How do Playhouse Disney shows encourage kids to be creative?
NK: We think that the characters and the stories stick with kids, so after the TV is off, they have a really creative moment where they can role play Manny or Mickey, and so on. With the Imagination Movers, we hear all the time about kids who are coming to their mom and saying “Let’s brainstorm about this.” And that’s a pretty big word for a 3-, 4- or even 5-year-old! If a child can say, “I’m going to think differently about this” or “I don’t know exactly how to solve this problem, but I can brainstorm about it,” that’s a great example of creativity. CSM: Speaking of when the TV is off, how do you use other media components to extend your shows’ entertainment and educational values? NK: We have a rich Web site that’s constantly being updated with new activities, and we did a really interesting, successful mobile application when we launched Special Agent Oso, where moms could sign up to have Oso call their child on their cell phone. It furthers the idea that after the show is over, the
