One morning in my Spanish class, I watched my friend pull out a journal covered in “Monster High” stickers from her backpack. As class ended, I stood and steered my mind elsewhere, but not before asking her for a couple stickers for my inner child.

“Monster High” is a show that aired from 2010 until 2015. This show created fond memories for me and others during childhood. 

Is it normal to have an interest in a show targeted towards younger audiences as a teenager, and go so far as to keep stickers on items for the public to see?

Reaching teenage years is almost as if we are required to throw away anything from our childhood that brings us joy and comfort. Yet for me, rewatching my favorite childhood shows unlocks a part of me that I don’t see as frequently as I get older. 

“Miraculous: Tails of Ladybug and Cat Noir,” an animated series aimed toward kids aged 7 and up, has been my favorite show since I was a little girl.

Every scene I watch hits me with a wave of nostalgia, taking me back to special moments of my childhood to when all I could worry about was if the ice cream truck would show up, or if I would have enough time to finish coloring before bed.

And, a lot of children’s media discusses deeper topics that may pass over the heads of younger viewers, and as one gets older, noticing these messages can bring comfort to those with similar experiences.  

As I occasionally rewatch “Miraculous,” I catch extra details that had previously flown right past my head. Topics of mental illness, complex relationships and more carry a deeper meaning, ultimately rating it as a show that I think should be targeted to ages 13 and up.

With day-to-day life full of stress and time consuming tasks, taking a small break every now and then to return to shows that lay deep in my heart brings me a sense of ease incomparable to others. 

Dust off all of your childhood classics and rediscover the carefree child you once were.