Bluey Is the Perfect Fit for Social Emotional Learning

You’d have to be under a rock (or a green kiwi rug) not to have heard of Bluey, the wildly popular Aussie animated series about an imaginative blue heeler pup and her family. But the show is way more than goofy, blue-hued canine fun. It’s one of the few TV series to unite kids and parents, thanks to its heartfelt stories about relationships, play, and emotional growth.

And now, with our new Bluey in the Classroom SEL lessons, teachers can bring that same magic straight into their classrooms — rolling social-emotional learning (SEL) skills into lessons students will actually want to engage in.

Why Bluey in the Classroom Works So Well for Teaching SEL

Kids can easily see themselves in Bluey’s world. Between her big imagination and everyday family life, the show mirrors the spaces where children practice their own SEL skills — school, home, and the playdates and errands in between.

The characters are lighthearted, funny, and most importantly, real. They squabble, throw tantrums, fib, and make up — just like kids do. There’s no preachy “after-school special” moment here. Instead, Bluey models emotional growth through play, problem-solving, and conversations that sound exactly like the ones happening in your classroom every day.

That’s what makes it such a natural fit for SEL. Kids don’t just watch Bluey and those in her world learn about perseverance or empathy — they feel it right along with her.

Highlights From Bluey in the Classroom

The BBC’s Bluey in the Classroom SEL Lessons feature ten classroom-ready bundles, each built around a freely available Bluey episode. Every lesson zeroes in on a specific SEL skill — teamwork, fairness, handling setbacks — and includes printables, guided activities, and discussion questions.

Here’s some of the highlights you’ll find in each bundle:

• Playful guidance. The lesson guides read like they came straight from the Heeler household — lighthearted and full of charm (e.g. “Give each salad-dodger a blank cape”).

• No-fuss materials. Activities use simple classroom supplies — paper, glue, scissors — so you can focus on connection, not cleanup.

• Beautiful visuals. The graphics and illustrations have been plucked right from Bluey’s colorful world.

Want to take a peek? The “Just Be Yourself” bundle uses the episode “Movies” to spark a classroom discussion on being true to who you are. It includes:

• Instructions and decorations for DIY courage capes

• A self-portrait and “I Like Myself” reflection worksheet

• A printable class puzzle activity (available in four, nine, or 16 pieces)
  
  

How To Use Bluey in the Classroom SEL Lessons

When you introduce Bluey for SEL, keep the tone playful — just like the show. Here’s a sequence that works well:

1. Intro (2 minutes): “Today we’re watching an episode of Bluey called ‘Ice Cream.’ [Pause for wild applause.] Let’s see what Bluey and Bingo learn about fairness.”
2. Viewing (7 minutes): Show the episode.
3. Guided discussion (5 minutes): Ask, “Why were Bluey and Bingo so worried about fairness? What happened? What did they learn?”
4. Activity (10–15 minutes): Complete one (or more!) of the activities from the bundle.
5. Reflection (3 minutes): Have students share one way they’ll practice fairness at school or home.

Doing this regularly — even just once a week — helps kids connect what they see in Bluey’s world with the SEL skills they’re learning in real life.

Final Heeler Thoughts

Bluey brings joy, creativity, and heaps of heart to the classroom. Woven in with the laughter about magic asparagus or melting ice cream are real-life tools for kids: listening, sharing, handling disappointment, and trying again.

When teachers tap into that, the result isn’t “cartoon time” — it’s play-based learning students will remember. With Bluey, SEL doesn’t feel like an add-on. It is the game.

Looking for the episodes? Watch full episodes here.