A Texas couple from Houston has taken do-it-yourself creativity to a new level by creating their own children’s show to fill a gap they noticed in today’s media landscape.
“What I wanted was like what I grew up on in the ‘80s – and ‘90s was Captain Kangaroo and Mr. Rogers, and those were adults speaking to kids as adults. You were learning really good, valuable lessons from them,” said John Havard, a father of two living in Houston, Texas.
He and his wife, Andrea, were at a loss when they had to juggle between working from home and taking care of their young children when schools were closed during the pandemic lockdowns.
The couple turned to screen time to keep their children occupied when they were busy, but soon realized mainstream children’s shows were often either too stimulating or used childish, overly animated voices that they found lacking in depth.
One day, when John’s then 2-year-old son asked about a fish he saw on TV, the father donned a cowboy outfit—taking inspiration from his son’s favorite character, Woody from Toy Story—and took his child outdoors. They filmed their first episode at a nearby pond, creating a fishing-themed video about counting and colors.
“We filmed our first episode at the pond in our neighborhood, and just made a fishing episode about counting and colors and things like that,” said Havard.
The video was a hit with those around them, and their YouTube channel, Cowboy Jack, quickly gained popularity. The channel features John as a fun and friendly cowboy, while Andrea handles the filming and editing. Cowboy Jack has since amassed millions of views, helping many young children learn about moral behavior and gain lifelong knowledge through the cowboy’s adventures.
“I get messages from parents all over the country and all over the world saying how much it helped their autistic child or how much it has improved their daily life because their kids are getting valuable information from YouTube,” said the now-Cowboy Jack, expressing his appreciation for their viewers.
Popular videos on the channel include Cowboy Jack touring an ambulance, visiting the dentist, meeting firefighters, and even taking on household chores. John and Andrea’s goal is to foster good behavior in children through relatable scenarios and settings in their videos.
Havard emphasizes the importance of teaching through positive reinforcement. “You learn without even realizing it, becoming like Cowboy Jack,” he explained.
As fifth-generation Texans, the Havards showcase the best of their home state in their content, sharing fun activities and the iconic cowboy culture. They take pride in their Texan roots and their part of the country.
Havard believes that screen time can be beneficial as long as parents watch together with their children and ensure the content is positive, educational, and uplifting.
To watch “Cowboy Jack” videos on Youtube, click here for their channel!
