Why SLPs aren’t fans of CoComelon

CoComelon and Language Delays are a hot topic right now… and it seems that SLPs everywhere are not big fans of this popular Netflix show.

What is CoComelon?

Cocomelon is a show on Netflix (as well as a YouTube channel). It’s a show geared towards kids aged 2-5 – and these kiddos seem to LOVE it. Per the show’s official site, the program includes “educational songs and nursery rhymes for kids.” The program’s goals are to “help pre-schoolers learn letters, numbers, animal sounds, colors, and more,” as well as “provide parents with an opportunity to teach and play with their children as they watch together.” Although this may seem enticing, many SLPs are concerned about the lack of dialogue in the videos negatively impacting children’s language development.

How Does TV Affect Children’s Development?

Not only are there concerns with CoComelon negatively affecting children’s language development, there are concerns with television as a whole. Specifically, shows that are fast-paced are seemingly more harmful to children due to overstimulation. This is especially harmful if the show offers low-quality content because not only is it overstimulating the brain, but it also is not adding value to the child. (parents.com)

A study by researchers at the University of Alberta found that “children who spent at least two hours per day on the screen were five times more likely to exhibit symptoms of ADHD when compared to their peers who were on screens for 30 minutes or less.”

Kassie Hanson, a pediatric SLP and owner of Talk 2 Me Mama explains that “There is clear research that shows TV for children under 2 can have a negative impact on attention, cognition, and communication. Children under 2 need interaction with people, not screens.”

In summary, screen time is never as good as talking with your kiddo. But – is CoComelon harming your child’s language development?

Can CoComelon Cause Speech and Language Delays?

I would like to preface this post with saying – there is no definitive proof that CoComelon is harming children’s language development. Due to lack of research, claims that CoComelon is causing speech delays are simply opinions. But – they are the opinions of SLPs who have your kiddos best interests in mind.

According to Jerrica Sannes (a child development expert with an MEd in early childhood), “Cocomelon is so hyperstimulating that it actually acts as a drug, as a stimulant. 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 can lead to disregulation and difficulty navigating the speed of everyday life.

“CoComelon, Sannes thinks–with its 2-second scene changes, fast camera movements, and emphasis on multiple effects–is too stimulating for some children.” When children are presented with this high-speed, overstimulating, and brightly colored show again and again, they start to have difficulty with their normal lives. Also, when children are spending their free-time engulfed in this show, they aren’t being exposed to language. Their brains are getting used to these fast-moving pictures with limited dialogue which is negatively impacting their opportunities to develop language – not to mention how they cope with boredom.

Personally, I believe that children need to learn how to be bored. When parents or caregivers are providing their children with a phone or tablet every time they don’t have something else to do, kids aren’t learning patience or how to cope with boredom. Their brains aren’t getting chances to sit still and think – they are missing out on opportunities to be imaginative and observe their surroundings. Most importantly, when parents are just passing along their phone or tablet, kids are missing out on opportunities for language. Most of the time, if your kid has time to watch a show, they have time to develop language. Here are some examples of amazing opportunities for your kids to develop language skills when they maybe are on a phone/tablet instead: in the car, at a restaurant, after school/daycare, before bed, at mealtimes, during playtime, and so many more.

However, parents, don’t be too hard on yourself. There is definitely a time and a place that screen time is okay – I’m not saying to never let your kiddo watch TV! Just be conscientious about the amount of time they are watching shows, and what show they are watching.

Key Takeaways:

“CoComelon’s over-stimulating content was called out for being too addictive and causing an unhealthy amount of viewing among children.”
“It’s fast-paced videos have also been criticized for enforcing and causing a short attention span among young children which is detrimental to their cognitive development.”
“Parents have observed behavioral issues among children such as tantrums and meltdowns owing to their disproportionate viewing of CoComelon.”

In summary, providing your child with opportunities for language in their natural environment is always going to have a better impact on their language development than screen time. You don’t need to completely cut out screen time, but trying to limit their time spent watching videos will ultimately help them improve their language skills. Further, when you do choose to allow your kiddo time to watch shows or videos, try to provide them access to shows that are not as fast-paced and overstimulating as CoComelon.

Here is a list of SLP approved shows/videos to share with your child: