On television, Playhouse Disney seeks to address the whole child, ensuring that elements across programs cover the several areas of child development. On the Internet, Playhouse Disney Online extends the curriculum into a new medium in order to give the child more opportunities to play and learn. In fact, the more interaction the child has with an adult in playing these activities, the greater opportunity to learn. Adults are encouraged to participate by stopping to ask questions about such things as what the child thinks he or she should do next and talking with the child about colors, shapes, numbers, sounds, etc.

Each category of child development contributes to the whole child, and children need all of these areas of growth to reach their full potential. On television and online, Playhouse Disney covers the following categories of child development.

Physical Development - Increasing both fine and gross motor skills, such as hand-eye coordination, dressing oneself, walking, jumping, cutting, connecting dots, moving the mouse, etc.

Emotional Development - Understanding and expressing a range of emotions, such as happiness, fear and confidence

Social Development - Learning to appreciate the social world and one's own place in this world, including such ideas as sharing, taking turns, cooperating and friendship

Cognitive Development - Acquiring a variety of "facts" about the world, from concepts like colors, shapes and numbers to facts about nature or history

Metacognitive Awareness/"Thinking about Thinking" - Understanding HOW thinking works, including being able to come up with strategies and hypotheses, and problem solving.

Creative/Artistic Development - Developing creativity via music, dance, art, song, etc.

Moral, Ethical, Spiritual Development - Differentiating right from wrong; understanding what it means to be a member of a family or a community; developing a sense of wonder.