As moms, we just want a few minutes to breathe.
So when our toddler watches a cute cartoon and keeps busy… it feels like a blessing.
That’s exactly how it started for us with Masha and the Bear.
My son absolutely loved the show Masha and the bear.
He loved Masha so much that for his birthday we ordered a full Masha and the bear-themed cake.
We had decorations, stickers, toys, everything.
Even I used to find Masha adorable. She was funny, naughty, full of energy and honestly, she felt relatable in a cute way.
To me, it was just a cartoon.
Something harmless.
Something to keep him engaged while I cooked or completed chores.
But things changed after a small conversation with our pediatrician.
When My Pediatrician Gently Pointed It Out
During a regular check-up, when I was explaining to his doctor how he is getting stubborn and aggressive my doctor asked casually:
“Which cartoons does he watch?”
I said:
“Mostly Masha and the Bear.”
She didn’t scold me.
She didn’t say anything scary.
She just said:
“Just observe his behavior for a few days.
Kids at this age copy what they see especially how characters react in situations.”
That sentence was a wake-up call.
I had already been noticing changes but I didn’t connect them to the cartoon before.
What I Started to Notice
Slowly, I saw these shifts:
- He started talking loudly even when not needed.
- He would say NO to almost everything, even the smallest request.
- He began throwing small tantrums, like dramatic reactions, even when he wasn’t upset.
- His play became more hyper and restless, like he couldn’t calm down.
- Most importantly, he wouldn’t hear us when we spoke almost like the world was on mute and only he existed.
And then it clicked.
Masha behaves exactly like that.
She is:
- Loud
- Hyperactive
- Disregards boundaries
- Does not listen to Bear (the adult figure)
- Does what she wants, when she wants
And toddlers copy behavior very fast especially the bold parts.
But Why Does It Affect Toddlers So Deeply?
1. Toddlers Learn by Imitation
They don’t learn from lectures.
They learn from watching.
So when they see Masha shouting, breaking things, ignoring the Bear, reacting dramatically it feels normal to them.
2. No Emotional Balance
There is no scene of calm conversation or gentle correction.
Everything is exaggerated and loud.
So kids watching it regularly slowly start to think:
Loud = Normal
Drama = Normal
No Boundaries = Normal
3. Overstimulation
The show has:
- Fast camera movement
- No pause or breathing space
- Loud music and reactions
This creates mental restlessness in toddlers.
Exactly like how Cocomelon overstimulates toddlers.
From Cute To Concerning: The Behavior Shift
My son was not “misbehaving.”
He was mimicking.
That’s when it hit me deeply as a mom.
I wasn’t dealing with a “bad phase”.
I was feeding his developing brain a behavior model that did not match how I wanted him to behave at home.
Not listening.
Not understanding “stop”.
Being impulsive and restless.
It all made sense.
How We Slowly Reduced the Show (Without Drama)
I did NOT ban TV overnight.
That would create more issues.
What I did:
Step 1: Replaced Masha and the bear with Calmer Cartoons
These helped:
- LooLoo Kids (slow songs only)
- Bluey (gentle humor, real emotions)
- Mr. Rogers (if available)
- Daniel Tiger (emotional learning)
Step 2: More Open-Ended Play
Blocks, water play, toy kitchen, crayons anything without screens.
Step 3: Introduced Quiet Time
Before naps + after waking.
Just soft interaction. Reading normal story books.
No screens.
The Result?
Within few days my son settled to the change, I saw:
- Better listening
- More patience
- Calmer reactions
- Lesser screaming
- More connection with us
- Milder reactions to situation that are not in his favour.
He wasn’t changing.
He was just returning to his natural behavior without the influence of a loud cartoon character like Masha and the bear.
That’s when I truly understood:
Cartoons are not “just cartoons”.
They are behavior teachers.
Not Saying Masha is Bad Just Not Right for Toddlers
This is not a judgment or fear-based post.
Every child is different.
But if you feel:
- Your child is getting more stubborn
- More aggressive
- Less patient
- Doesn’t listen
- Overreacts to simple things
Just check what they are watching.
Sometimes, the answer is right in front of us but we just don’t connect the dots.
Final Mom-to-Mom Thought
We are not perfect.
We are learning parents.
We don’t always know everything and that’s okay.
I shared this because I would have loved if another mom told me sooner.
If you’re reading this, just observe your child for a few days.
Not judging.
Not panicking.
Just observing.
Your intuition will tell you everything.💛
If your child watches Cocomelon, you may also find this helpful — How Cocomelon Overstimulates Toddlers (Real Mom Review)
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