Welcome to the wacky and wonderful world of Skillsville! Skillsville is PBS KIDS' latest series that "encourages kids ages 4-8 to “power up”. The show is centered around three kids, Cora, Dev, and Rae, who simultaneously explore the world of video games and career possibilities! Since premiering on Mar. 3, the series has aired episodes that showcase the range of careers that kids can be introduced to from Rae becoming an interior designer to Dev harvesting crops!
The voice cast includes Jessy Yates as Rae, Elishia Perosa as Dev, Nissae Isen as Cora, Cory Doran as Beeples, and Jamie Watson as VOG. In addition to the new episodes, Skillsville will launch four games on pbskids.org and the PBS Kids Games app with resources available on PBS Kids for Parents and PBS LearningMedia. The show is produced by Twin Cities PBS and is created by an Emmy award-winning team that includes executive producer, Carol-Lynn Parente, head writer Christine Ferraro, and creative director, Eric Peterson. The series is animated by Sphere Media Productions.
Looking to learn a few new skills with your little ones? Let's check in with the team first! Today, we're chatting with Parente and Adriano Schmid, the VP of PBS KIDS Content. Since they are both a part of the team but in different roles, we'll get to learn two perspectives on how Parente helms the show and how Schmid supports bringing this super cool new world to life—where every corner is filled with awesome adventures and new skills waiting to be discovered! So, without further ado, get ready for a behind-the-scenes look at how the magic of Skillsville came to life! Read on!
The Parent Watch: What inspired the creation of Skillsville and how do you feel it aims to engage children in learning essential life skills?
Carol-Lynn Parente: Skillsville was created to help kids develop critical executive function skills—like focus, organization, and flexible thinking—through a medium they already love: video games. The inspiration came from recognizing that kids naturally build these skills while gaming, whether they’re strategizing their next move, adjusting to unexpected challenges, or learning from mistakes. The show takes this organic learning process and makes it intentional, helping kids understand that the same strategies they use in a game can help them in school, life, and eventually their careers.
Can you tell me more about the personalities of Cora, Dev, and Rae?
CP: Cora, Dev, and Rae were designed with distinct personalities that create a fun dynamic —especially when they’re playing together! Cora is the planner of the group. She loves logic, strategy, and making detailed plans before taking action. But sometimes, she struggles with thinking on her feet when things don’t go as planned.
Dev is loud, imaginative, and full of energy. He’s a big fan of dinosaurs and loves hands-on problem-solving. He has a tendency to get distracted, but playing Skillsville helps him focus and work as part of a team. Rae is fearless and fast-paced, always ready for action. She’s a natural leader and motivator, but her impulsiveness can sometimes get in the way. Through Skillsville, she learns to slow down and think things through.
You can imagine how their dynamic might play out in a game challenge scenario. In a mail carrier game where they have to deliver all the packages before the clock runs out, Rae dashes off before Cora has time to suggest organizing the deliveries first, while Dev is distracted by the cool dino tail moves he can use to create literal air-mail delivery with the packages. Every kid watching will see a bit of themselves in these characters, making their struggles (and victories!) feel relatable and real.
With such a rich background in children’s television, why do you think the unique elements of Skillsville differentiate it from other kids’ programs out there?
CP: Skillsville is doing something new by combining career exploration, executive function skill-building, and the immersive world of gaming. Unlike other career-focused kids' shows, it doesn’t just introduce different jobs—it actively teaches the skills needed to succeed in any career. The game-like environment makes learning feel like play, keeping kids engaged while giving them practical strategies they can apply in real life.
Given your experience on Sesame Street and Hero Elementary, how do you think Skillsville will help foster both creativity and practical problem-solving in its young audience?
CP: Skillsville encourages kids to think creatively by allowing them to explore careers in a way that feels exciting and personal. They know right away, just by looking at Skillsville, that it’s a world built for them. The game world offers whimsical twists—like a real estate agent selling treehouses—that make even complex jobs feel fun and approachable. At the same time, the show models practical problem-solving strategies, helping kids develop resilience and adaptability..
Could you share some behind-the-scenes insights or fun challenges that you and your team faced while bringing Skillsville to life?
CP: One of the most fun parts of creating Skillsville was coming up with whimsical twists on real jobs to make them fit into our playful game world. We wanted kids to explore different careers, but some jobs happen in situations that are for an older audience. How do you show what a firefighter does without a fire?
Well, in Skillsville, firefighters aren’t battling flames—they’re battling giant, sticky cotton candy tumbleweeds that roll through town causing chaos until the kids save the day, dissolving the danger with their fire hoses. A volcanologist isn’t studying lava flows—they’re predicting when Mt. Froyo will erupt, sending delicious frozen yogurt sky-high and restocking the local froyo stand. And train engineers? In Skillsville, they operate roller coaster trains, making sure passengers get the ride of their lives! We had a blast dreaming up these fun, game-inspired takes on real careers. It kept the learning grounded in reality while making Skillsville a place where anything can happen—and where every job, no matter how big or small, plays a part in the city thriving.
As part of PBS KIDS’ expanding digital offerings, how do you see games like Lyla & Stu’s Hairdos enhancing the overall educational experience for young users? How does this game support the development of fine motor skills, and what other learning outcomes do you hope kids will gain from this interactive experience?
Adriano Schmid: Lyla and Stu’s Hairdos is such an exciting new game. It’s a digital version of a hairstyling toy where kids can help style Lyla’s hairdos as Lyla guides them step-by-step to get her look just right. Since the main curriculum for the series is computational thinking, the game combines that irresistible play pattern with the concept of an algorithm (by definition, a sequence of steps designed to solve a problem or accomplish a specific task). Here are the steps in the game: wash, brush, and style Lyla’s hair with step-by-step instructions. For example, if the user chooses to braid Lyla’s hair, they then have to repeat a sequence of steps until done. The response has been amazing on social media. Plus, kids can style Stu, too!
As Work It Out Wombats! gets ready to premiere five new episodes, we're reintroduced to Malik, Zadie, and Zeke who continue to emphasize teamwork and logical thinking. Why are these skills so important for young kids to develop?
AD: There are many series on PBS KIDS that reinforce the importance of teamwork, but what is unique about Work It Out Wombats! is how the three main characters connect with their community, the Treeborhood. The main curriculum for the series continues to be computational thinking, which is the same as Lyla in the Loop, just for a younger audience. How do we break down complex concepts into digestible and engaging stories for our viewers? By making the characters and their adventures relatable to the target age range.
In one episode, their grandma Super loses her glasses just before it’s time to watch her favorite show. Zeke, Zadie, and Malik form the Lost & Found Patrol to help her get them back. Through episodes like these, we introduce the design process and other critical thinking concepts in a fun and familiar way that seamlessly integrates into the story. Plus, families will get to listen to the new season of the podcast next month to go on even more adventures with the trio!
The new episodes of Pinkalicious & Peterrific are meant to bring more fun and creativity to the screen. What can fans expect from these new stories, and how do they continue to inspire kids' imaginations and self-expression?
AD: I’m sure fans will love the new episodes, including the vacation special where the family sets out on a road trip to see all of the Pink Wonders of the World. But when they make a wrong turn into Beigeville, everything is beige instead of pink! We’re really excited about this batch of new content from Pinkalicious & Peterrific, which also includes a new season of the podcast and a gameplay video on YouTube, following a growing trend where kids enjoy watching a game being played. There will be lots of humor, relatable shenanigans, and wonderful lessons about how art and self-expression are an integral part of our lives.
Each episode of Mystery League includes an animated musical interstitial. The decision to integrate this element into shows is fascinating to me so is this program unique to other music-integrated shows either on PBS or elsewhere?
AD: We were also tickled by the idea. Traditionally, our animated series includes a short live-action segment, highlighting real kids as they explore topics connected to the series. In the case of Mystery League, this concept was flipped - which is a first for us. The goal for The Dancing Detective musical shorts is to emphasize the learning goals that are part of the series curriculum, making them stickier without having to weigh down the narrative in the main series.
Across these shows, PBS KIDS continues to offer diverse programming that appeals to a wide range of interests. How do you decide which types of content to prioritize for young audiences, and how do you ensure that these programs stay both educational and entertaining?
AD: Prioritization is key because we know kids’ lives are surrounded by media. They live in a digital world where everything is just one click away. We pay attention to what and where kids are consuming content and make every effort to be everywhere kids are. This affects the types and formats kids are open to or are seeking in all these channels of distribution. The content needs to be flexible, it needs to represent kids, and it does its job best when it fosters kids' curiosity about themselves and the world around them. So much of what is available nowadays consists of empty calories, without a thought to positive impact other than to keep their attention glued to the screen.
We prepare kids for success in school and in life by focusing on a wide range of curriculums, like STEM, arts, and life skills (like collaboration and communication) to name a few. And we pay attention to research and reports on what kids may be missing or need. By offering a mirror and a window through our content, all children in the US can see themselves represented and see others. And it’s fun!
Why is all this important? In the US, more than half of all children don’t have access to high-quality pre-kindergarten programs. That’s where PBS KIDS can make a difference, by working with advisors to make sure that the learnings are age-appropriate and substantive. We work with new or established creators and partners to look for that unique universe that will engage with our audience for years to come.
It’s definitely a “it takes a village” approach to creating content, and it pays off - our two most recent launches, Lyla in the Loop and Carl the Collector, brought unique perspectives, humor, and stories that came from the writers’ own lives. Kids notice that and feel seen and heard. Ultimately our goal is to entice children’s curiosity about the real world, to show it’s full of possibilities and so are they.
You can watch a full episode of the series right now on PBS KIDS' official YouTube channel:
Skillsville is currently airing new episodes now on PBS KIDS!