Children’s Media Consultation & Collaboration

As mentioned above, I am able to provide expertise-specific guidance and consultation in social and emotional learning, youth mental health and wellness, child psychology and development, and expanding on media/entertainment with additional companion materials/resources for youth, parents/caregivers, educators, and child-serving providers to help cultivate connection and children’s social-emotional development, my primary expertise being children’s media/entertainment for children in the middle childhood age period (i.e., ages 6-12/grades K-6). 

I am able to review and provide recommendations and guidance regarding the material you currently have (e.g., concept, format, characters, visuals, storylines, game ideas, etc.) from the child’s, caregiver’s, educator’s, and/or provider’s perspectives, including but not limited to learning and engagement potential, developmental alignment, comprehensibility, accessibility, relevance (e.g., to children’s lived experiences) and representation, and potential benefit/application. If upon review, I determine that it would be necessary or beneficial to bring in one or more additional consultants for culturally-specific consultation, I will recommend this as well. Beyond initial review, I am willing to re-review as many times as needed after changes are made, as well as the final draft/product.

In addition to reviewing material and providing my own insights and ideas, it’s critical to also hear what children themselves have to say! I am able to assist with conducting formative research with the youth themselves, as well as adults as needed (e.g., parents/caregivers, educators, child-serving providers). Information gathered may include observations engaging with the product, reported experiences, and any feedback/suggestions. Findings are then analyzed, summarized, and presented in presentation as well as written report format, along with actionable recommendations.

In addition to reviewing and conducting research on your product, I am also able to provide consultation in curriculum and content development specific to cultivating children’s social-emotional well-being and development. By identifying the primary learning goals you would like to be achieved, skills/concepts you would like to be introduced/practiced/reinforced, messages you would like to be conveyed, or connections you would like to be made with the story/characters/concepts, we can work together to make sure these are naturally and effectively integrated within your product in an engaging, relatable, developmentally appropriate way, and any companion materials/resources that may be helpful to develop as well. 

In addition to providing consultation on specific content/products, I am also able to provide consultation on ways to expand and connect further with the media/entertainment by developing additional companion materials/resources for youth, parents/caregivers, educators, and child-serving providers to help cultivate connection and children’s social-emotional well-being and development. Examples of companion materials/resources include viewing/discussion guides, accompanying lesson materials for educators, follow-up activities (e.g., descriptions, printables, interactive digital), digital or physical interactive games, and prompts for reflection or creative/written expression (e.g., journaling, art making, etc.).