Nickelodeon completes early childhood ed-tech push

US based children’s entertainment company Nickelodeon has announced that it has acquired Sparkler, the early childhood learning technology platform, through its ad-free children focused Noggin network.

Sparkler is a digital early learning platform that measures child development from birth to five years old and delivers personalised content and coaching to parents, grandparents and caregivers designed to improve children’s developmental and educational outcomes.

The company’s service is offered to organisations working with young children such as schools, healthcare providers and social services and delivered through an app via various modules such as a measure of child development, play based learning ideas database, developmental scrap book and networking function linking families to experts.  

As part of Sparkler’s integration into the Noggin network, Sparkler’s technology will be made available to parents and ultimately become a key educational platform for the group.

Kristen Kane, c-founder of Sparkler, will join Noggin and overseeing the integration of Sparkler and be responsible for driving Noggin’s next phase of development as an educational digital platform.

Commenting on the transaction Nickelodeon President Brian Robbins said “Pairing Sparkler’s capabilities with our curriculum-driven content will fully transform Noggin into a premier interactive learning destination for preschoolers and their families.”

Launched in 2015, Noggin is Nickelodeon’s ad-free, video subscription service with educational content currently featuring over 1,500 iconic, full-length library episodes, short-form videos, Spanish-language videos, and music videos featuring preschoolers’ favourite characters and more including Sesame Street.

For more information on Sparkler please click here and more information on Noggin here.