By Daniella GrayShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberA Los Angeles mom introduced her daughter to '90s TV shows as an experiment—and was surprised by what she noticed.
Growing up watching shows such as Bear in the Big Blue House, Pippi Longstocking and Pingu, Linnea Dubravac wanted to contrast the “visually overwhelming and aggressive colors” in children's content today for her 2-year-old daughter.
Dubravac and husband Sean didn’t introduce screens until after their daughter turned one, and still keep screentime to a minimum now.
...“I wanted any screentime to feel intentional, calm and supportive of her development rather than overstimulating,” Dubravac told Newsweek.
That intentionality seems to show in her daughter’s development: she speaks in full sentences, sings, knows her alphabet and counts confidently.
Dubravac credits not avoiding screens entirely but engaged parenting, daily conversations with her mother and a thoughtful mix of educational content, including contemporary favorites like Ms. Rachel and Mr. Tumble on occasion.
Compared to the shows children watch today, Dubravac believes shows from the '90s are softer, slower and more intentional. “They have gentle storytelling, longer pauses and natural colors, which creates space for imagination,” she added. "Children’s content has become extremely fast-paced and visually overwhelming with loud sounds and aggressive colors."
When Dubravac introduced her daughter to some old school shows, she noticed a clear difference in her behavior afterward. “She seems grounded and peaceful afterward rather than wired or overstimulated,” she said.
Another unexpected result was how effortlessly her toddler drifted back into play. Whether it was a single episode or a few minutes of background projection, the transition was seamless—no bargaining for another episode or tantrums.
Dubravac, who is a content creator and founder of LA Mom Society which aims to bring mothers together with in-person events, shared her observations in a reel on Instagram (@linneadubravac). The clip has gone completely viral on the platform, amassing over 40 million views.
In the comments, many other parents reminisced about their own childhood shows and shared how much they miss the simplicity of those nostalgic shows.
“Does anyone remember Oswald? I’m 33 and still watch it for a full night’s rest when I can’t sleep. The music is so soothing,” one user wrote.
“Dragon tales!! I woke up before my family to watch at 7:30 in the morning eating my cereal that I made myself before school every day,” another shared.
“'90s shows talked to each other like they were human, have non overly saturated colors, taught words and life lessons through example.. absolutely incredible growing up in that era,” a third user said.
The experiment reminded Dubravac that moderation, intention and pacing matter, especially when it comes to content.
Her daughter still enjoys Ms. Rachel and similar creators, and Dubravac sees clear educational benefits.
"As a mom, I want to raise a confident, curious, and grounded child,” she said. “This experience reminded me that often the simplest moments are the most meaningful.”
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