PBS KIDS has a hit puppet series called “Donkey Hodie,” a joyful “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” spin-off from Fred Rogers Productions. Now, the show has introduced a unique interactive experience designed just for kids ages 3-5. This includes those on the autism spectrum and those who are neurodiverse: “Cousin Hodie’s Playdate.”
“Cousin Hodie’s Playdate” was created as a low-pressure, open-ended experience that helps young children explore and understand emotions. This is an area that can be particularly challenging for children on the spectrum. This digital playdate invites kids to join Cousin Hodie and Donkey Hodie for a game called Dinko Doodle Disc Drop. In DDDD they engage in activities focused on recognizing body language, facial expressions, and situations designed to communicate different feelings.
One of the game’s standout features is its inclusivity
It includes multiple settings to cater to different needs, such as high-contrast visuals, reduced visual effects, and customizable audio options. This flexibility allows caregivers to adjust the game to suit specific sensitivities or focus areas. They can even modify the frequency of certain emotions if one might be triggering for a child.
Recently, I had the opportunity to speak with Melanie Harke, one of the interactive producers behind Cousin Hodie’s Playdate. Melanie shared how the idea for this unique game took shape. She was inspired by a documentary about game designers who developed custom games for children with physical disabilities. She recalled the documentary’s moving impact on her: “The kids and families said things like, ‘No one had ever made a game for me.’ That stuck with me.”
With this inspiration, Melanie and her team collaborated with Carleá Jean Magee, a Games User Experience Researcher with a background in psychology and clinical counseling, who also identifies as neurodiverse. Carleá’s perspective shaped everything from the emotions included to the interactive format of the game. Melanie explained, “Carleá helped us understand the importance of making space for kids to choose their level of engagement.”
When asked about the emotions chosen for “Cousin Hodie’s Playdate,” Melanie shared that they started with a broad list but ultimately focused it down to six core emotions. “We wanted an even mix of positive and negative emotions,” she explained. During a playtest with neurodiverse children, they found that kids consistently identified a character as “silly”—an emotion not initially on their radar but one they ultimately added to the game.
The impact of Cousin Hodie’s Playdate goes beyond the kids who play it
It offers parents, caregivers, and teachers a new way to connect with and understand children. Melanie hopes the game will help kids feel more comfortable exploring emotions at their own pace and that caregivers can use these moments to understand their child’s emotional world better.
Games like “Cousin Hodie’s Playdate” offer children with and without disabilities a refreshing way to practice self-expression in a supportive and playful environment.
Featured image provided by author courtesy of PBS
