This article was created in partnership with WFYI.
There is no escaping the July heat in Indianapolis; kids can only bear the outdoors for so long. Screen time becomes inevitable as working mothers and caregivers try to balance it all, especially during summer when school is out but the energy is up. Although the thought of extra screen time for kids feels counter-productive, a conversation with Gail Thomas Strong shares how WFYI provides the perfect solution with PBS KIDS. If kids are going to spend more time on screens, why not make it educational?
Strong is WFYI’s Vice President for Community Engagement and oversees various initiatives designed to benefit children, families, and educators through PBS KIDS and related educational programs. PBS KIDS includes a line of digital and broadcast offerings in conjunction with PBS KIDS Ready To Learn, which partners with early educators and families. Content and education experts advise these resources to improve children’s educational outcomes.
Strong shares that PBS KIDS believes in nurturing a child’s innate curiosity. “We want to set them on the path to be learners for life, especially for children who need it the most,” Strong said. “We know that media has the power to inspire learning and exploration.” PBS KIDS aims to make media interactions meaningful and inspire activity—screen time is paired with literacy experiences and hands-on, playful learning activities. Children watching PBS KIDS see characters investigating a learning concept using everyday household items, eliminating the financial stress on parents to provide extra supplies and making playful learning accessible.
While PBS KIDS may be well known for popular shows like “Work It Out Wombats” and “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood,” their programs extend far beyond that. PBS LearningMedia, a digital library, provides resources for preschool through high school, covering topics ranging from earthworms to media literacy. Parents can use PBS For Parents to discover free resources for kids sorted by topic and grade level. PBS For Parents allows caregivers to search for activities based on the show their child is watching.
Additionally, they can have resources sent to them directly by signing up for WFYI’s text messaging service, Bright by Text. Bright by Text sends curated content that aligns with the child’s birthday from pregnancy through age 12 in STEM, social and emotional learning, and early literacy. It educates parents on developmental guidelines for children, providing tips and information on where in the community they can receive additional help. “It alerts parents that their child is now at a particular age, and these are some skills they should be able to accomplish,” Strong said. When a child reaches a milestone age, Bright by Text has already shared knowledge and tools to be successful with parents. “You’re already going to get a text that says your baby is about to do this, and here is how you might see some discomfort,” Strong said.
Strong highlighted the impact of these resources, noting that research shows parents consistently feel better equipped to support their children’s learning with new engagement ideas. While science and best practices change, the information provided to parents is updated to reflect that. Strong notes that the generation of children born during COVID spent their early years at home and learned to self-soothe with media.
“So what we are trying to do is to not only wean children away from that media but help children and parents make choices that are more educational and beneficial,” Strong said. PBS KIDS’ shows currently focus on executive functioning skills, self-regulation, and social and emotional learning. “We remain America’s largest classroom. We have always been America’s largest classroom,” Strong said. “That begins at preschool in those early ages with those foundational principles and programs that continue to help all of us explore a world that’s always changing.”
As the summer stretches on and kids spend more time indoors, parents can find comfort in knowing that screen time with PBS KIDS is not just a way to pass the hours but a gateway to enriching and educational experiences.
WFYI and PBS KIDS have something for everyone. Check out their programs and resources online, download the WFYI app for all your news needs, and stream PBS KIDS programs 24/7 for free.
Madeleine Pape is a community manager and content strategist at Maven Space. While finishing up her degree in journalism from IUPUI, she is dabbling in skateboarding and hot yoga. Two things that accomplish her summer goal of proving to herself that she can do hard things.
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