Videos for Toddlers & Kids: Doc McStuffins

Videos for Toddlers & Kids: Doc McStuffins

Even before we gave Harley her own tablet, we were looking for video content for her. The reality is that screen time isn’t evil, and honestly, sometimes we all need time to zone out – her in front of a video and me without a little one demanding my complete attention. That said, I still like to encourage her to watch things that expand her mind, teach her something, or are generally worthwhile. I’ve found a bunch of awesome shows for kids, and I thought I’d share them with you. This time, it’s Doc McStuffins.

What is Doc McStuffins?

Doc McStuffins follows Dottie “Doc” McStuffins, a nurturing six-year-old girl with her own doctor’s clinic. There, she puts on her stethoscope and toys come to life. When they’re broken or hurt, she gives them a check up and helps them feel better. Like most doctors, she has plenty of assistants, like her hippo nurse, cuddly lamb, and proud dragon. Together, they add diagnoses to the big book of boo-boos and fix broken toys.

What do I like about it?

SO MUCH! There are so many reasons that I love this show. First of all, it makes being a doctor feel practical. Harley LOVES watching the show and then playing doctor. She used to use anything around the house as doctor’s toys, including a super expensive headset of mine as her stethoscope, which is why my mom got her a Doc McStuffins toy kit for her birthday. Now she puts on the stethoscope and listens to hearts, checks eyes and ears, and then decides everything is cured by multiple shots.

While she never had an issue with the doctor, I think the show has added to her enthusiasm for going to the doctor. She’ll even make up being sick or hurt to try and get to see the doctor because she likes the process so much. Plus it means that she’s more comfy with what happens there – she knows what to expect and can even sing the “time for your check-up” song while we wait.

It’s also great the way that they deal with the ailments. There are mental health issues tackled here, like when toys feel sad or left out or angry. Doc also helps with the anxiety about treatment, like when a fairy’s wing was ripped and she had to sew on a patch. She and her stuffed animal friends showed their scars, talking about how scars aren’t ugly but make you even more unique.

As a huge plus, Doc and her family are all black. Her mom is a real doctor, often called in as a “specialist” on the show, she is a wonderful role model and helps people of all races realize that anyone can be a doctor. The same goes for Doc, obviously, as she knows her stuff and helps everyone’s toys feel better. The fact that they made her a person of color makes this show even better in my eyes. Yay for representation!

Oh, and they bring in awesome guest voice actors, so if you’re a fan of entertainment in general, you’ll recognize some incredible talents singing the signature “I feel better” song.

What’s not so great about it?

I suppose just the way that Harley now insists that she’s sick a lot more, or asks for bandaids. Not that it’s the end of the world (I get cheap ones at the dollar store so she can go wild with them), but I don’t want her to be a hypochondriac. Just something to keep an eye on, especially if you have an anxious kid who is always worried about getting hurt or sick.

Where is Doc McStuffins Available?

You can get a handful of episodes for free on Disney Now. We usually watch it through Hulu, though, which is even better since I figured out how to add it to Harley’s tablet so she doesn’t take over the TV to watch. You can also buy episodes or seasons through Amazon or iTunes.

If you’re looking for more fun shows, here are some other kids’ TV series I’ve looked at:

Videos for Toddlers & Kids: Tayo the Little Bus

 

Videos for Toddlers: Bubble Guppies

 

Videos for toddlers: Creative Galaxy

 

Videos for Toddlers: Dora the Explorer

Videos for Toddlers & Kids: Team Umizoomi

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