46-year-old Pikku Kakkonen still reaches his audience – Strict rule on content: “Never”

New series appear on Netflix every week and there is as much content for children on YouTube as you can watch. Despite that, and perhaps precisely because of that, who turns 47 next month Little Kakkosen still has a solid audience.

– One of the secrets of Pikku Kakkonen’s popularity is that it is a long-term program. Parents at the moment have positive images of it, says Pikku Kakkonen, the responsible producer Teija Ryösa.

Of course, nostalgia value alone does not make a children’s program popular. According to Ryösä, the popularity is explained by the wide and comprehensive offer, where there is plenty of choice from very young children to school-aged children.

– Pikku Kakkonen is versatile and it is on many platforms. For some, its applications are important, others watch broadcasts, and some have found audio as their new favorite, he reasons.

Ryösä also emphasizes the meaningful role of familiar characters and presenters. This can be seen concretely, for example, in Pikku Kakkonen’s tours.

– The faces that appear on the screen every day are important. We want to come and tell them our own things (live), Ryösä describes.

“Never”

Even though Pikku Kakko is currently watched more on Yle Areena, according to Ryösä, the TV broadcast has retained its importance in rythming the everyday life of families. At 5 p.m. the parents often cook – the children calm down for a while by the screens.

Little Kakkonen’s program offerings go through a precise sieve. From the purchase programs, those that fit Pikku Kakkonen’s values ​​are selected.

– The first value is that violence is never used as a solution. It’s a given. Of course there can be quirks, says Ryösä.

He delights in the abundant supply of well-scripted content.

– Everything is supported by the rule that the child is the most important, Ryösä summarizes and continues that the programs must always respect the child.

The authors have noticed that the market has changed at the same pace as general thinking. It means a wider area of ​​identification for children. For example, more girl heroes have been seen in recent years.

Pikku Kakkones also makes content supporting early childhood education together with Finnish experts. Certain topics require more material in early childhood education than others. Such topics are your child’s resilience and emotional regulation.

Someone roti with the rhythm

What about the streaming giants – do they worry about the producer in charge of Pikku Kakkonen?

– In general, how media use has changed. We try to do our best so that children start their media use with safe programs, says Ryösä.

He emphasizes that the parent should look at all the media use of the child.

There have often been public discussions about how the children’s programs of yesteryear are far too slow-paced for today’s children. For example, it has been raised, among other things Hermanni the circus spelle.

– The duration of the programs has shortened and the rhythm has tightened. However, we have tried to keep a certain rhythm so that the rhythm does not become too tight, says Ryösä.

Familiar elements

Although the traditional children’s program has experienced changes over the decades and expanded to different platforms and viewing times, many things have remained the same. One of the most iconic elements is the initial logo, which has been seen pretty much the same since 1983.

The opening animation, in which familiar characters and elements are arranged in the rhythm of the music in the form of the number two, is by Camilla Mickwitz handprint.

– Nowadays we see a digitalized version of it. A white-based logo has been made for the morning program. Subtle changes have been made in stages, says Ryösä.

Timo Ruottinen and Risto Hiltunen created by the theme song plays on weekdays at 5 p.m., you can still send drawings to Pikku Kakkonen’s mail – and the name day greeting will come tomorrow as well.