PBS KIDS Virtual Event: Talking to Children Authentically about Race and Racism

Across the nation, parents and educators may be struggling with how to talk to their children and students about racial injustice and violence against Black people. As they have done for decades, PBS is providing resources to help support important discussions about current events.

On Tuesday, June 9 at 3:30 p.m. ET, PBS KIDS is hosting a virtual event titled, Talking to Children Authentically about Race and Racism. Taking place via YouTube, the event will bring parents, educators, and child development and trauma experts together for an important conversation about how you can talk with young children about racial injustice and violence against Black people. Topics of exploration include:

• How can parents of Black children continue to instill confidence and pride in young kids while also explaining the racial inequity and barriers that continue today? 
• How can parents of non-Black children help young kids understand their role in confronting anti-Black racism?

During this event, they will also answer questions from parents and share tips and resources you can use to continue to have these meaningful conversations right now and into the future.

Speakers include:

• Jamal Berry, director of Educare Washington, DC
• Dr. Dana Winters, director of Simple Interactions and faculty director of Academic Programs at the Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning and Children’s Media
• Dr. Renee Wilson Simmons, executive director of the ACE Awareness Foundation
• Will Tolliver, early learning expert.

PBS has also created these additional resources for parents and educators:

• A recommended reading list: 13 Children’s Books About Race and Diversity
• An article offering a call to action for white educators seeking to be anti-racist
• A hub of educational resources on PBS LearningMedia aimed at middle and high school students to help them confront anti-Black racism

Set a reminder to join this informative PBS KIDS virtual event this coming Tuesday, June 9.

PBS KIDS for Parents Launches Play & Learn Engineering App

With distance learning growing across the country, you can count of PBS KIDS for Parents to help.

Developed through a collaboration with childhood experts, the PBS KIDS for Parents Play & Learn Engineering App is made to assist parents in helping three- to four-year-old children explore engineering concepts through play, both on screen and off. Users can design and test roller coasters, use simple tools to problem solve their way through an obstacle course, build clever contraptions to deliver food to hungry animals, and construct boxy towers to rescue a kitten from a tree. Activities include tips for parents to engage young players in conversation and extend in-app learnings to the real world. What a great parent-child engagement resource!

The app includes:

• Eight engaging games that encourage kids to design and test solutions to solve problems while exploring STEM concepts
• Parent section with English and Spanish localization helps to guide children’s learning while in and outside of the app
• Within the parent section are tips for how parents can engage with kids as they are playing the games in order to enhance learning

The app will be featured in the Amazon App Store, and is available in the iOS App Store, Google Play Store, and online at PBS KIDS.

PBS KIDS Launches Thank You Neighbors Campaign

Your family can celebrate essential workers in your neighborhood with the help of the PBS KIDS Thank You Neighbor Campaign, a month long celebration of teachers and essential workers. 

The Thank You Neighbors Campaign highlights and resources include:

• Fill-in-the-blank digital cards for families to complete and share with the hashtag #ThankYouNeighbors
• Printable coloring sheets with thank you prompts that can be emailed to community helpers, or posted for them to see
• A virtual game which allows kids to create essential worker heroes like postal carriers, utilities workers, first responders, doctors and more
• Videos that help children explore the neighbors and helpers that make up a community
• Resources for parents to help with conversations about essential workers 

 

Throughout the month on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, pbskids.org and the PBS KIDS Games app, you'll find tons of resources and games to help you encourage an attitude of gratitude.

The PBS KIDS for Parents website features articles to help parents teach their children about essential workers in their communities and how to be a good neighbor.

You'll also find a Thank You Neighbors playlist from your PBS KIDS favorite series on PBS KIDS YouTube.

Join PBS KIDS in saying #ThankYouNeighbors on social media.

PBS KIDS for Parents Helps Families Make New Routines

When states across the nation closed schools in response to the coronavirus pandemic, all the school year routines families cherished and used to help them schedule their daily lives changed. Suddenly, all families with school-aged children became homeschooling families. Sports and extra-curricular activities that brought friends together were postponed. Even the simple joy of going out to eat, to the movies, or to church have been impacted.

As they always have, PBS KIDS for Parents offers support to parents and caregivers so their families can stick to some playtime and schooltime schedules. Here are techniques PBS KIDS for Parents shares for creating and maintaining routines while children are learning and playing at home:

• Break up Learning Subjects – During the school hours, build specific time for special subjects like reading, art, and music. You can bring music to life with Pinkalicious’ special dance, The Jonah Jump.
• Make a Schedule – Engage your child when making their schedule. You can use this Weekly Planner Chart so every family member can pitch in.
• Come Together – Seize the opportunity to do new things. Whether it be a family lunch or a nightly walk around the block, try new activities at times when school and work traditionally keep you apart.
• Wind down – Use this Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood bedtime game to help remind little ones of the importance of winding down at the end of the day.

For additional ideas and resources, please visit at PBS KIDS for Parents.