Streaming services have unlocked the ability to watch so many vintage shows that would otherwise be lost to the ether. And the educational children’s show PB&J Otter is one of them.
It only ran for two years in the late ’90s, but it’s still worth checking out today. The low-stimulation show can help children observe important life skills, licensed psychologist Dr. Connie McReynolds tells Parade. Dr. McReynolds, also a certified rehabilitation counselor at Morningstar Educational and Psychological Services, specifically says that PB&J Otter can help with critical thinking skills in young kids.
“One of the strongest messages from this show is that getting stuck is a normal part of learning and that it is part of life,” she explains, adding, “Children can see that it is totally fine to pause, stop, reset and approach a problem differently, and that mistakes are part of developing good problem-solving skills and [don’t] mean they have done anything wrong.”
She thinks the lessons this show provides are especially important for children heading back to school this fall, as they’ll encounter all kinds of opportunities to employ critical thinking skills. If you’re looking for a TV show to help your little ones learn how to brainstorm and problem-solve that’s entertaining but not too overstimulating, keep reading to see all the reasons you should give this one a try.
Related: This 28-Year-Old Children’s Show Is Still One of the Best Ways To Teach Your Kids Life Skills, Psychologists Say
The ’90s Disney Classic Hiding in Plain Sight: What Was ‘PB&J Otter’?
Created by Jim Jinkins, the same cartoonist who made the ’90s Nickelodeon hit Doug, PB&J Otter premiered in 1998 and ran until 2000 on Playhouse Disney. It follows three otter siblings named Peanut, Butter and Jelly who live in a houseboat on Lake Hoohaw.
In the series, the siblings spend time with their animal friends and neighbors and frequently work together to solve everyday problems like dealing with hurt feelings, cleaning up messes and more.
Related: Child Psychologist Reveals: ‘This Is the Best Children’s Show To Work on Empathy in Kids and Grandkids’
The Psychology of the ‘Noodle Dance’: How Moving Helps Kids Think
The PB&J Otter “Noodle Dance” is a plot device used in every episode of the show as a way for the young characters to think their way through a problem. They pair their brainstorming sessions with freeform dance movements and a catchy jingle to help them more easily come up with solutions. Dr. McReynolds says there’s a reason movement and thinking are so linked for children.
@disneyjr No thoughts. Just Noodle Dance 💃 🎥 PB&J Otter
♬ original sound – Disney Jr.
“This kind of ritual can help children shift out of feeling mentally stuck, as movement can create space for more flexible and creative thinking,” she says, adding that it serves as a healthy reminder that it’s alright to take a break when working through something.
“Movement can interrupt mental overload and help reset attention,” she continues. “Taking time out is part of problem solving, not giving up.”
Ultimately, Dr. McReynolds says that “physical activity can support attention, working memory and mental flexibility,” and the routine use of a catchy song like the “Noodle Dance” helps make “a reset playful rather than making frustration feel like failure,” she says, adding that it’s “a simple strategy [kids] can remember and use.”
Related: The One Feeling a Child Psychologist Wishes Parents Would Stop Trying To ‘Fix’
A 4-Step Masterclass in Toddler Problem-Solving
The plot lines in every episode are different, but PB&J Otter thrives in routine. Every episode, the otter siblings have to confront a problem, and they have a familiar four-step framework to solve it.
1. Identify the roadblock
For instance, in the first episode, the otters deal with feeling left out when their friends are planning something secret without them.
2. Step away to clear their mind
This is where they do the “Noodle Dance” to help them reset.
3. Brainstorm solutions
The siblings then offer different ideas to fix the problem. Not every idea is a winner, but that’s part of the process.
In the first episode, Jelly suggests building a giant telescope to peek into their friend’s house to see what they’re all doing. Instead, Peanut suggests just going and knocking on the door.
“Brainstorming several ideas teaches that imperfect ideas are part of the process, and then choosing and testing a solution builds flexible, practical problem solving,” Dr. McReynolds adds. “It’s a number of skills but done in a fun way.”
4. Execute on the best solution
The otters went up to the door, knocked and learned that the reason for the secrecy was that their friends were planning a surprise party for them. For children watching, seeing the otters communicate their frustration (we feel left out) in a clear, emotionally mature way can be really helpful modeling.
“Having a framework helps teach children to identify the actual problem before reacting, and this pause helps reduce impulsive responding,” Dr. McReynolds explains.
She says that parents can replicate this process in their own home by working with their children to identify the problem they’re trying to solve and taking a movement break to reset before exploring answers.
“I would also suggest that parents encourage their children to look at several possible solutions rather than supplying the answer,” she shares. “Seeing this modeled on a [TV show] means they will see mistakes as normal and know that persistence and trying again are just what we do.”
She continues: “Giving children that time, space and support to explore is a wonderful gift that costs nothing but time.”
Related: From Lemonade Stands to Scavenger Hunts, Here Are 150 Activities for Kids To Keep Them Entertained
Thanasis Zovoilis/Getty Images
Why ‘PB&J Otter’ Is the Perfect ‘Low-Stimulation’ Alternative to Modern Cartoons
Unlike some modern, flashy kids’ shows of today, PB&J Otter thrives with a lower-stimulation, slow-paced environment, as seen in many ’90s shows and cartoons for children.
“One of the benefits of this slower pace is that it gives children time to follow the story and understand what is happening,” says Dr. McReynolds. “Fewer competing sights and sounds can reduce demands on attention and allow them to follow and focus.”
The gentle, pastel-colored world of Lake Hoohaw acts as a comforting backdrop to the different issues the siblings face.
“The slower pacing and fewer competing stimuli may make it easier to follow and understand events,” she explains. “The emphasis stays on the characters, conversation and problem solving, and because of this, children have more opportunity to follow the sequence of cause and effect.”
Essentially, the low-stimulation nature of the cartoon gives children the space to actually process what they’re seeing so they can replicate it in their own lives.
Related: Child Psychologist Is Begging Parents To Teach Kids These 7 Daily Habits
How To Watch ‘PB&J Otter’ on Streaming Today
All three seasons of PB&J Otter are now available to stream on Disney+. There are 65 episodes total, with each one being about a half hour long, so there’s plenty of low-stimulation content for your little ones to check out.
Up Next:
Related: We Asked 3 Child Psychologists for the Best Question To Ask Kids at the Dinner Table, and They All Said the Same Thing
Source:
- Dr. Connie McReynolds, PhD, is a licensed psychologist and certified rehabilitation counselor at Morningstar Educational and Psychological Services.
