Providing teens with a richer, more relatable alternative to mainstream content platforms, children’s media provider A Kids Company About has created a streaming platform designed to engage and educate young listeners on a variety of age-appropriate topics. Known as A Kids Class About, this medium seeks to fill a void in the children’s media marketplace with content that aims to coach teens through challenging situations and bolster their problem-solving skills.

Purpose-Driven Content

The idea for this platform developed in response to the huge numbers of teens relying on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube for content. “While entertaining, ultimately those platforms aren’t built with kids in mind and have been correlated with depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem,” said Jelani Memory, CEO and founder of A Kids Company About. “We wanted to make content purpose-built for teens and kids in early adolescence, but not content that talked down to them.”

Creating a comprehensive suite of materials, the team divided the content into three main categories—Careers, Life Skills, and Big Ideas—and focused on bringing in hosts with diverse backgrounds to serve as online instructors. “We want to ensure that each and every one of our teachers authentically lives out what they’re talking about,” Memory said. Each 45-minute class is comprised of three- to five-minute chapters, offering kids an opportunity to sample these offerings before diving in further.

Recent featured topics include Being a Musician, taught by soul and gospel singer Liz Vice; Being an Architect, taught by artist and architect Piero Demichelis; and Living Authentically, by stand-up comedian and YouTuber JJ Barrows, among other selected subjects. New content is updated monthly, with a shift to weekly beginning in November. (Registered participants receive email and mobile notifications when new classes or content is added.)

Full Speed Ahead

On the next slate of offerings are classes on optimism, social justice, and courage, with new ideas being considered on a regular basis. “We really want to grow out the suite of content aggressively,” Memory said. “We believe these stories need to be told and we don’t see a lot of other companies making empowering content for teenagers.”

To help spread the word, A Kids Company About is relying on its network of educators and librarians and believes that their real-world usage of the streaming platform will help to boost participation at a greater level. “Ultimately, if teachers fall in love with the platform first, then getting it adopted at a school-wide level is fairly simple.”

A Kids Class About can be accessed via iOS, Android, tvOS, and Roku. Monthly subscriptions begin at $19.99, and free 14-day trials are available.