Over 128 Million People Tuned In When This Mom Explained The Change In Her Toddler's Behavior After He Began Watching Cartoons From The '90s

Buzz Feed

14-03-2025

As Generation Alpha has become the focus of parenting trends and debates, the "iPad kid" phenomenon has taken center stage. An "iPad kid" refers to a Gen Alpha child with a short attention span due to the growing dependence on tablets and other forms of screen time from a young age. However, many parents are now seeking ways to reduce the amount of overstimulation in their children's lives.
One such parent is Lauren Isler, a stay-at-home mom from Virginia. Isler, who runs the Instagram account @mamasandmesses, went viral in March 2024 after she posted a Reel — which now has over 128 million views — explaining her decision to introduce her two sons to the TV shows and cartoons she had grown up watching to see if it would impact their behavior.
To find out more, BuzzFeed spoke to Lauren — now that it's been nearly a year since she implemented the change — to learn how it has continued to impact her family's life and what advice she would give other parents who want to reduce overstimulation for their own children.
The 31-year-old explained that she, first and foremost, has no judgment regarding a family's need or usage of screen time, "As a motherhood influencer, I always try to keep it real with my followers. No one is a perfect parent, and my family has to use screens occasionally. My younger son was born with a medical condition that required an ostomy bag. Sometimes, his bag changes could take up to 30 minutes, and during those changes, we used screen time for my older son. So, I want parents to know that screen time isn't bad in moderation!"
Her family's journey to consume less stimulating media began when she "noticed some negative behaviors in my 3-year-old when watching newer, more stimulating shows. Before we switched to low-stimulation shows, he mostly had a hard time when the TV was turned off, which was making sleep more difficult."
While it took some getting used to, Isler noted that her sons ultimately adapted to the change well. "They kept asking for their usual shows [at first], but I tried to make it fun and tell them we were discovering shows that Mommy grew up with, and they liked the idea of that! They really enjoy Bear In The Big Blue House!"
In her now-viral Reel, the mother of two wrote that her children enjoyed classics such as Franklin, Arthur, Dragon Tales, and Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood alongside Bear In the Big Blue House. However, Isler isn't afraid to introduce her sons to modern shows and beloved movies: "No Cocomelon for us, but they do watch Disney movies and shows! They like Bluey, and we've recently been showing them Disney movies from our childhood, like The Lion King, 101 Dalmatians, A Bug's Life, etc. Amazon Prime also has a great selection of new low-stimulation shows. Our favorite one is If You Give a Mouse a Cookie."
She explained the most significant differences she's noticed in her sons' behavior when exposed to high-stimulation vs. low-stimulation shows: "Their behaviors have improved a lot! Sleep improved for my 3-year-old, transitions were easier, and screen time has gone way down."
Elaborating on the broader change in their screen time, Isler stated: "Their screen time definitely decreased when we switched to low-stimulation shows. Turning the TV off became easier, and sometimes, they would even walk away to play before the show was over. They enjoyed TV but no longer 'needed' it."
Another positive benefit? She feels that her children are learning more impactful lessons from older shows, "I feel like shows from the '90s were so wholesome and lighthearted. They taught kids how to be good humans, which is my biggest goal as a parent. More than being smart or athletic, I want my kids to know they are loved, and I think '90s shows help enforce that."
When asked if she believes more parents will begin introducing their children to older cartoons and TV shows, Isler says, "I hope so! As I mentioned, I don't think screen time is inherently 'bad.' Like everything else, it's all about moderation and making healthy choices. For our family, that's choosing low-stimulation shows."
The advice she would give parents wanting to make a similar change? "Replacing high-stimulation shows was a good first step for us! As previously mentioned, once we switched to low-stimulation shows, TV didn't hold as much 'power' over our sons. They'd watch it for a while but mostly played with their toys while it was in the background."
She also noted that replacing her sons' screen time with more mentally enriching activities helped make the transition smoother, "Another thing our family loves doing is that I always have an activity/toys waiting for my sons in the mornings. Their favorites include coloring, STEM toys (magna-tiles, magnetic blocks, Legos), Little People, and dinosaurs. My oldest gets so excited to come downstairs and see what's waiting for him in the mornings!"
BuzzFeed also interviewed Dr. Siggie Cohen, a child development specialist in California, for her professional opinion on this new parenting "trend."
She stated that, at the time of the interview, she "hadn't come across this particular trend; I have come across many parents who fear the content their children are being exposed to and are trying their best to navigate and control the types of content their children are watching."
With over three decades of experience in her field, she recalled parents' nervousness surrounding "shocking" media in the 1990s, "Let's think back to the '90s or before and the fact that back then, parents also struggled with the same fear of TV shows that were deemed 'extreme' for that time period. One example I remember clearly is Power Rangers, which caused a massive controversy among parents, educators, and professionals for its 'inappropriate' content, or more specifically, the fear of it 'teaching' children to be violent."
While switching to lower-stimulation shows might be beneficial, Dr. Siggie also explained that it's important for parents to be aware of the content their children are consuming: "Being mindful of the content our children are exposed to is most certainly important, but thinking we can completely control it may backfire. It is best to be involved in what our children are watching by showing interest and curiosity, discussing their favorite shows, and observing what content attracts them.'
"Parents want to consider not only what their children are watching but also why they are attracted to certain types of content and whether that attraction can be channeled off-screen in other ways. For example, a child with the organic need to feel dominance or power may seek to feel that through the content they watch. So, while parents fear the content is causing their child to be more 'aggressive' or 'violent,' they may recognize it is their child's need and find alternative and more proactive ways to channel that by helping their child find leadership roles or promoting competitiveness through sports. (After all, throughout the ages, media content, especially TV, was a positive reflection of social structure and change, allowing many children to see possibilities of themselves they didn't know existed otherwise)."
She also noted that while a show may not seem to have a positive impact through the eyes of an adult, it can inspire children to break barriers of their own, "For example, back in the day when the outrage over young children watching Power Rangers was at its height, I saw something else when I watched children play and imitate the show — not violence or aggression, but rather a positive effect. Boys and girls simultaneously engaged in the same activities without gender divisions."
However, she warns that much of the confusion surrounding the "negative" effects of screen time is the lack of parental guidance when children watch their favorite shows: "There is no doubt that too much screen time can affect children today as it always has. It's not only the content, but the amount of time it is being watched, and mainly the lack of supervision, that leads young children to many misconceptions and misinterpretations of the media they are exposed to."
"Children need exposure to various forms of activity. The screen should not be their go-to for everything but rather one piece of their life's puzzle. Parents should feel confident in setting clear boundaries regarding how much and even what their children are watching, but they should do so with a positive outlook on the media their children seek. Treating it with fear, panic, and stress may add to the strong temptation and even addictive behavior children feel toward it. Once parents agree on how much or which types of content they want to offer their children, they should never use it as a bribe, negotiation tactic, or punishment. Screen time should be limited but not given a bad connotation. This way, when it is turned off, kids don't feel it has been 'robbed' from them, but instead, it is over and done with, like all other activities, until next time."
Dr. Siggie also elaborated on the many ways excessive screentime and overstimulation will affect today's children as they age, "Any type of overstimulation can lead to a mental and emotional shutdown, but on the other hand, humans are extremely adaptable and can learn to navigate and compensate for so much."
"Think about visiting a Vegas casino — how would you feel after a few hours or days there? Now, compare that to someone who works there day in and day out...I believe that no matter what, we want to raise children to be aware of balance and moderation. We want to help our children grow into well-rounded adults who can learn to decompress and balance themselves when/if they are overstimulated."
However, she did note that she has seen an increasing number of parents who are interested in eschewing screen time: "I come across many parents who are delaying their children's exposure to screens as much as possible, and then when they finally do allow screen time, they are being very careful of the time spent watching, as well as the quality of content."
Her advice for parents looking to lessen their children's screen exposure? "Simply do that! Much like parents have the authority to expose their children to religion, travel, the library, or the museum, they can also eliminate certain things from their children's lives if they choose to. I believe in moderation and balance, but I also believe that parents have the right to align certain aspects of life with their own beliefs and outlook."
"However, parents need to recognize:
1. Their children are not only the product of their home and family.
2. As they grow up, they are exposed to the world outside their home, which can greatly influence their identity. And while this, no doubt, may feel like a threat to many parents, it is best to keep an attitude of open-mindedness and awareness instead of only fear."
Dr. Siggie ended on a positive note, explaining that while parenting today seems more hectic than ever, we as humans have always been equipped to deal with the difficulties of our ever-changing world: "No doubt, the challenge of navigating the media today has become greater. We are all faced with the bombardment of information, images, ideas, exposure to literally everything, and endless options, and it's thrown everyone into the reality of this 'jungle.'"
Evheniia Vasylenko / Getty Images
"And this 'jungle' is frightening for parents in particular because the unknown, too, seems greater than ever. But as humans, we have an incredible history — our collective experience — to rely on by remembering that, more than anything, we are made for challenges. Our basic skills include coping, resilience, problem-solving, creativity, adaptability, and ingenuity, all parts of the human condition that have often gotten us out of many 'jungles.'
While we are all learning to fully grasp what is really at stake with the inevitability of media influence, we also want to not forget who we are. And it means that parents, too, can continue to focus on what has always been important, and still is: family and connections through simple and joyful mutual activities, love and trust through care, positive role modeling and support through extended community and education, and being mindful of having balance and moderation to attain equilibrium and self-regulation.
Although we can never truly avoid or eliminate change, challenges, or struggles, we can help our children feel capable of handling it or know where and how to find help and support when needed, which is the essence of strength and self-regulation."