From Barney to Ms. Rachel: A Nostalgic Case for Screen-Time Parenting

If I can guess your age based on the show you watched while your mom cooked or your cousin babysat you, don’t be alarmed—this is generational science.

’90s babies? You were raised on Barney & Friends. Early 2000s? The Wiggles had you singing about fruit salad like it was Grammy material. Born after 2010? You were a Little Einstein, blasting off on a cartoon rocket ship. And now? Ms. Rachel runs the toddler block like she’s the CEO of ABCs.

Here’s the common thread: parents have always relied on characters to help raise their kids. From VHS tapes to iPads, the tools have changed, but the strategy hasn’t. Yet today’s parents get side-eyed for screen time like they invented the concept.

Let’s be real—our grandparents thought a DVD in a PlayStation 2 was futuristic sorcery. A VHS tape rewinding? That was considered technology. So the outrage over tablets feels a bit hypocritical. At the end of the day, it’s not about the screen—it’s about the content. And if that content is teaching your kid how to spell, count, and sing like they’re auditioning for Sesame Street? Sounds like a win.

We don’t need less tech—we need better tech, smarter content, and fewer guilt trips. Because from Barney to Ms. Rachel, one truth holds strong: sometimes it takes a screen to give parents a break—and give kids a head start.

Nostalgia included, free of charge.