NBA researcher, Merridy Wilson-Strydom, contributed to this article focused on developing understanding of approaches to building children’s problem-solving skills through play-based media. This paper presents findings from an evaluation of a play-based child-directed mass media program produced and distributed across South Africa, Takalani Sesame. Using a single group pre-test–post-test design with 62 children 4–6 years old in Free State, the findings demonstrate that viewing Takalani Sesame was associated with domains of problem-solving, including children’s improved monitoring progress/strategy use, and positive affect towards a challenging task, but not problem-solving outcomes overall. These findings provide suggestive evidence that engaging educational media, leveraging the power of playful learning, may support improvements in components of children’s problem-solving skills.
