Edutainment Centers as an Educational Phenomenon. The Case of KidZania

Abstract

Edutainment centers, i. e. centers that both educate and entertain, have sprung up across the globe since the 1970s. At the end of the 20th century, a new type of such centers emerged: theme parks for children, KidZania being the first of its kind and the most global one. Through the example of KidZania, this study examines the characteristics of theme parks that have made them popular among children and their parents as well as the role of such parks in today’s urban learning ecosystems. The paper also explores how the relationship between entertainment and education and the one between the commercial and educational components of edutainment centers affect the current state and development prospects of the sector.