Parenting in the First 3 Years Podcast
#65: Learning with Fred Rogers Productions
with Mallory Mbalia
As a parent, you play an important role in helping your child learn and grow. You get to choose what shows they watch, and it’s a great chance to pick ones that are not only fun, but also help them learn new things. That’s where Fred Rogers Productions comes in!
In this episode, we meet Mallory Mbalia, who is in charge of making sure the shows produced by Fred Rogers Productions are educational and helpful for children. She works closely with the people who create the shows, like the writers and producers, to make sure the content is based on what we know about how children learn and grow. Her main goals are to make shows that are engaging, teach children important skills like understanding feelings, reading, counting, and learning about different cultures. By doing all of this, she makes sure that the shows are not just entertaining, but also help children to learn life lessons in an age appropriate way.
If you’re looking for educational and entertaining programming for your child, consider checking out Fred Rogers Productions’ shows!
Topics discussed:
- Mallory Mbalia’s job at Fred Rogers Productions
- The Fred Rogers programming available and the intended age group for each show
- Mallory’s goals behind every show
- Ways parents can facilitate connection between what their child is watching and everyday experiences
About the Guest:
As Director of Learning and Education at Fred Rogers Productions, Mallory Mbalia advises and collaborates with colleagues to further realize the organization’s educational mission for children and families. She previously served as Director of Education at PBS North Carolina in Education and Innovation where she created and delivered educational initiatives statewide for infants to 12th grade and beyond. Mallory has also worked as an education outreach trainer for PBS North Carolina and was named a PBS Digital Innovator All Star in 2018. She has served as a kindergarten teacher as well as an elementary assistant principal.
Mallory has a passion for equity work, media integration, joy integration, social-emotional learning, and early childhood education. Equitable access and awareness are her driving forces for educator, parent/caregiver, family, and community outreach with joy and inclusivity as essential elements. She holds a Master’s of School Administration from North Carolina State University and a B.S. in Human Development with a concentration in Child and Adolescent Development from Howard University. Mallory is a proud wife and mother and resides in North Carolina with her family.
Website
In the 2023 season of Parenting in the First 3 Years, we’ll be bringing on parents just like you to share the story of their personal journey. Would you like to apply to be considered as a guest? Let’s talk about it! Simply email Ann McKitrick at ask@nurturednoggins.com.
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