Inclusion in Children’s Television: “The Loud House” and “The Casagrandes”
Have you ever sat and watched a movie or a television show with a child and wondered how much the show they are watching is filled with diversity, inclusion, and real-life situations, and how it is educating children to be better prepared for the world? I have. The importance of inclusion in kid’s television shows is very critical to their development and self-growth.
The Loud House is a children’s animated television series that airs on Nickelodeon and created by Chris Savino. The show depicts the life of Lincoln Loud, an eleven-year-old boy trying to survive being the only boy in a large family of 13. In the show, Lincoln has 10 sisters: Lori, Leni, Luna, Luan, Lynn, Lucy, Lana, Lola, Lisa, and Lily, who are all between the ages of one and 17. Lincoln’s best friend, Clyde McBride, is an eleven-year-old African American boy who lives with his two fathers, who are part of the LGBTQ community, and are also an interracial couple. This television show is big on inclusion and diversity. The Loud House teaches children that every family is unique, and that every family is not the same. It also shows the differences that each family has; the struggles that some families go through to accommodate one another while living in the same house, and the versatility of each family member. No one is exactly the same.
The Loud House also includes a spin-off series called The Casagrandes, also aired on Nickelodeon. This show depicts the life of Ronnie Anne and Bobby, who are siblings and friends with Lincoln and his family. They move to Great Lakes City and are adjusting to their new life in the city with their big Mexican American family, the Casagrandes. Ronnie Anne is learning to explore her new city and make new friends, while her brother, Bobby, will help their grandfather run the family’s corner store. These two television series also include a great diversity in the voices behind each character. The voice actors depict the diversity of each character, which is important in kid’s television.
I believe that including diversity into children’s television series is great for children because having a show that will retain children’s interests, but also entertain them about real life, families, friends, different races, skin color, genders, and sexual orientation. Some children will be able to see the differences in each person, and they may find some similarities of their own that they can relate to in real life. Teaching children about diversity will allow them to connect and identify with the characters. The lack of representation can lower their self-esteem and can affect their confidence. Having a show that includes character diversity will create open-mindedness in children, as they grow up and become more accepting of others.
Both of these shows have a great deal of inclusion and diversity, and Nickelodeon does a wonderful job of broadcasting this onto their network platform. It is a perfect way for kids to understand more about different races, genders, and ethnicities, to process this information through the media and how diversity plays a role in our community.
