What is edutainment? A parent-friendly guide to smart screen time
Hey, smart parents 👋
Teach money lessons at home with Greenlight’s Smart Parent newsletter. Money tips, insights, and fun family trivia — delivered every month.
If you’ve ever watched your kids light up during an episode of Ms. Rachel or quote life advice from Bluey, you’ve seen edutainment at work. It’s that rare kind of content that manages to teach something meaningful and keep kids glued to the screen, for the right reasons.
But not all “educational” content is actually educational. And, not everything that looks fun is necessarily helping your child grow. Here, we break down what edutainment really is, why it matters, and how to pick content that makes screen time smarter (and yes, a little quieter too).
What is edutainment?
“Edutainment is the sweet spot where education and entertainment actually work together, not compete,” says Paul Zalewski, father of two and co-founder of Fathercraft. “It’s more than slapping a science lesson onto a cartoon and showing it to children. True edutainment programs are designed to keep kids fully engaged because they are fun, despite the learning that takes place.”
The difference is that real edutainment doesn’t feel like school. It feels like play. It's like a story unfolding, or a game that pulls your kids in. And along the way, they’re learning something meaningful without even realizing it.
Be a financially smart family!
“It’s more than just ‘fun learning,’” says Dr. Savana Howe, child psychologist and founder of Dr. Howe Psychology. “When done right, edutainment can spark curiosity, build real-world skills, and support emotional and cognitive growth in a way that sticks with kids long after the screen is off.”
The bottom line? Edutainment isn’t a reward for learning. It’s a way into learning, especially for kids who need a little extra motivation or who really dig in when the content connects with their interests (like dinosaurs, outer space, or talking animals).
Why edutainment matters (especially now)
Kids today are surrounded by everything digital. From preschool to preteen, they’re soaking up content faster than we can say “screen time limit.”
“In today’s digital world, kids are surrounded by content. Edutainment helps us be intentional about what we put in front of them,” says Kelsey Cook, a mom of four, former teacher, and founder of Learning with Kelsey. “It turns screen time or play time into something meaningful. Great edutainment sparks imagination, builds confidence, and teaches critical thinking — all while keeping their attention.”
The key word there? Intentional. Because not all screen time is equal. Some shows or games leave your child bouncing off the walls (or zoning out completely). Others keep them engaged and support the exact kind of skills they’re building in the real world, like focus, empathy, math, or emotional regulation.
As Dr. Howe says, “Screens aren’t going away — so instead of fighting them, we can use them wisely.”
How to spot good edutainment
You don’t need to be a teacher or tech reviewer to tell the good stuff from the noise. According to Cook, here’s what to look for when choosing high-quality edutainment:
Encourages creativity and problem-solving (not just passive watching or repetitive tapping)
Uses clear educational goals (like early literacy, STEM concepts, or social-emotional learning)
Reflects real-life experiences or diversity in a meaningful way
Keeps your child engaged without over-stimulating them
Bonus points if the educational show aligns with what your child’s already obsessed with, like animals, music, or building stuff with magnetic tiles. Cook also tells us what we should try to avoid when finding appropriate edutainment for our kids:
Fast-paced, flashy content that overwhelms rather than teaches
Apps or shows with too much reward-based behavior (like constant “prizes” or pop-ups)
Anything that does the thinking for your child rather than alongside them
“Avoid anything that feels like a reward system or a glorified ad,” Zalewski says. He recommends Numberblocks for kids because it “introduces math concepts with fantastic visual storytelling that helps build real understanding.”
Dr. Howe shared a few edutainment recommendations, too:
Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood. Great for social-emotional learning, especially for toddlers and younger kids navigating big feelings.
Khan Academy Kids. A free app that focuses on literacy, problem-solving, and creativity without overstimulation.
Toca Life World. Encourages open-ended exploration and storytelling, with no strict rules or goals.
There’s no perfect formula for parenting in a screen-heavy world. But knowing how to spot (and choose) smart, engaging edutainment content gives you more confidence in what your child is watching. And it frees you from guilt when you do need to queue up an episode of something educational while making dinner.
So the next time your child’s screen time leaves you wondering, “Is this actually teaching anything?” remember that real edutainment doesn’t always look like school. It looks like fun. And, that’s kind of the point.
Help kids explore safely. Keep kids safe on the road to independence. Get crash detection, location sharing, and driving reports with Greenlight. Try Greenlight, one month, risk-free.†
†Valid for new customers only. Subject to identity verification and minimum load requirements. Your first monthly fee will be billed to your parent wallet seven days after successful registration. To receive a refund of your first monthly fee, you must request to close your account on or before the day immediately preceding your first Monthly Billing Date. See the ‘Account’ tab of Settings by tapping the gear icon on the Greenlight app home page to confirm when your risk-free trial ends. See Terms for details.
Share via
