PBS Kids Provides Free Resources to Encourage Reading this Summer

 

 

Summertime is almost here and I am looking for ways to keep my very active child busy but also keep her newly acquired reading skills (just started reading beginner chapter books) fine-tuned while she is out of school.  I do think learning and fun can go hand in hand – and is ideal – so I am happy to see that PBS Kids is offering free resources on-air, on digital platforms and in communities to help kids continue learning all summer long! Tune in to PBS KIDS to check out the all-new summer schedule, or connect online at pbskids.org/learn to find fun games and activities! Even more digital resources are listed below.

 

PBS KIDS is also offering a number of community activities in partnership with PBS stations, Pottery Barn Kids, Carson-Dellosa Publishing, LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. and MeeGenius to keep families learning and exploring throughout the summer months.

 

On-air Programming

 

Double Your Fun, Double Your Learning: Starting last week, PBS KIDS will roll out a new weekday schedule on-air, featuring back-to-back episodes of family favorites WILD KRATTS, CURIOUS GEORGE, DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD, DINOSAUR TRAIN and ARTHUR throughout the day. The new schedule promises families double the fun and double the learning with double episodes. Check local listings to learn more.

 

 

Digital Resources

 

PBSKIDS.org/learn: PBS KIDS provides parents with daily learning tips, extended learning ideas and recommended games and activities now through August 22 at pbskids.org/learn.

 

Camp PBS Parents: Parents can also be inspired to make this a summer full of learning and fun. Every week, parent bloggers will provide educational activities, crafts, experiments and other resources for parents to explore with their children at pbsparents.org/camp.

 

PBS KIDS Partner Resources: Throughout the summer, parents can download free summer learning materials from Carson-Dellosa at www.summerlearningactivities.com/PBS and from LeapFrog at leapfrog.com.

 

Free Apps: PBS KIDS offers a variety of free apps for parents and kids to support summer learning, including the new PBS KIDS Super Vision App and PBS KIDS Video. Information about the apps is available at pbskids.org/apps.

Free Episodes and E-books: Parents can download a free PBS KIDS episode each week at iTunes.com/PBSRaisingReaders. Special episode collections will also be available to download. Through August 22, the award-winning app MeeGenius will also offer a free read-along audio e-book each week (along with special PBS KIDS product offers) at www.meegenius.com/PBSLearning. Special offers will also be available in the LeapFrog App Center (https://www.leapfrog.com/AppCenter) throughout the summer.

 

Image courtesy of pbssocal.org

 

 

Community Activities

 

PBS member stations: More than 75 PBS stations in communities across the country are partnering with local organizations, including school and library systems, United Way, Head Start, camps, daycare providers and more, to help kids keep learning all summer long.  Collectively, PBS member stations estimate they will serve more than half-a-million children and adults through partnerships, local events and educational activities.  Check with your  local PBS station to see what they have planned for the summer.  I am planning on doing a Penelope reading this summer at a local children’s museum as part of a local So Cal PBS station event.  I am excited to be participating and really appreciate how much the PBS stations do for their local communities!

 

Carson-Dellosa Publishing:  PBS KIDS and Carson-Dellosa Publishing are working together to address summer learning loss in communities across the country through the distribution of more than 100,000 free summer activity books that will be distributed by PBS member stations. Additionally, Carson-Dellosa is donating up to 15,000 books and learning materials for PBS stations to provide to children from low-income homes in their communities.

 

Pottery Barn Kids: Through July 17, PBS KIDS is partnering with Pottery Barn Kids’ Summer Reading Challenge to encourage children to read during the summer months.  Live appearances by PBS KIDS characters and activities from PBS KIDS will be featured at select Pottery Barn Kids story time events in communities across the United States and Canada. More information is available at www.potterybarnkids.com/events.  You can read our recent post about their Summer Reading Challenge and how your kids can “earn” a book!  Plus we provide Pottery Barn Kids-inspired tips on how to create a reading nook here.

 

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