Why Do My Kids Watch the Same Thing Over and Over Again?

Ok, so this piece should really be titled “Why Do My Kids Watch the Same Shows and Movies Over and Over Again and Should I Be Worried? A Gen X Mom’s Perspective…” but that’s a really long title and I also want to include Millennial moms here because their kids’ viewing habits are also likely different from theirs as children.

When I was a kid, TV was an event. I watched what was on, when it was on. If you missed it? Tough luck. Saturday morning cartoons? Sacred. And it’s why I still know all the jingles for local Buffalo businesses. The Wonderful World of Disney on Sunday nights? If it started before we left my grandma’s house I got to stay later and watch it. (I realize now HOW DISRUPTIVE this must have been for my mom since my dad dropped me off afterwards after having me every weekend.) Reruns were rare and, unless you had one of the early VCRs (Betamax!) and the knowledge and/or foresight to record something, watching the same thing repeatedly just wasn’t an option.

Fast-forward to parenting in the streaming era. My kids are obsessed with rewatching the same shows over and over (and over!) again. We were late to adopting/accepting the iPad but there’s no looking back. Entire seasons are at their fingertips; every episode available on demand; it’s like they have their own curated nostalgia channels before they even leave childhood.

So of course, at first, I worried. Is this good for them? And I tried to kibosh it. Shouldn’t I be encouraging them toward new things? Are they missing out on variety? But the more I looked into it, the more I realized that rewatching serves a real purpose at every age and stage.

What It Means to Watch the Same Thing at Every Age and Stage:

The Toddler & Preschool Years: Comfort in Repetition

Have you ever read Goodnight Moon for the hundredth time, only for your toddler to demand it again? Young kids thrive on repetition. It’s how they learn patterns, language, and predictability.

• Shows They Love to Rewatch: Bluey, Paw Patrol, Peppa Pig, Cocomelon
• Why They Rewatch: Helps them process emotions, reinforces new words, and gives them a sense of control in a world that’s still new and unpredictable.
• What We Did as Kids: The closest things we had were reruns of Sesame Street or Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood, but only if we caught them at the right time!

The Early School Years: Mastering the Story

At this stage, kids start rewatching their favourite shows to fully absorb the story. They’re picking up on new details, understanding character motivations, and even anticipating jokes before they happen.

• Shows They Love to Rewatch: SpongeBob SquarePants, Wild Kratts, My Little Pony, Pokémon
• Why They Rewatch: It gives them a sense of mastery, like they’re “in on the joke” or an expert on the world of their favourite characters.
• What We Did as Kids: If we were lucky, maybe we had a handful of VHS (or Betamax!) tapes that we could record on. But, for the most part, if we missed a favourite show, we were SOL. Also, there would be hell to pay if someone taped over a precious recording.

The Tween & Teen Years: Nostalgia in Real Time

Here’s where things get interesting. Tweens and teens don’t just rewatch shows they love; they cling to them like a security blanket.

• Shows They Love to Rewatch: The Office, Stranger Things, Gilmore Girls, Avatar: The Last Airbender
• Why They Rewatch: It’s about comfort, identity, and nostalgia—yes, even for 14-year-olds. Watching something familiar during a time of big emotional and physical changes feels safe and grounding.
• What We Did as Kids: We rewatched our favourite Friends or Full House episodes when they happened to be on. If we were lucky, we recorded a few on VHS. But having instant access to comfort shows? That’s a new luxury.

Should We Be Worried About All This Rewatching?

At first, I thought my kids’ devotion to the same handful of shows meant they were missing out on variety. And I was also worried that this might indicate some anxiety or neurodivergence. Comfort viewing as a phenomenon is not new however the ability to have comfort programming at your fingertips is. So I’ve learned that rewatching isn’t stagnation. It’s security. It helps our kids process stories, emotions, and even the changes in their own lives.

Does that mean they should only rewatch? No. I still encourage them to try new things, explore different genres, and break out of their comfort zone. And mine are old enough now for us to be excited about more mature movies and shows together. But if they want to watch Derry Girls for the eighth time? Well… who am I to judge? (Especially since I’ll join them and am guilty of rewatching Schitt’s Creek myself.)

So call it what it is: “comfort watching” or “repetitive viewing.” For us grown-ups it’s “reassurance watching.” People of all ages rewatch familiar shows because they provide a sense of stability, nostalgia, or emotional regulation. And there’s also a psychological aspect to it. Repeating something familiar reduces the cognitive load. Meaning you don’t have to pay close attention or process new information. This can act as a form of self-soothing, especially in times of stress or uncertainty.

So, if your kid is deep into their fifth round of Bluey or can recite every line from The Lion King by heart, don’t stress. They’re doing what kids do best, which is finding joy in the familiar and making memories that they will one day pass on to their own kids.

Does your child watch the same thing over and over? Were you a rewatcher as a kid? How about now?