would probably admit that the past year has redefined what screen time means to them; at best, a guilt-free educational substitute for face-to-face learning and at worst, a free quarantine babysitter. To offset the isolation and lack of social interaction, new children’s shows strive to help young minds cope with stress and stay connected, from a safe distance.
What the pandemic has also done, according to
Henrietta Hurford-Jones, global director of children’s content at BBC Studios, is drive a record number of children and adults to turn back to public service broadcasting for education and entertainment while reversing a trend towards “fragmented” streaming options, where parents had little control. “Parents trust channels such as CBeebies as they know that nothing weird will pop up on screen as children are watching.”