PBS KIDS for Parents
Help your child learn and grow. Parenting resources and tips on raising children, child development articles, crafts and games for you and your child.
Parents and Caregivers
Find resources for parents and caregivers here! Jump start family learning with tips on how to make the most of family television time, advice on fostering reading skills, and the exploration of other issues that are important to families.
PBS KIDS Daily
PBS KIDS' weekday newsletter offers activities and tips you can use to help kids play and learn at home.
WNET
Parenting Minutes
WNET Parenting Minutes are short videos that focus on topics related to early childhood learning and family engagement. Each video has additional tips and facts and links to more free resources and information for parents and caregivers. You can catch Parenting Minute videos on WNED PBS and WNED PBS Kids channels and be on the lookout for a Parenting Minute workshop!
Free Printables and Activities
Back to School with PBS KIDS
This past school year was unusual. But with students back to school, there's a lot we can do to bolster our children’s feelings of confidence and security as they head into a new year. Here are ways to get in the back-to-school mindset and cope with any anxieties or emotions.
From Buffalo Toronto Public Media
activities and educational resources you and your child or class can do together
WATCH | Reading Rainbow Stories
The Reading Rainbow Stories collection is now available on YouTube, ReadingRainbow.org, and PBS LearningMedia! Watch stories from the original series you know and love with a stunning, high-definition, new look.
We invite you to watch and listen as cherished books are read. On PBS LearningMedia you'll find accompanying activities are theme-based, stemming from the featured book, and may include questions for discussion, art projects, or writing prompts. And ReadingRainbow.org you'll find family activities!
Let's Go! | New YouTube Series
Let’s Go!, an original series from WNED PBS offers adventure to young, curious learners through behind-the-scenes virtual field trips. Come along with our host Chrisena as she interacts with experts and visits exciting sites throughout Western New York. With Chrisena as your guide, Let’s Go! is perfect for educators, kids ages 7-11, their caregivers, and anyone who loves to explore!
Compact Science
Compact Science is an engaging new YouTube series from WNED PBS and the Buffalo Museum of Science that explores the wonders of science. Host Sarajane Gomlak Green investigates the geology of Niagara Falls, discovers the chemistry at work in sponge candy, learns how density is the key to lake-effect snow, and more. If you’re curious about the world around you, there’s a lot to explore and Compact Science will be your guide.
Geared towards children (grades K-6), their families, and anyone with a curiosity of the world around them, each episode frames a scientific concept with a signature regional connection that celebrates the science and history of the Western New York and Southern Ontario region.
The videos are available here on our website along with instructions for the viewer challenge experiments that can be performed at home or in a classroom.
Compact Science is funded by The Joy Family Foundation.
Raising Kids Who Thrive
PBS KIDS for PArents
PBS KIDS Podcasts
Families can now tune into their favorite PBS KIDS series through podcasts! These podcasts will take families off the screens and even deeper into the worlds of their favorite PBS KIDS characters. Learn more about the benefits of listening to podcasts together as a family and discover new stories from Molly of Denali, Pinkalicious & Peterrific, and Odd Squad.
PBS KIDS Apps
Check out PBS KIDS apps! Download by favorite character or type of device.
WNED PBS Kids Channel Family Night
Gather the gang for Family Night, weekly family viewing events featuring movie specials or themed programming. Watch, play and learn with your favorite PBS KIDS characters every Friday from 7 to 9pm and repeating on Saturday and Sunday evenings on the WNED PBS KIDS channel
BTPM CREATES COMMUNITY CLASSROOM
Learn at Home
We are here to support families, educators, and students as a community classroom during these challenging times. Find special program schedules, tool & resources.
PBS KIDS FOR PARENTs
Preschool Learning At Home
Preschoolers need lots of support from adults to help them develop the habits they need to thrive in school and beyond. Find resources to support your child's early learning.
PBS KIDS FOR Parents
Activities and Crafts
Find fun, educational activities and crafts for kids from PBS Parents.
PBS KIDS FOR Parents
Simple Science Activities
PBS KIDS for Parents has over 60 easy activities around animals, nature, the weather, engineering, the senses, and much more. To keep things even easier, all of our activities here are organized by the number of materials you need!
PBS Kids School Readiness
A national survey of parents with young children age 2-6 has found that media and technology are an essential part of preparing children to enter elementary school. Overwhelmingly, PBS KIDS stands out as the most trusted and relied upon media brand for this school readiness, ranking first in delivering on every measured skill.
Videos
How to Talk to Your Kids About Coronavirus
Meet The Helpers continues to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic with updated resources and videos. Use this page to talk to the children in your life about healthy habits and empower them to be helpers by stopping the spread of germs.
Meet the Helpers
Vaccines:
Vaccines are important, but can be scary. Learn how scientists and vaccines help keep us healthy.
Activity: Vaccine Coloring Sheet(pdf)
Meet the Helpers
You Can Help Stop the Spread of Germs by Wearing a Mask
You can be a germ buster by wearing mask. Masks help stop the spread of germs from one person to another.
Meet the Helpers
What is an Epidemiologist?
Meet an epidemiologist and see how these disease detectives help in keeping people healthy and stopping the spread of germs.
Meet the Helpers
What is Coronavirus?
A doctor helper explains the coronavirus and how children can be good helpers.
Meet the Helpers
Feeling Sick? You Can Help Stop the Spread of Germs
If you're sick, you can stop the spread of germs, by washing your hands and staying home. Be a helper and a germ buster by helping to keep others healthy.
Meet the Helpers
How to Talk to Children
Here are some tips for how parents can talk to their children about coronavirus.
Meet the Helpers
Be a Helper
We can all be helpers. Here are a few tips!
Meet the Helpers
What is a Virus?
Explaining a virus to children in a way they can understand, can help stop the spreading of germs.
Meet the Helpers
Coronavirus Dos & Don'ts for Parents
A few do's &don'ts for families during the coronavirus outbreak.
Meet the Helpers
Wash Your Hands
Be a good helper and remember to wash your hands often!!
Top Three Tips for Families:
- Talk about feelings & facts
Be open and honest with children by sharing age-appropriate facts. Yes, people are getting sick, but it's like a cold or a flu. We have doctors to help make you feel better if anyone gets sick. - Make children feel safe
Children worry and pick up on emotions from those around them. Make sure they know they are in a safe space and lots of helpers are working to keep everyone safe. - Be germ busters
The best way to help is to develop and reinforce good hygiene routines. Make sure your family is doing these four things:
Wash Your Hands
- Hands should be washed before and after every meal and snack.
- Hands should also be washed after coughing or sneezing and after going to the bathroom.
- Hands should be washed with soap & water for at least 20 seconds or to the tune of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.
Catch that Cough
- Try not to have children cough or sneeze into their hands.
- Make sure children cough or sneeze into a tissue, and then throw that into the trash.
Rest is Best
- Daniel Tiger reminds us when you're sick, rest is best.
- Remind them that it's important we protect ourselves from germs to keep us and our friends healthy, so staying home may be best for now.
Make Others Feel Better
- This is a great time to get crafty and make get well cards for friends or family.
- Explore technology like video chats to help children say hello to their friends & family.
Additional Resources
Super Why!
Reach Out - Recognize Relationship Abuse
ReachOut - Recognize Relationship Abuse
1 in 3 teenagers report experiencing some form of abuse in their dating relationships. Only a third of those ever talk about it with someone. 82% of parents said they could recognize if their teen was in an abusive relationship, but more than half could not recognize warning signs. Use an approach that empowers your child to be in control of their decisions and learn about resources that are available for them, and for you.
Buffalo Toronto Public Media has partnered with the Family Justice Center of Erie County to bring you Reach Out - Recognize Relationship Abuse, online and on television to help give you the tools you need to start a conversation with someone you think might be in an abusive relationship.