Edutainment for Children
The most extraordinary years of learning are between 2-7
years when children learn faster than at any other time of life, with a lasting
impact. Two-year-olds have twice as many synapses as adults. After the age of
eight, learning slows down.
Most parents assume learning begins when a child starts
school. They are less likely to spend time with preschool children stimulating
their learning and responding to their curiosity. Far too often parents are
happy to keep their children quiet with a game on a phone or sit them before a
cartoon channel, without filtering what they are watching.
Many assume watching television makes the brain “switch
off”. In fact MRI scans show it stimulates right brain activity related to our emotions,
while reading stimulates our left brain or verbal reasoning. Both are equally,
if differently, effective in the learning process, and require equal attention
to content by caregivers.
The educator, Edgar Dales suggests we remember 10% of what we
read, 20% of what is heard , 30% what is seen, 50% of what we both see and hear,
70% of what we say and write, and 90% of what we do. Children respond well to a wider variety
of activities, including music, reading, physical activities, languages, and
science , as well as emotional intelligence that develops interpersonal
skills such as kindness, empathy and
teamwork. Enjoying the process of learning in early childhood is more important
than performance .
Learning through play or entertainment is as old as human
society. Plato said “Do not keep children to their studies by compulsion but by
play.” Tribal elders teach children skills through games and storytelling.
Shakespeare’s plays taught Elizabethans history, human psychology, and social
realities. Bidpai’s and Aesop’s fables and children’s literature teach
important life lessons through enjoyable stories. Amir Khusrau’s riddles or
peheliyan, mahaviray or proverbs, nursery rhymes, board games and jigsaw
puzzles teach through entertainment.
The term ‘Edutainment’ was coined in the 1990s by American
illustrator, Peter Catalanotto as a tool to educate populations on social
issues. It is more focused on learning than ‘infotainment’ which is associated with
satirical comedy shows that help people process political news and events.
Edutainment can take
the form of interactive museum displays, national geographic , documentaries,
travel shows, educational web channels, animations, films, theatre, educational toys, poetry, books, music lyrics
– the range is extensive. Sesame Street develops cognitive skills, Mr Roger’s
Neighbourhood emphasized children's social and emotional needs. Da Vinci Kids
makes science and history fun.
The BBC's Children's Hour started on radio in 1922 and
television in 1946. Nickelodeon, the first children's television channel, was launched
in 1979. While the number of children’s cartoons and animations have grown they
are a mixed bag- some like Finding Nemo and Care Bears have humanistic themes,
others are criticized for generating aggressive behaviour in children.
Radio Pakistan had very popular children’s programming such
as Naunehaal and Tot Batot featuring
Munni Baji for over 30 years. PTV had children’s programming in its
early days. Kasauti was a much loved family quiz show. Salima and Shoaib Hashmi’s Akkar Bakkar, and
Farooq Qaiser’s Uncle Sargam, Maasi Mussebte and Haiga, were great favourites,
as was Sohail Rana’s children’s music show, Kaliyon ki Mala. Today there is a deafening silence from
Pakistan’s media channels, and hardly any children’s literature. In Karachi the
planetarium is the sole place for school educational outings, the aquarium
established in the 60s shut down 18 years ago, the zoo has miserable, depressed
animals pacing tiny cages. The few museums are not child friendly. Twenty years have passed since the last of
the hugely popular children’s play series was written by Imran Aslam and
performed by the Gripps Theatre. When did we stop listening to our children?
When one considers that 35% of Pakistan’s population are
children, most not even attending school, this neglect is the equivalent of
dousing 77 million flames.
Durriya Kazi
Karachi July 2, 2022
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