'There's a very specific formula to what makes a good kids' TV show (and Peppa Pig ain't it).'

Let's be real, not all kids' shows are created equal.

Some of them just set your teeth on edge, and I'll come clean and say it outright: I can't stand Peppa Pig.

From the fat shaming of Daddy Pig to the way she treats her little brother George, this show is just not for me. But more than that, I've decided it's one show my daughter won't be watching.

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While some of our reactions to certain TV shows may come down to individual preferences (and I'll admit, jumping in muddy puddles has never once appealed to me), or perhaps how many times our children have subjected us to the same episode, over and over, the truth is, there's a very specific formula to what makes a good show for small people — and Peppa Pig ain't it.

Many parents have reported that their kids' behaviour gets worse after watching particular shows. Kids learn from watching the world around them and then copying what they see to find out what results they get. And when they copy Peppa's whinging, name-calling, snorting ways, parents respond with groans.

What is it about Peppa Pig that makes a normally well-regulated kid turn into a cranky, demanding mess of emotions? It is partly that kids copy what they see, and Peppa's behaviour (and her parents' parenting) leaves a lot to be desired. Personally, a kid whose catchphrases include 'yuck!' and 'you're not my best friend anymore!' aren't exactly what I want my child to copy.

But the real problem with Peppa Pig, and a lot of the shows that grate on our nerves, is that they are high stimulation shows. High stimulation shows change scenes frequently, have loud noises, music and flashing colours. It's a lot of sensory input, and it can be overwhelming for little brains that are still developing. It's why shows like Cocomelon get labelled as addictive or accused of turning kids into screen zombies.

High stimulation works on adults as well — it's why we get sucked into endlessly scrolling TikTok or Instagram — and it isn't great for our brains either. But as adults, we (hopefully) have more self-control and the emotional regulation skills to come down from the 'high' of overstimulation when it's time to do something else, without turning to tantrums to express our feelings.

Kids are still learning those skills, so putting them in front of something that dials their sensory experience up to 100, and then suddenly saying it is time to turn it off and go back to zero is hard for them to understand or manage.

Don't worry though, this isn't another article trying to make you feel bad because your kids watch TV. For many of us, some screen time is unavoidable, and it can be used as a tool at key moments in our days and routines to make everything run a little bit smoother with a little bit more sanity intact. A ban on screens isn't realistic or helpful for people parenting in reality.

Instead, I'm trying to move towards low-stimulation shows for my toddler's screen time. Shows that are slower, calmer, don't change scenes every three to four seconds, and have relatable characters learning relatable lessons.

Bluey has for years now been the gold standard of low-stimulation kids' media. With beautiful visuals and lovely music, the stories are calm, staying in each scene long enough for kids' brains to absorb what is happening. The stories themselves are also very relatable to kids as most episodes are about kids like them, playing games that are fairly accessible and easy to copy. Bluey's is almost a how-to of imaginative play, that hopefully doesn't leave kids zonked when the screen goes off, but ready to engage in the world around them.

There are other good options too, and for some I've gone back to the shows of my childhood. Similar to Bluey, Play School focuses on modelling and teaching kids how to play, do crafts and learn about the world around them. It feels like a calm playdate with an older friend showing you their latest project.

A more contemporary option, and a favourite in our house, is Ms Moni. An Australian musician and teacher, Ms Moni uses songs and Auslan sign language to take kids on educational adventures. She also employs a lot of strategies used in speech development, with intentional introduction of new vocabulary and focus on listening and filling in blank spaces in a sentence. It's like a mini masterclass in language development for toddlers!

I've noticed the positive impact these slower, less frantic, less overwhelming media options have had on my toddler. She is more settled when watching and has less tantrums when it is time to turn the screen off. I even created a home-made 'menu' of viewing options for her screen time, terrible drawings and all.

Image: supplied.

I have also tried to find more alternative options for 'wind down' activities, or activities that keep my toddler in one place, so I am pulling out the screen menu less often. Drawing, stickers and books are all good options. But there will always be moments when I need my toddler contained and happy while I make food, clean up the mess from food, send an email, make a phone call or just take a moment to breathe.

And if I need to call in the help of our media friends, at least I can try and pick the ones that leave her less overstimulated and more ready to move on to the next activity without huge meltdowns.

And with absolutely no snorting, mud-splashing, whinging Peppa Pig involved.

Feature: Getty/Canva.