Ep 64: Screentime is not just a passive activity with Cheryl Gotthelf

Host: Dr. Cindy Hovington, Ph.D.

Guest: Cheryl Gotthelf

Well-known and respected throughout the education, research, and entertainment communities, Cheryl Gotthelf is an accomplished curriculum and content developer, brand builder, qualitative researcher, and marketer of children’s media products that are entertaining, educational, and relevant to children’s lives. Her practice sits squarely in the space where entertainment, education, and play intersect and she is devoted to the creation of the highest quality media experiences for children and families across all platforms and for global audiences. A trusted leader, educator, and qualitative researcher, Cheryl’s work has placed her at the helm of launching all aspects of brands like Nickelodeon’s Noggin, Clifford the Big Red Dog, The Magic School Bus, Maya & Miguel, I Spy, Dear America, The Octonauts, and The Mr. Men Show. She is well-versed in re-imagining heritage brands and in all phases of developing and launching new content. Her consulting practice includes work on global IP like: American Girl’s Wellie Wishers (Amazon Prime), Barbie’s Dreamtopia (Amazon Prime), Highlights for Children, Jelly Ben and Pogo (PBS Kids), Lego Life, Luna Chip and Inkie, Pokoyo (Cartoonito), Team Mekbots (NBC/Universal) The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That! (PBS Kids), Talking Tom Suddenly Super and Thomas the Tank Engine (PBS Kids). She also works closely with clients on developing entirely original content, like Discovery Kids’ Big Top Academy, Knowledge Network’s Luna Chip and Inkie, and content for platforms like Cartoonito, PBS Kids, HBO Max, and NBC Universal. She has served as Mattel Creations’ key child development and educational consultant for new series and their development slate and has consulted for Common Sense Media on brand development and strategy as well as educational content. Whether it is television, digital, books, toys or consumer products, Cheryl helps clients figure out a property’s emotional and functional meaning in the lives of children and families. She is known for building brands recognized not only for their educational quality, but also for their entertainment and business success. Cheryl has held senior level executive positions at ABC Television, Sesame Workshop, Scholastic Media, Nickelodeon’s Noggin, and Chorion (now Silvergate owned by Sony). In addition to her commercial work, she has served as Principal Investigator on several informal math, science, literacy and multi-cultural initiatives funded by the National Science Foundation, The Carnegie Corporation, The Department of Education/Ready to Learn, The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and PBS. With a Master’s Degree in Developmental Psychology and Education from Columbia University, Teachers College, she has studied with some of the world’s most prominent scholars including Dr. Herbert Ginsberg and Dr. Dorothy Strickland.

Summary

In today’s episode, we chat with Cheryl Gotthelf, educator by trade and TV child development consultant. Cheryl shares her years of experience in terms of deciding whether a show is developmentally appropriate for a child. We discuss the criteria television channels evaluate to decide what age category to place a show. Take out your Curious Neuron notebooks because Cheryl gives us a list of questions to ask before deciding on a show to present to the children.

We take some time to chat about screen time and positive/negative effects of spending time in front of a screen. We touch on the importance of balancing a busy schedule and trusting yourself as a parent. Most importantly, we speak about the amazing new Knowledge Kids television show “Luna, Chip & Inkie: Adventure Rangers Go”.

Lastly, we discuss commercials and the appearance of fearful stimuli – are they bad for our kids?

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