by Paul Scott | The New York Times Magazine | April 2, 2006

“Few [entertainment] offerings for very young children seem to place much stock in real people singing and dancing. Not only are the Wiggles real, but they also bring to their calling a naturalness that feels increasingly uncommon in children’s entertainment, and it has paid off handsomely.


Last year the former schoolteachers and professional musicians took in $45 million from their prolific output of CD’s, DVD’s, books, TV shows, toys, clothing,
furniture and a touring schedule that has the band playing an average of two shows a day, 200 days a year.”


With the Wiggles selling out shows worldwide, what is the evidence that their entertainment value is beneficial for children?


“With the right kind of shows, used the right way, with the right age group, there is some evidence that TV can help kids learn their words and letters
and phonics,” says Dr. Michael Rich
, Director of CMCH, “but this is the 3-, 4- and 5-year-old age group, and it is content-specific.”

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