If you’ve ever had a room full of kids arguing over whose turn it is, you already know why it’s important to teach kindness and friendship, and why it’s harder than it sounds. It is there Bluey it enters. Like many teachers, I knew it was a popular program that kids loved, but when I started paying attention, I found out. By 2025, it was the most watched show in the United States, streamed nearly 40 billion times, and easily available on Disney+, Bluey TV, and YouTube. What surprised me, too, was not just how fun it is, but how naturally it shows children the things we always try to teach: empathy, cooperation, correcting mistakes, and being a good friend.
Bluey he understands what we teachers already know to be true: Play stories, imagination stories, and big feelings matter. Bluey, a female blue heeler dog, navigates everyday family life with a sense of loyalty and deep familiarity. Ordinary moments turn into extraordinary events, and children see their experiences reflected in warmth and care. As an elementary teacher, I’m always looking for ways to protect play while still giving kids something to build on. That’s why I was delighted when the BBC Learning Hub and We are Teachers asked me to review and trial lessons from the new Learning Hub. Bluey collection. There are 15 free episodes, each with an activity that helps children think and feel.
5 Best Episodes of Bluey I have used it in the classroom, along with activities to go with them
1. Watch an episode of “Seesaw” to teach about imaginative play.
What it teaches: One thing I notice is that many of my preschoolers want to play by themselves, but they aren’t always sure how to start or keep the game going once it’s started. In preschool, free play can feel frustrating without a shared vision to reinforce it. I think a good place to start is the “Seesaw” episode. Bluey. You can find activities related to this episode on the BBC Learning Hub, making it easy to watch the episode and play directly. In the episode, Bluey and Bingo try to balance, fall, laugh, and keep trying until they get it together.
After watching: Children can test balance and movement with a paired task, correct and try again as they see it on the screen. Seeing play taking place in an informal way helps children feel comfortable coming in and trying.
Bluey affects almost all the main aspects of resilience: trusting relationships, emotional connection, problem solving, self-control, empathy. (Scientific Notice)
2. Try the episode “Asparagus” to get children talking about habits and why they are important.
What it teaches: Another reason Bluey fits naturally into the school day for episode length. They are short enough to hold attention but meaningful enough to stay with children long after the episode is over. The episode “Asparagus” is a strong example. Bluey knows he has to use his morals, but when a magical asparagus crop enters the picture, everything quickly turns silly and chaotic. Children recognize that feeling right away.
After watching: This activity gives children a playful way to practice good manners and think about how their choices affect others. Activities such as pretending to be habit-seekers or doing different answers give children a place to explore kindness and patience through play.
3. Share the episode “Let’s Get Ice Cream” to teach about handling decline.
What it teaches: Sometimes play doesn’t go as planned, and that can be difficult for young children. In the episode “Let’s Get Ice Cream,” Bluey and Bingo are so focused on making things look good that they spend all their time hanging around each other instead of enjoying their ice cream. Before they knew it, both ice creams had completely melted. Dad refuses to buy them new ones, and when he finally shares his, there’s only one spoon left. Children quickly understand this situation. They recognize frustration, disappointment, and the feeling of wanting things to go right.
After watching: Children can work on fairness and take turns sharing play and making simple decisions. Sharing materials, waiting, and talking as equals gives children a safe way to work through big feelings while staying connected.
Play can facilitate real growth—social, emotional, and developmental. (Guardian)
4. Watch an episode of “Faceytalk” to talk about patience and mental growth.
What it teaches: Free play can be challenging for children who want clear directions or quick success. When something doesn’t work right away, it’s easy to feel stuck. The episode “Faceytalk” shows this in a way that children see immediately. Muffin wants to stay on screen and finish painting his cowboy hat, and refuses to give Socks a chance. What starts as excitement turns to frustration as Muffin takes up more and more space.
After watching: The “Faceytalk” activity gives children the opportunity to practice sharing and taking turns through play. Drawing together, controlling passing, and making sure everyone gets a chance to participate helps kids see that kindness and consideration keep play moving forward.
5. Teaching effort and self-acceptance is easy with the episode “Race for Kids”.
What it teaches: It is very easy for children to compare themselves to others, even at a young age. Who is the fastest? Shall I finish first? Who can do better? I see this coming up all the time in kindergarten. The episode “Kids Race” Bluey captures that feeling in a gentle, reassuring way. Bluey wonders if he is better than the others. Mom reminds him to “run your race.” As Mama looks back at Bluey and Judo as children, we see how each of them grows up differently. Bluey rolls, bum shuffles, crawls backwards, and tries everything but what Mom expects. Then, Bluey goes from crawling backwards towards Mom in the kitchen. Everyone gets there in their own way and in their own time. Children connect to this episode immediately. They recognize the pressure to conform and the comfort that comes from realizing that they don’t have to move at the same pace as everyone else.
After watching: The “Kids Race” activity helps children explore the concept of effort, motivation, and going at their own pace. Going in different directions, following lines, and cheering each other on helps children support each other rather than compete. It creates a space for children to talk about growing up and celebrate progress in a supportive way.
Why Bluey For classes
At the end of the day, what does Bluey so useful in the classroom is not only that the children like it, but that the lessons are already there. Episodes give readers a shared story to talk about, a character to relate to, and a low-key way to explore big ideas like fairness, empathy, frustration, and action right after you’ve messed up. Instead of starting from the bottom or teaching about “being kind,” you can point to a moment in the passage and ask, What can you do? Suddenly the conversation feels real.
The activities that accompany these episodes make it easy to build on what children see. They turn short, familiar stories into meaningful conversations, play, and reflection without taking away the joy of reading. When teaching friendship and kindness can feel overwhelming or invisible, Bluey it helps make those skills tangible, tangible, and actionable.
If Bluey already has a place in your classroom discussions and games, the BBC Learning Hub is the next natural destination. It brings together Bluey activities, ideas, and fun experiences designed to fit how children learn best. Whether you’re looking for a spark of imaginative play, a shared experience of communicating feelings, or a gentle way to build connection through play, Bluey our partner site BBC Learning Hub makes it easy.
