversations, reading, fostering imagination through unstructured play (like storytelling, for instance). The fact is technology is here to stay. How we use it will determine whether it becomes a hinderance or a helpful tool in raising the next generation; and, with mindful parenting they can still develop the creativity, curiosity and social skills that every child needs to thrive.