Not All Screen Time is Created Equal
We make those minutes matter so you can stop feeling guilty.
Fan Favorites
Screen Time Transition Song
End screen time meltdowns with a simple, connection-first routine and a playful cue. Learn the science behind dopamine crashes and try an easy routine to smooth transitions.
Weird Wheels on the Bus
What happens when the wheels on the bus go 'pop pop flat'? The adventure begins! A silly spin on the classic song that teaches problem-solving and why circles are special through trial-and-error fun.
Letters Build the World
Get ready to build, dig, and learn your ABCs with the hardest-working animals on the construction site! From A is for Asphalt to Z is for Zone, kids see furry construction workers guide them through the alphabet with big trucks and heavy machinery.
The Human Behind Hippo Polka
I'm Dr. Carla Engelbrecht, an education technology expert, mom, and lifelong believer in playful learning. Over the past 25 years, I've created award-winning educational products for kids at Sesame Street, Netflix, PBS Kids, and Highlights for Children. My work has always centered on a simple but powerful idea: when kids laugh, sing, and play, they learn more deeply.
Along the way, I've collaborated with world-class educators, storytellers, and technologists to design hundreds of games, shows, and interactive experiences that spark curiosity and build critical skills. I also teach improv and meditation—two practices that remind me daily to approach learning with creativity, presence, and joy. Those influences sneak into my work at Hippo Polka, shaping not just the content itself, but the spirit of experimentation and connection behind it.
If you'd like to know more about my background, you can connect with me on LinkedIn.
First Screen Time Matters
How your child learns to use screens now shapes their relationship with technology for a lifetime.
Early screen time sets the foundation for attention, self-regulation, and how they'll navigate media as they grow.
That's why every Hippo Polka video is designed with intention — teaching kids that screen time has a beginning, middle, and end, and that the joy doesn't stop when the video does.
