Skillsville is an animated series created by Twin Cities PBS that encourages kids ages 4 to 8 to learn the skills they need for future success—both in their careers and everyday lives. Cora, Dev, and Rae, the program’s main characters, tackle real-life challenges using strategies they’ve learned playing a video game called Skillsville. With the program’s focus on executive function, skill building, and the World of Work, the game tasks players with managing their own virtual city by exploring different jobs. Together, the show’s characters discover that problem-solving, creativity, and teamwork are the keys to success.
PBS Kids Series Encourages Skill Building
About This Project
PBS KIDS commissioned Fluent Research to explore children’s and parents’ reactions to Skillsville using two early animatics. The research study was designed to provide insights into the appeal and resonance of the series and the comprehensibility of key learning concepts among a sample of the target audience of children ages 5 to 8 and their caregivers.
Twenty parent-child dyads with children ages 5 to 8 participated in the study. Our staff conducted research in homes and online to ensure geographic and economic representation. Each dyad viewed one episode of Skillsville at home prior to their interview and answered a few questions regarding their first impressions of the show. During the online or in-person interviews they watched a second episode and answered more in-depth questions about both episodes.
According to the data, parents found Skillsville unique, creative, imaginative, and enjoyable, and children were also engaged by the program. Parents most appreciated the program’s messages about problem solving, focus, and thinking outside of the box.