Using Low Stimulation TV to Create Healthier Screen Time

In a world where children’s television is often fast-paced, loud, and bursting with flashing colors, many parents and caregivers are beginning to ask: Is all this stimulation healthy? Enter low stimulation TV: a growing genre of children’s programming designed to soothe and engage rather than excite and overwhelm while incorporating an educational component.

Low stimulation content typically features slower pacing, minimal background noise, muted visuals and soft-spoken characters. They focus on showcasing storylines that are more educational and emotionally age appropriate by using simpler, easy to follow dialogue and situations that can be found in everyday life. These storylines help kids learn about the importance of cooperation and empathy. Characters in these stories often speak slower and repeat themselves, a great way to support important language development in kids. This genre of entertainment offers an alternative to the sensory overload of mainstream kids’ entertainment typically found on cable tv and streaming platforms, providing a much more mindful and gentle viewing experience for children. 

The Benefits of Low Stimulation Content

Let’s explore the benefits, the science, and some recommendations, many of which you can find on Kanopy for low stimulation TV that can support your child’s development.

1. Supports Emotional Regulation

Fast-paced shows can easily overstimulate children, leading to irritability, hyperactivity or difficulty winding down when screen time is over. Low stimulation content uses a calm tone and slower rhythm to help children regulate their emotions. Parents can uses screen time to end screen time, by providing a gentler show after a much more overstimulated show. This allows children to “re-enter” the real world with more ease. Sarah and Duck, a BBC production, features a soften spoken narrator, with humorous storylines that focuses on family dynamics and emotional safety.

2. Reinforces Attention Span and Focus

By reducing distractions like rapid scene changes and loud sound effects, low stimulation content allows children to concentrate more on the story at hand. This can help build longer attention spans and improve listening skills. Shows like Franklin and Franklin and Friends utilize a slow pace to engage kids in everyday situations such as overcoming getting lost or getting in trouble when he acts bossy.

3. Promotes Imaginative Thinking

Simple visuals and slow pacing allow children to use their imagination to fill in any gaps in the storyline. Rather than being bombarded with constant action, kids are encouraged to use their imaginations and engage more deeply with what they are watching. Shows like Pinkalicious & Peterrific were created to encourage kids to explore different art forms and imaginative thinking.

4. Reduces Sensory Overload

For children who are sensitive to noise, light, or too much movement, especially those on the autism spectrum, low stimulation content can provide a more comfortable and gentle viewing experience. Little Bear is a great example of a TV show that utilizes muted colors, slower movements and consistent lighting to avoid overstimulating the viewer.

5. Better Sleep

Watching overstimulated shows before bed can negatively affect a child’s ability to unwind and ultimately fall asleep. Low stimulation content is a gentler alternative for winding down in the evening, making it easier to transition to bedtime routines. Kanopy features shows like At the Stroke of Goodnight, Dream You’ll Be, and It’s a Firefly Night (in Spanish), which feature calming storylines and cozy visuals to help transition to bedtime.

Overall, the goal of low stimulation content is to create a gentle and positive environment and rather than keeping children on edge or craving more screen time.

Since every child’s needs and habits are different, finding the right shows can take some trial and error. To make it easier, we’ve curated a collection of thoughtful, age-appropriate titles available on Kanopy. These selections offer families a gentle alternative to mainstream kids’ entertainment and a supportive way to build healthier viewing routines.

Happy Streaming!