Priscilla Oliveira Silva Bomfim
Coordinator of the Center for Research, Teaching, Dissemination, and Extension in Neuroscience (NuPEDEN)
Fluminense Federal University
Priscilla Oliveira Silva Bomfim
Coordinator of the Center for Research, Teaching, Dissemination, and Extension in Neuroscience (NuPEDEN)
Fluminense Federal University
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2025 | n°.4 | Yvirá highlights suggestions that can entertain, educate, and spark critical thinking and interest in Science
IMAGE: MONTAGE FROM ADOBESTOCK PHOTO AND PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL/ADA BATISTA-NETFLIX
In a world where everything happens so fast, it’s often difficult to find time to calmly think about what our children consume as entertainment when they’re in front of screens—including their old, albeit modernized, companion, the TV. In the last century, this concern was practically non-existent, although famous characters of the time like Woody Woodpecker or Sylvester appear swinging a hammer at someone, provoking laughter and pity from the viewer.
With technological advancement, children’s entertainment has evolved to the point of offering a range of possibilities very different from the reality experienced by today’s parents. It’s natural for attentive and responsible adults to worry about the impact of the content their children are exposed to. After all, the “Woody Woodpecker” of modern times can come disguised as a sheep, negatively influencing the behavior of children, who are not yet mature enough to distinguish right from wrong or to understand how far one can go without hurting someone, physically or emotionally.
Today, more than in any previous generation, there’s a legitimate concern with fostering empathy, inclusion, creativity, and curiosity. Therefore, what our children watch matters—a lot! — to develop critical thinking in a world that seems to run faster than the clock.
Learning and Empathy
Streaming platforms can be great allies, especially for families who can’t always enjoy parks or squares every day. These options, besides entertaining, can educate and spark critical reflection, including scientific reflection! Of course, it takes time to evaluate what’s worth watching.
A good option is “Ask the StoryBots,” a series available on Netflix for children aged 3 to 8. In it, robots answer questions like “Where does rain come from?”, “How do ears hear?”, and “Why are people different?”, always in a lighthearted and funny way. It was so successful that, in 2023, the spin-off “StoryBots – Answer Time” was released, for children aged 4 to 9, with shorter, more dynamic episodes.
In a similar vein, “Ada Twist, Scientist” (in honor of the British programming pioneer Ada Lovelace), for ages 4-8, features Ada and her friends Rosie and Iggy, who combine their talents to solve problems in the STEAM universe (acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics).
We also have “Earth to Luna”, for children ages 2-6, available both on the official YouTube channel and on TV Cultura, in Brazil. The series follows Luna, a super curious six-year-old girl, accompanied by her brother Jupiter and pet ferret Cláudio, on adventures to uncover intriguing mysteries, from how ants manage to carry such heavy food to how echoes occur—and why they only do so in certain places.
In “Hello Ninja,” imaginations run wild. The characters Wesley, Georgie, and Pretzel the cat transform into ninjas to solve all kinds of challenges. The series available in Netflix addresses friendship, companionship, and caring for others in creative ways, such as when the friends have to prove that Pretzel wasn’t responsible for a mess, or when they have to rescue him from a tree.
And for kids from the end of elementary school onward (even teenagers!), an excellent option is the “Manual do Mundo” ( “World Handbook”) Brazilian channel on YouTube. The content also explores the STEAM universe, with a curious and engaging yet far from childish feel. It captivates attention by transforming science into discovery, experimentation, and fun through observation of phenomena and reflection on how they occur, fostering an understanding of cause and effect.
Creativity, Imagination, and Social Skills
On YouTube and broadcast television, especially Brazilian TV Cultura, there’s a rich weekly lineup of cartoons like “Bluey,” “Simon,” “Milo,” and others. In “Bluey,” for children aged 2-7, a family of dogs experiences everyday situations that encourage empathy, healthy relationships, and family learning. In “Simon,” a curious bunny helps children ages 3-6 deal with feelings, frustrations, and discoveries typical of childhood, with simple, heartfelt messages.
And in “Milo,” a kitten who lives with his parents in a laundromat uses his imagination, along with his friends Lofty, Lark, and the robot Suds, to explore different professions. He discovers what a firefighter, a doctor, or a dancer does, and what it takes to pursue each vocation, stimulating the perception of children ages 4-8.
In general, good programs, whether streaming or on TV, are powerful tools for stimulating the development of creativity, imagination, and social skills. They help children build cultural repertoires, develop values, and perhaps discover their calling. And nothing prevents all this from happening as a family, with a bucket of popcorn and a good laugh.
Technology is not the enemy of education—quite the opposite. The key is balance: learning can (and should!) be a pleasurable adventure.
