The Top 5 Myths About Learning and Fun

AB Studios understands playful learning boosts student engagement and improves problem-solving, communication and motivation. In fact, we’ve seen it firsthand. And when students have fun, they stay engaged, and that drives lasting creativity, confidence, and curiosity.

That’s why every AB Studios experience is designed to spark wonder, encourage movement, and connect students to big ideas through joyful storytelling and hands-on exploration.We partner with before and afterschool leaders to deliver enrichment that students love and staff can implement with ease. 

Unfortunately, a large number of enrichment programs are holding themselves back by adhering to outdated, scientifically dismissed myths. like the idea that structure and fun can’t coexist, or that online tools don’t deliver real learning. 

AB Studios exists to dispel those old myths and demonstrate just what’s possible when fun and learning are allowed to coexist. 

Myth #1: “If it’s fun, it’s not real learning.”

The truth: Joy isn’t a distraction. Joy is a catalyst into a state of deeper learning. It has been proven that engaged students retain more information, show stronger problem-solving skills, and develop a more positive relationship with school.

AB Studios’ content is crafted with this principle in mind. Whether students are diving into Art Around the World or designing games in Bloxels: Movie Night, every video is purposefully built to deliver specific learning outcomes, while igniting curiosity and delight.

“AB Studios helps us deliver really unique and exciting enrichment content across our multi-state afterschool program, and our students and staff love each new experience that comes their way!"
— Judy Nee, CEO, AlphaBEST Education, Inc.

Myth #2: “Fun content means more screen time and less value.”

The truth: Not all screen time is created equal. What matters is how that time sparks curiosity, builds confidence, and leads to real-world exploration.

At AB Studios, our videos are intentionally short and engaging, designed to introduce a concept, set a creative tone, and launch students into real-world, hands-on exploration. Whether they’re coding in Sphero City, creating movement in Animation – Stop-Motion Basics, or celebrating film in American Sign Language - Goes to the Movies, students are moving, thinking and creating. They are never simply watching.

Our approach blends online storytelling with tactile learning, giving before and afterschool staff a reliable balance of tech-powered energy and unplugged exploration.

Myth #3: “Educators have to sacrifice structure to make enrichment fun.”

The truth: At AB Studios, we understand that structure and fun actually make a perfect pair. That’s where the magic of great enrichment lives.

AB Studios is designed to be turnkey for site leaders, paraprofessionals and classroom facilitators. Our plug-and-play video lessons come with clear pacing, material lists and follow-up activities. That means less prep, less guesswork and more space for instructors to focus on what matters most: connecting with students.

Whether it’s before or after school, we help programs scale quality experiences without stretching already-limited bandwidth.

Myth #4: “Only traditional methods build real skills.”

The truth: Students build the most meaningful skills when they’re solving problems, working in teams, and thinking creatively.

At AB Studios, we design content to build what we call real-world readiness, skills like communication, collaboration, creativity and cultural curiosity. Whether students are inventing in Maker: Great Inventors or exploring stories of identity in Spanish: Past to Present, they’re learning to think critically, express themselves, and connect with ideas that matter. 

These are the skills employers look for, communities thrive on, and students carry with them forever.

Myth #5: “Fun is a reward for learning, not a part of it.”

The truth: We don’t add fun after the fact, it’s baked into the design. Because when learning is joyful, it sticks.

Our episodes are designed to spark engagement, self-expression and hands-on discovery. After all, when we’re young, the lessons that stick don’t come from lectures, they come from laughter, curiosity and wonder. Every AB Studios experience is built to bring that feeling back.

In those moments, students aren’t just participating, they’re making connections that matter.

“I love the collaborative partnership we have with AB Studios. They truly understand our needs, and the results never cease to amaze me.”
— Shane Vander Kooi, Founder, Green Mouse Academy

Making Room for Joy, Every Day

We started AB Studios because something was missing.

Before and afterschool programs are uniquely positioned to offer what traditional classrooms often can’t: space for joy, creativity and exploration. They’re places where curiosity can run wild, and where students can discover passions that stay with them long after the day ends.

But to unlock that potential, these programs need more than good intentions. They need tools that work. Content students actually get excited about. Systems that empower staff instead of overwhelming them. And experiences that don’t just fill time, but spark lifelong curiosity.

That’s what we’re here to deliver.

Ready to reimagine what enrichment can be?
Let’s make it powerful. Let’s make it joyful. Let’s make it unforgettable.

Explore our programs or book a demo to see how AB Studios can transform your learning environment, one video, one adventure, one moment of joy at a time.