This top 10 kid’s show actually hurts development
Key Takeaways
Fast-paced children's shows—with rapid scene changes and flashy visuals—may captivate kids, but they hinder their attention span and self-regulation skills.
Research data suggests that excessive screen time negatively impacts children's cognitive and social development.
Educational content watched with parental involvement can offer developmental benefits.
A toddler sits captivated in front of the screen, eyes glued as animations in vibrant and saturated colors flash rapidly. Characters laugh and sing catchy tunes, with scenes changing every few seconds. Parents often use such shows to keep their children seated, to soothe them when they're crying, and even to encourage them to eat.
But could such content affect a child's development in the long run?
Paul Daidone, MD, a dual-board-certified physician in internal medicine and addiction medicine, explains, “Excessive screen time can lead to delayed milestones by taking away from other important developmental activities like physical play, social interaction, and creative exploration.”
The appeal of this type of children's TV
Fast-paced children's shows have taken the industry by storm. “CoComelon,” for instance, has become a global phenomenon. As of October 2024, the “CoComelon” YouTube channel has over 183 million subscribers, and its videos have accumulated over 190 billion views—making it one of the most-watched channels worldwide.
Research published in Pediatrics suggests that rapid scene changes and constant movement capture a child’s attention in a "bottom-up" fashion, via the sensory rather than the prefrontal cortices.[]
The flashy visuals pull them in automatically without much effort. While it's super engaging, it doesn't help develop important skills like attention and self-regulation. Especially when creators stop at nothing to keep kids glued.
According to an article in the New York Times, Moonbug Entertainment—the company behind "CoComelon" and other popular kids' shows—uses a feedback system developed by testing content directly on young children.[] They use a device called the Distractatron, a small screen next to the main one. This secondary screen plays uninteresting, everyday scenes for about 20 seconds each. Researchers watch to see if a child looks away from the main show to the Distractatron—a method akin to how social media platforms keep users continuously engaged by monitoring attention and optimizing content to keep us scrolling endlessly.
Needless to say, there are many concerns about the effect of such content on children's brain development.
It ruins attention span
Edmond Hakimi, DO, dual-board-certified physician in internal medicine and addiction medicine, tells MDLinx, "Fast-paced children's shows, with their rapid visuals and sound effects, can overstimulate a child's brain. This makes it harder for them to stay focused during slower-paced activities in the real world, like reading or playing quietly. Studies suggest that these shows can shorten attention spans and lead to more impulsive behavior as children become used to constant, quick stimulation."
@neenziemd Things they dont tell you pt 237 Kids watching shows #cocomelon #momsoftiktok #parents ♬ original sound - Neenz
The research backs this up; consider the following:
Per a 2024 systematic review published in BMC Psychology, children aged 2 to 7 who watched fast-paced TV programs shifted activities more frequently and spent less time on tasks after the viewings, suggesting a shorter attention span.[]
The review cited other study results showing that children exposed to fast-paced videos switched their attention more often than those watching slower-paced ones, despite no initial behavioral differences between the groups.
Similarly, in a study in preschoolers, exposure to fast-paced television was noted to impair executive function, affecting their ability to concentrate and solve problems.[]
Impacts on cognition and problem-solving skills
Apart from the pace, the content of a show also affects cognitive growth, particularly executive functions (EFs), language acquisition, and problem-solving abilities. EFs are important brain skills that help kids focus, remember things, control impulses, and adapt to new situations—essential for learning and behaving well in everyday life.
Michelle Dees, MD, a board-certified psychiatrist, explains, "Bright, moving pictures and chronology may cause overstimulation, which interferes with language and solving problems. Children do not benefit when they stare at screens passively instead of interactively engaging with the shows."
Dr. Daidone also notes that children who are overstimulated by such television “find it difficult to switch between activities.” Here’s what the research says:
The authors of the BMC Psychology review note that such programs overstimulate children, negatively impacting both "cool" (logical) and "hot" (emotional) EF, temporarily impairing their ability to think clearly and control their actions.[]
A JAMA Pediatrics study found that infants under 2 years with over 2 hours of screen time at 12 months showed detrimental EEG changes (theta/beta ratios) at 18 months.[] These changes were linked to poorer executive function and attention at age 9, suggesting early screen time may affect brain development and later cognitive skills.
In other research, children spending more time watching TV shows had slightly lower visual-spatial working memory. Using interactive apps in moderation, however, led to better phonological working memory and fewer social and emotional difficulties.[]
Poor emotional control, bad behavior
Dr. Daidone notes, "Excessive stimulation from these shows has been shown to affect children's behavior and emotional control. Children who are overstimulated may become more irritable and struggle with self-control."
Board-certified neurologist Rizwan Bashir, MD, further elaborates: "Social development largely depends on face-to-face interaction, where children learn empathy, social cues, and appropriate responses. Excessive screen time can reduce these critical interactions, especially in younger children, leading to delays in social skills and reduced confidence in navigating real-world social scenarios."
He notes that in his practice, many parents report noticing behavior changes in their children, such as irritability, difficulty sleeping, and reduced interest in other activities when screen time is excessive. “In extreme cases, some children may even show signs of dependency on digital content,” he adds.
Dr. Hakimi shares that such children may also experience sleep issues. He adds, “Many parents report that reducing screen time improves their child’s mood, attention, and behavior, showing a clear link between excessive screen use and developmental changes."
What this means for you
Clearly, there is a complex relationship between different types of media use and child development. Let parents know that even if the shows are educational and interactive, toddlers under 2 years old should have zero screen time. Explain the importance of moderation, careful content selection, and parental involvement.