My 6-year-old often claims that his favorite show is Teen Titans Go!, but deep down, he knows it’s really Diff’rent Strokes. The sitcoms from my childhood have turned into an unexpected source of bonding during our shared screen time. My son has learned that if he plays his cards right, we might just have a Diff’rent Strokes night, a Facts of Life night, or even a very special Saved by the Bell evening. So why do these classic sitcoms resonate more with us than the latest offerings from Cartoon Network?
Like many parents, I find myself dreading today’s children’s television landscape, especially when my little ones would prefer to watch Uncle Grandpa over Super Why!. It can feel like mind-numbing torture, and engaging with them becomes nearly impossible when they slip into a SpongeBob trance.
A couple of years ago, I was watching Diff’rent Strokes on a random channel that airs ’80s reruns, interrupted by infomercials for used cars. My son walked in and asked to join me, and I happily obliged. It became a fantastic opportunity to discuss topics like race, adoption, and varied family dynamics.
As we continued watching, the storylines became even more intriguing. Sure, we all remember when Kimberly’s hair turned green from that infamous acid rain episode. But did you know that the plot primarily revolved around Aunt Sophia, the show’s eco-warrior, trying to motivate Mr. Drummond to tackle pollution issues?
Aunt Sophia also pops up in other ahead-of-the-curve storylines, like when Mr. Drummond pushes for the removal of junk food vending machines from schools, while Aunt Sophia reads off the chemical ingredients from a candy bar wrapper.
But Diff’rent Strokes wasn’t the only sitcom ahead of its time. You might recall Becky, the duck from Saved by the Bell‘s oil spill episode, but did it ever strike you that those students were actually protesting fracking? And remember Charlene from Designing Women? She opted for cloth diapers due to her concerns about landfills.
These shows are a treasure trove of environmentally conscious lessons wrapped in a nostalgic package, complete with laugh tracks. Just recently at the park, when some kids were arguing with their parents over some bizarrely colored candies, my son leaned in and whispered, “It’s all Arnold Drummond’s fault.” That Arnold, always a catalyst for a good lesson!
For now, though, we’ll skip the Very Special Episode about heavier topics like pedophilia—I’ll save that for when he turns 7. If you’re interested in more on parenting, check out our other blog posts like this one.
In conclusion, revisiting the sitcoms of my youth has fostered meaningful conversations and connections with my child, all while keeping the lessons relevant to today’s world.