Instead of fast-cut hyperstimulating kids’ shows, I’ve been introducing my daughter to the Disney classics I grew up with.
Somehow, screen time doesn’t feel as bad when animation is hand-drawn art and storytelling.
There’s something special about the charm of hand-drawn animation that makes it more engaging.
Some of my favorites and the years they came out:
101 Dalmations (1961)
The Jungle Book (1967)
Rescuers (1977)
The Little Mermaid (1989)
It’s wild that these were already considered old when I was a kid, yet they’re still classics!
This post sparked quite a conversation about nostalgic animation and thoughtful children’s content.
Many shared their own favorites:
@humrashid reminisced:
Huge fan of Duck Tales and Gargoyles. What a time to be a kid in the 90s.
@ndwignall suggested:
Have you guys tried The Three Caballeros yet?
@bchecketts recommended:
Too much junk is available now. Try old school Looney Toons and Phineas and Ferb.
@kurometarikku asked a cultural question:
Were Irish kids subjected to Darby O’Gill and The Little People?
@GoodPointDustin offered another modern alternative:
Have you watched Stillwater on AppleTV? Zero quick cuts. Cocomelon is all about bright colors and cuts. They use a ‘distractatron’ to test scenes on toddlers, a device designed to capture their attention.
@rachael__nelson added an important point:
This is smart. Kids need to learn the patience of sitting through an hour-long story arc. There’s so much short form YouTube content, which is teaching them early scrolling.
In an age of rapid-fire content designed to capture fleeting attention, there’s something special about sharing these hand-crafted classics with the next generation.
Balancing screen time and business has been a journey. Hear how I built Best Self while raising a family in From Architect to $8.6M Business.
Perhaps the best screen time is the kind we can enjoy together.
