Dora the Explorer. Jake and the Neverland Pirates. Blues Clues. Handy Manny. Bubble Guppies. Signing Time. The list of children’s preschool cartoons goes on and on. Cartoons are not simply entertainment now. A few days ago my four-year old daughter told me the sun was really a big star. I asked her who taught her that, fully expecting her to pipe up with her favorite preschool teacher’s name. Nope. Bubble Guppies.

Health care and related themes are sprinkled throughout cartoons. Disney Junior does a great job discussing topics like handwashing, covering your mouth when you cough, and eating more fruits and vegetables, but if my daughter can learn Spanish by helping Dora cross the Big River (via Nick Jr.), then couldn’t she also learn anatomy, overcoming fear of immunizations, medication safety, preventing or managing diabetes, basics of the healthcare team, various healthcare roles, diversity within professions, etc., etc., via a healthcare-specific cartoon? My daughter is usually enthralled with my “magicscope” (e.g. my stethoscope) and other healthcare tools. One of her favorite games to play on my iPhone is fighting bacteria blobs. I have a feeling she would enjoy a cartoon about health and the healthcare team, as well. Not only does something like that have potential educational and workforce enhancement value, but it also has entertainment and marketing potential, as well.

Simply thinking out loud. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation + Disney Junior or Nick Jr…Hmmmm. I think it would work!