Fun Freetime: Bluey

There's a new series heading to Disney Channel’s Disney Junior on September 9 from BBC Studios called Bluey!

What’s more fun than jumping on a trampoline, playing “Butterflies” in the backyard and hunting for fairies? A new friend from Down Under who loves to play, play, play! A sweet and instantly-relatable celebration of family, friends and the all-out fun of childhood, Bluey is a standout new entry to the kids’ TV “playground.” A loving send-up to the many pluses of unstructured play for children, Bluey is the perfect “playmate” for helping to show today’s largely overscheduled kids and families that nothing beats the power of simple creative play for keeping kids happy and healthy as they grow.

Bluey follows the adventures of a lovable and inexhaustible 6-year-old Blue Heeler puppy who lives with her Dad (Bandit), her Mum (Chilli) and 4-year-old little sis, Bingo. In each episode, Bluey takes the everyday events of family life and uses her limitless Blue Heeler energy to invent elaborate games that unfold in unpredictable and hilarious ways, bringing her family and the whole neighborhood into her world of fun. Bluey and Bingo love to roleplay and,whether they are doctors, fancy ladies, butterflies or hotel managers, they always drag in Mum or Dad to take a part in their games. Bandit and Chilli both work, but are also dedicated parents who, tired as they might be, appreciate the value of time spent playing with the kids, even if it means getting down on all fours for a horsey ride or keeping the last balloon in the air for as long as possible.

This totally loveable series is an Australian hit and places an emphasis on gender neutrality. Bluey and her sister Bingo are girls, but they don’t look or act in stereotypical “girl” fashion. Likewise with Bluey and Bingo’s parents, who don’t fall into traditional mom/dad roles. Rather their dad, Bandit, is 100% engaged with his daughters, he’s always doing housework and he’s willing to admit when he’s wrong. He is not he stereotypical “bumbling” TV dad!