The “Hmn…What happens if _”inquiry has considerable appeal to me, regardless of whether there’s a trackable takeaway in each plot point or whether it’s simple enough STEM for preschoolers to grasp firmly. (at least that’s been the experience in EARLY learning environments…tween media and marketing is another story altogether) I’m thankful shows like Sesame Street, Dora the Explorer, The Backyardigans, Zooboomafu/Wild Kratts and such that have offered a counter-balance to nurture the “why” questions of kids, while embedding a love of nature adventure quests, online and off. Think back to the ToysRUs prankvertising that threw Mother Nature nature under the bus, and use critical thinking next time you watch media depictions of camping and the outdoors to take notes…it’s become sitcom fodder at best. Just the thought of ‘branding’ nature as a positive influence and a purposeful, fun place to hangout and explore gives it a thumbs up at first glance, as I’m deeply annoyed by the ‘hatorade’ media often applies to outdoorsy plotlines in ‘ewww-eeek’ mode which can instill bias and set anti-nature habits early on. (Fig the Fox, Maple, Hedge, and Stick, the cute little BFF that trills, etc.) It doesn’t mirror hands-on experiential learning, but in some ways it does reflect it, as seen through the lens of the critters, characters and capers taking place in the show. …By using stop-motion characters as a springboard for kids to get outside romping around, media is being used to seed discovery of the natural world around them. Though at first it feels counter-intuitive to prompt offline play through online content… …But Tumble Leaf feels very different than that, instead gently nudging those ‘aha’ moments informally through play. The notion of using STEM to innovate and educate seems to be everywhere these days from toys and goods to summertime science Pinterest boards on a mission to learn… Why not snag the innovative opportunity to use storylines to give kids pointers on how things work so they stumble upon everyday science while out and about in the great outdoors?Įnter Tumble Leaf,a new kids’ original program series via Amazon backed by acclaimed programming experts like Tara Sorensen, Head of Kids Programming at Amazon Studios and the consulting chops of educational psychologist Dr. Today, in our increasingly mediated culture where digital devices proliferate, pediatricians are literally giving “Outdoors RX” prescriptions for active play, entire movements are being launched to swap kids screen time for wild time, and research shows the benefits of nature to lessen stress and hasten healing, it’s a slam dunk given that a media producer should find a way to embed positive cues to get outside and play. Not all kids are fortunate to have the kind of open-ended play where daily discoveries became informal learning and cause and effect shows up in the living lab of the natural world outside…But I’ve watched urban kids marvel at everything from cement pouring (watching liquids turn to solids) to grease spots dissolving on driveways using cans of Coke, to pigeons building nests under a stoop, and they’ve shared a similar sense of wonder…so applied science isn’t limited by degree of regional wilderness, but by outside opportunity for exploration. “If it’s growing, how can it breathe underwater?”įrom the barnacles on our dock to the slimy algae on our lagoon, my daughter grew up with a touch-n-poke curiosity about everything, as she toddled around trying to figure out how the world worked. “But if it’s alive, why does it look like a rock?”

(mostly ages 6-11, one PreK) Here’s hoping their original kids’ programming stays on a winning streak for quality, as they have some heavy hitters involved in the sphere of creative talent (from Muppets and Marvel ties to Gilmore Girls!) Update While Tumble Leaf continues to rake in multiple awards including five daytime Emmys, Amazon Studios Greenlights Six New Pilots for Kids.

Discovery for kids culter