Are you a parent of a toddler or preschooler? Then you're probably familiar with phrases like "Yes, yes, yes! I want to brush my teeth," without context. The CoComelon craze on YouTube has captivated Kenyan kids (and some parents) and with billions of views, it's safe to say this is the top children's channel on the internet.
Concerning conversations on social media have emerged on kids developing what looks like some sort of 'addiction' to Cocomelon. Even child development specialist Jerrica Sannes shared an Instagram story highlight in which she claims the show is hyper-stimulating for their developing brains, ultimately impacting their ability to play without such stimulation.
"Cocomelon is so hyper-stimulating that it actually acts as a drug, as a stimulant," she says. "The brain gets a hit of dopamine from screen-time and it seems that the stronger the 'drug,' aka the level of stimulation a show delivers, the stronger the 'hit.'
"This leads to 1) the children experiencing symptoms of addiction and withdrawal, obviously leaving them completely dysregulated, and 2) a general discomfort in the speed of everyday life."
Dysregulation refers to a poor ability to register emotions, manage emotional responses and keep them within a socially acceptable range of reactions.
"The more they watch the show, the more the brain begins to expect this kind of stimulation," Jerrica continues. "This makes it impossible for them to play creatively and without entertainment."
Are you one of the parents concerned about CocoMelon? Here are alternatives geared towards Black/African kids you can try out:
Akili and Me
Akili and Me is a Kenyan- Tanzanian edutainment series from Ubongo Media, creators of Ubongo Kids. It's celebrating two years since its debut this month. Kids 3-6 years old will love joining the heroine of the show Akili on her magical adventures in Lala Land, where they'll learn numbers, letters, drawing and English. Akili and me airs on Citizen TV every Saturday morning. You can catch up with old episodes on Youtube.
Ubongo Kids
An interactive edu-cartoon that teaches math and science through fun animated stories and catchy songs. Kinda like what Dora the Explorer does. Only better because it's in Kiswahili! Catch old episodes on Youtube.
Super Sema
Hollywood star Lupita Ny'ongo has partnered with African edutainment company Super Sema to voice their new animated series on YouTube. Super Sema will follow the world-changing adventures of an extraordinary young girl, Sema, and her twin brother MB on their mission to protect their African town of Dunia from the villainous Tobor.
Gracie's Corner
Created in 2020, Gracie's Corner creates fun songs that emphasize learning. Father-daughter duo Javoris and Graceyn create all the content for the channel which features popular videos like "I Love My Hair," and remixes to some nursery rhyme classics.
Circle Time With Ms. Monica
When remote learning and homeschooling became the only option in 2020, Ms. Monica took to YouTube to give parents relief. Circle Time With Ms. Monica was born! As an early childhood educator for over 18 years, Circle Time With Ms. Monica features learning content for toddlers and preschoolers that is fun, engaging, and takes the guilt out of screen time. Ms. Monica's channel helps children explore, grow, and learn preschool basics like shapes, numbers, and letters.
Bino and Fino
Bino and Fino is a cartoon series about a brother and sister named Bino and Fino who live with their family in Nigeria. Bino and Fino have many adventures where, with the help of their friend Zeena the Magic Butterfly, they discover and learn about Africa and the rest of the world.
About The Author
From The Past
Mon. 29th Jan, 2018 at 10:53AM
Yemi Alade Releases "Go Down": New Hit Single In East Africa Before Heading To European Tour
Tue. 24th Sept, 2019 at 11:53AM