My kids liked to watch Dora the Explorer and Sesame Street (before the age of YouTube). They had to catch it when it was on and when it was over, that was it. They had to go find something else to do. The scarcity made my job as parent a lot easier.
I downloaded every episode of Mr. Rogers and serve them from Plex. On one hand it does create moments where you have to limit your kids and that creates an outsized emotional response, but it also allows me the chance to watch the episodes too (as they aren’t on only at “kid show” times).
I appreciate the chance to show interest in something that they are interested in.
Also, as I have watched so many Mr Rogers episodes I know that sometimes you have to find ways to deal with the mad that you feel[0], so I don’t mind helping work through emotions when we don’t agree that it’s time to stop.
0: https://www.misterrogers.org/videos/what-to-you-do-with-the-...
Twenty years ago it was easier to be a good parent.
As an aside I worked in a drug users support center as an IT admin for a few months in my 20's, I don't feel like I have any insight into actual crack, other then Ewan McGregor said it best when he says choose life.