This article looks at Centennial College's Children's Entertainment: Writing, Production and Management program. It not only explains why the program is beneficial to students but also looks at its history and how it continues to evolve and remain relevant.

1. Children’s Entertainment Program Offers Career-
Ready Skills
Writing for children’s media, marketing children’s entertainment products,
project management, pitching, TV and multi-platform production, team
building for creative production, child development, licensing and
merchandising, the legal and regulatory aspects of children’s media,
personal branding and career planning and navigating the domestic and
international marketplace are all part of the children’s entrainment
professional’s job.
Whether you want to launch as career as a children’s writer, marketing
specialist, project manager, content manager, children’s TV producer,
children’s multi-platform producer, you must first attend a Children’s
Entertainment program such as the one offered at Centennial College.
This child entertainment Toronto-based offering is actually the first of its
kind in Canada and covers topics in a hands-on way with high-level industry
professionals teaching career-ready skills and helping students to connect
with the industry. Students gain a solid developmental understanding of
their audience, a strategic and entrepreneurial approach to their careers, a
global perspective and the passion and commitment to become tomorrow’s
industry leaders. Specific courses in this offering include: Survey of
Children’s Entertainment, Licensing and Merchandising, Producing the
Project, The Business of Children’s Entertainment, Children’s Books and
more.
This learning occurs in the Story Arts Centre, which houses tools of the
trade (such as professional software) to enhance the knowledge and skills
that it takes to create a wide range of entertainment products (i.e. film, TV,
books, education products, games, mobile and interactive media) for the
rapidly growing children’s market. Additionally, students attend an industry
field placement that allows them to apply what they have learned to the real
world, network with professionals and enhance their resumes by working in
the field prior to graduation.
This only children’s entertainment production, management and writing
program Toronto has to offer was launched in September 2009. It was
designed for those with college diploma or university degree program in any
discipline; or those with partial post-secondary education (minimum two
years) and relevant work experience. It is worth noting that in addition to
these admission requirements, students must also attend a mandatory
program admission session where they will submit an up-to-date resume

2. and complete a writing assessment.
The offering came into existence with the help of the most respected
contemporary producers, writers and industry leaders in Canada. It is
continuously guided by an active program advisory committee with
members from across the spectrum of areas that involve and affect
children’s entertainment — from education and early childhood specialists to
toy manufacturers to interactive digital media producers.
During the short span of time the program has existed, graduates have
already found employment opportunities in diverse areas, including the
independent television production sector, industry funding bodies, freelance
writing for television and cross-platform production.