PBS offers resources for families and educators for new school year

New resources, programming and activities from PBS KIDS and PBS LearningMedia can ease the transition back into school year routines.

The 2021-2022 school year is right around the corner, and with it comes change for families and educators alike as they settle into new school routines. Heading back to school during a time of ongoing uncertainty amidst the pandemic can be a stressor for students, parents and teachers. PBS is here to help with this transition with resources that support social and emotional learning.

“Classrooms continue to evolve, and we’re proud to be a go-to resource for both families and educators as they prepare kids to head back to school in the coming months,” said Sara Schapiro, VP, Education, PBS. “We cannot stress enough the importance of learning that not only nurtures knowledge growth, but also develops key social and emotional skills. Across all of our content, PBS and our member stations aim to do both – meeting kids where they are as they head back to school.”

PBS KIDS helps children with these important life lessons that are building blocks for all other learning. As parents look to prepare their little ones for the year ahead, PBS KIDS’ Back to School hub includes resources that help your child with lessons like acclimating to new routines, managing emotions and building friendships. This includes:

• “You Are Brave and Kind”: Helping Your Child Get Ready for the First Day of School
• How to Help Your Child Successfully Transition Back to School
• Helping Your Child Make Friends Again
• Practice SUPER Morning and Bedtime Routines

Additionally, PBS KIDS for Parents now includes a Spanish website, with more than 150 resources and counting.

For educators, PBS LearningMedia, celebrating its 10th year, offers a Back to School collection of resources in English and Spanish to help customize teaching to best support students at all levels. This also includes materials to help educators navigate the many hurdles and emotions of teaching through an unprecedented year. This includes:

• Back to School Packet | PreK and K
• Back-to-School Planner and Checklist | PBS KIDS
• Starting School with Daniel Tiger & Mister Rogers
• Recursos de PreK-12

Later this summer, PBS will launch an updated PBS LearningMedia student platform, which will encourage exploration of award-winning, educational media for middle and high school students, featuring three, curated media resources selected for students to examine each week.

And on September 9 at 8pm ET, PBS KIDS will host a webinar on the PBS KIDS for Parents YouTube channel for parents and educators of PreK-2 children to discuss lessons learned from the past two school years, and ways to build strong relationships moving forward. 

PBS and local stations across the country will offer shows, online resources, and community-based support throughout the school year to engage families and educators

Families can tune in to new back-to-school content from favorite series, including episodes from DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD, in which kids can join Daniel for a week of first-time adventures (August 16-20) and marking its 25th anniversary, a new one-hour movie from ARTHUR, Arthur’s First Day, in which Arthur starts 4th grade (September 6). 

Further, students can engage with games and interactive content tied to their return to school, focused on themes such as setting routines and understanding feelings, and with familiar faces such as ARTHUR in Kindergarten Helpers and Daniel Tiger as he talks about getting along with friends. New games from DONKEY HODIE and ARTHUR will also debut in August and September, respectively.  

About PBS

PBS, with more than 330 member stations, offers all Americans the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and digital content. Each month, PBS reaches over 126 million people through television and 26 million people online, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; to hear diverse viewpoints; and to take front row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS’ broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry’s most coveted award competitions. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. Decades of research confirms that PBS’ premier children’s media service, PBS KIDS, helps children build critical literacy, math and social-emotional skills, enabling them to find success in school and life. Delivered through member stations, PBS KIDS offers high-quality educational content on TV – including a 24/7 channel, online at pbskids.org, via an array of mobile apps and in communities across America. More information about PBS is available at www.pbs.org, one of the leading dot-org websites on the internet, or by following PBS on Twitter, Facebook or through our apps for mobile and connected devices. Specific program information and updates for press are available by following PBS Pressroom on Twitter.

PBS KIDS believes the world is full of possibilities, and so is every child. As the number one educational media brand for kids, PBS KIDS helps children ages 2-8 learn lessons that last a lifetime. Through television, digital media, and community-based programs, PBS KIDS wants children to see themselves uniquely reflected and celebrated in lovable, diverse characters who serve as positive role models, and to explore their feelings and discover new adventures along the way. Families can watch PBS KIDS anytime on the free PBS KIDS 24/7 channel and the PBS KIDS Video app, available on mobile and connected-TV devices, no subscription required. PBS KIDS’ large collection of mobile apps and pbskids.org provide accessible content, including digital games and streaming video to spark kids’ curiosity. PBS KIDS and local stations across the country support the entire ecosystem in which children learn and grow – including their teachers, parents, and community – providing resources to support children’s learning, anytime and anywhere. For more information, visit pbs.org/pressroom, or follow PBS KIDS on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.