Children are naturally curious about the world, and they learn new things every day — especially when learning is disguised as fun. Most textbooks and schools are lackluster in presenting educational messages that children actually enjoy engaging with.
Humans are always seeking new ways to communicate. Historically, children were taught by stories, then by books, radio, and television. Most recently, the internet has become an important source of information. As technology becomes more accessible, the concept of using entertainment to educate is growing faster than ever before. The phenomenon is known as “education-entertainment,” or “edu-tainment.”
The concept of edu-tainment focuses on the idea that certain media can be used to educate while it delights. For example, “Sesame Street” was the first children’s program that made learning a staple of the content by disguising lessons within humorously entertaining segments that could be enjoyed by children and adults alike.
Although it was unclear if “Sesame Street” would pass muster when it launched in November 1969, the show flourished. As of 2013, it’s still on-air and online. Furthermore, “Sesame Street” proved to be influential in style for future programs such as “Dora the Explorer,” which was created over 10 years ago, and the decade-long success of “Blue’s Clues” which added to the edu-tainment trend.
Among its most notable breakthroughs was the fact that “Sesame Street” was the first preschool television program to base its content on formative research done by serious academics. Specifically, the show’s creators turned to two education-oriented psychologists for advice and help in choosing content and subject matter, and adding such professional expertise into the fiber of the program made it more effective and enjoyable to viewers. Currently, the creators of programs like Disney’s “Doc McStuffins,” which focuses on a little girl dreaming of becoming a doctor, consult with medical professionals to ensure that the information is accurate.
Recently, children’s shows have put emphasis on teaching youngsters real-world skills, such as how to manage money. In some instances, organizations like PNC Bank have made million-dollar investments in financial education focused on preschoolers, their parents, caregivers, and teachers for an early start to learning smart money-management skills.
“Sesame Street” has even tackled educating children about social-economic issues, such as hunger, and emotionally difficult topics, such as grief and bullying.
Edu-tainment can provide knowledge and laughter to children by encouraging critical thinking about science, math, technology, stories, feelings, and much more. Edu-tainment can be used to teach academic subjects and social norms. Children’s television is also making use of the internet, which is starting to overshadow the show’s original, televised medium.
Realizing that the latest generation is extremely comfortable with the internet and technology, most children’s shows now offer websites and apps. For example, Sesamestreet.org is a successful website that features educational games and videos for users to enjoy anywhere, at any time (that they have internet access).
The website of “Sesame Street” is a treasure trove for fans of the show. Each character’s page offers opportunities to learn more about their favorite muppet and to play educational games involving that character. Other areas of the site are dedicated to content. The Stories section augments readable Sesame Street stories with animated visuals and sound, which make the tales come alive. Art employs a program that allows kids to simulate painting by clicking and dragging colors. Music pages lead to Sesame Street Radio, a section of the website where kids can listen to “Sesame Street” songs.
The web site also offers comprehensive, organized, and well-researched parenting information, including topics like school, health, safety, and immunization. Recipes and articles about family vacations are also available, all with the purpose of outlining the brand’s mission to educate and entertain children and their families.
Many PBS Kids games can be played for free on iPhones, iPads, and computers, which opens the door to edu-tainment for children who are from different socio-economic backgrounds (as long as they have access to those devices). In many ways, the “Sesame Street” website has become a community of parents, children, educators, and creators that strives to be a highly enjoyable and educational experience.
The characters on children’s shows model positive behavior for youngsters, and the connections that children feel to such characters can have a profound impact on their world view. As children grow, social presence concepts go from merely identifying with the characters to actual socialization. Media can influence social opportunities via online blogs and forums dedicated to “fan pages” of these programs, which also offer educational games and trivia. Thus, it is possible to create a virtual community of learning, which also serves as a place where kids with similar interests, from all over the world, can meet. Of course, in order to do this, children must be entertained by the programs.
The potential for edu-tainment is vast. Research has shown that this style of education is one of the most effective and enjoyable for children, which then leads to an increase in knowledge and a love of learning. The current generation is adept at using technology to collect information and answer questions. As technology grows, education and society will have to change along with it as public opinion is steadily shifting toward the widespread acceptance of technology-driven education. Positive adult responses are critical to the progress of edu-tainment, which then ultimately leads to the goal of having a well-educated population. Therefore, it is essential that adults find ways to incorporate knowledge with entertainment and infuse those concepts with technology.
Meagan Meehan is a published author of poems, short stories, novels, and articles in numerous publications. She is also a cartoonist and an award-winning modern artist. She holds bachelors in English literature from New York Institute of Technology and a masters of communication from Marist College.
