Early Education

Protect PBS KIDS & Public Media — Your Voice Still Matters

Earlier this month, I reached out about the growing pressures facing public media. Since then, the situation in Washington has only intensified, and the challenges we face are becoming even clearer.

At WXXI, we know that for families, PBS and PBS KIDS are more than just television channels—they are a trusted source of education, inspiration, and learning. Whether it’s Sesame Street helping young children build early literacy skills, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood teaching social-emotional learning, or Carl the Collector celebrating our differences and commonalities, these programs play a vital role in your child’s development.

But here’s something many people don’t realize: PBS and PBS KIDS programs are made available to your family through local public media stations like WXXI. We are the bridge that brings these award-winning programs into local families’ lives – on televisions or tablets, in classrooms and care settings, and in our community.

Now, the future of public media is being debated in Washington, and decisions made in the coming weeks could threaten funding for these essential services. Cuts to federal funding don’t just affect WXXI—they impact your family’s access to high-quality, free educational programming and resources.

That’s why we need you to speak up. If PBS, PBS KIDS, and public media matter to your family, now is the time to act.

📢 Take Action Now: bit.ly/ProtectWXXI

Every message sent, every story shared, and every show of support makes a difference. Decisions made in the coming weeks could impact public media for years to come. Let’s make sure our community’s voice is heard loud and clear.

A message from you—can make a difference – whether it’s sharing your family’s experience, telling your representatives why PBS KIDS matters, or spreading the word on social media. Public media has been a trusted resource for generations, and with your support, we can ensure it remains strong for the next generation.

Thank you for being part of the WXXI family. Your voice, your advocacy, and your support mean everything.

Warm Regards

Chris Hastings
President & CEO
WXXI Public Media

Black History & Culture Education Resources

Celebrate Black History Month to focus on learning about black history and culture throughout the year.

This PBS LearningMedia Collection to showcase Black excellence through contributions, achievements, and ideas across core subjects and eras. These classroom resources aim to inspire educators to intentionally include Black history and stories in all curricula, using PBS LearningMedia as a tool in doing so, and celebrate Black history this month — and all year long.

Explore videos, media galleries, lesson plans, and more for students! Explore additional related Black History connected collections

About Black History Month

Watch PBS KIDS Black History Month Playlist

Watch the PBS KIDS YouTube Playlist for Black History Month

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with PBS KIDS

Make this Valentine’s Day extra special by spending it with your favorite PBS KIDS characters. Share sweet moments and important lessons about love, kindness, and friendship with Daniel Tiger, Pinkalicious, Molly of Denali, Arthur, Peg+Cat, Nature Cat, Super Why, Word World and more! Watch more PBS KIDS videos

Valentine’s Arts & Crafts

Heart Stamps

Lollypop Valentine Flower Gift

Egg Carton Valentine Hearts

Printable PBS KIDS Valentine Cards & Crafts

Valentine’s Games

Play Valentines Themed Games

PBS KIDS YouTube Valentine Playlist

Watch the Playlist

Sesame Street Valentine Playlist

Sesame Street Career Exploration Games

A Job for Me

Learn more about jobs with Elmo and Abby as they visit different locations in their neighborhood and try the tasks related to the jobs they see. Support young children by expanding their knowledge of the work that people do in their community by having them explore jobs and try some of the job activities through these interactive games from Sesame Street and PBS KIDS.

Play A JOB FOR ME

Elmo & Grover’s Farm Time Fun

Grover Waves with Elmo as they stand in front of a cow and a barn on their visit a farm in this interactive game

Get ready for a barnyard adventure with Elmo and Grover in “Farm Time Fun” where Elmo and Grover learn what happens on a farm and help out with the work.

Play ELMO & GROVER'S FARM TIME FUNF

Cookie Monster and chef Gonger make a variety of foods in their foodie truck. Some of the ingredients are missing so you need to go with them to gather the needed ingredients and follow the recipe to make food for your Sesame Street customers.

Play Cookie Monster's Foodie Truck

Super Salad Diner

You work in the Super Salad Diner with Ernie & Burt. Can you finish making the salads in the kitchen and keep up with all the orders?

Play SUPER SALAD DINER

Play Together

Pretend to do different jobs at home is a great way for your child to use their imagination and build vocabulary. Run a restaurant where your child chooses a job such as server, chef, kitchen staff, cashier, etc. Play store or train station, health clinic, library, laudromat, etc.

Talking About Jobs You Observe with Your Child

When you go stores, buy food, go to health care settings, ride on public transportation, get your car serviced, drive by farms or other industries, talk about the what you see and ask your child questions about what takes place there and what kind of jobs people have there.

An Arthur Thanksgiving: Movie & Game

Arthur and his family are getting ready for Thanksgiving and it couldn’t be busier! Dad is whipping up his famous turkey dinner while the Lakewood elementary kids are preparing for the annual Thanksgiving parade. But when things start to go off course, Arthur and his friends must find a way to save the Thanksgiving celebration.

Watch An Arthur Thanksgiving

Activities: ARTHUR Activities:

Explore Arthur’s crafts, games and activities
Activity: Learn how to draw Arthur.

PBS KIDS Game: An Elwood City Thanksgiving: Explore different traditions.

For More Arthur: Watch Digital Shorts: https://www.youtube.com/@arthur

Listen to the Arthur Podcast Series: Arthur Read is back with The Arthur Podcast! Listen in as he shares his favorite adventures with DW, Buster and all their friends from around Elwood City. Each episode is an audio adaptation of a story from the classic television series with some new commentary from Arthur himself

Carl the Collector Videos, Games & Activities

Watch full episodes, shorts and clips of CARL THE COLLECTOR on the playlist above.

CARL THE COLLECTOR follows the everyday adventures of Carl, a warm-hearted autistic racoon who enjoys collecting things and loves his friends and family in Fuzzytown in this animated PBS KIDS series. Carl the Collector airs daily at 8:30 a.m. on WXXI-TV and on the Live Stream, daily at 11 a.m. on WXXI PBS KIDS & Live Stream and anytime on the PBS KIDS Video app

Carl the Collector Resources

Carl the Collector PBS KIDS Site

PBS KIDS Carl the Collector Games

Watch Carl the Collector Videos on PBS KIDS

Carl the Collector PBS KIDS for Parents Resources Page

Carl the Collector PBS LearningMedia Collection

Series Description: In each episode, Carl and his friends work and play together. In the process they find out what makes each of them who they are. For example, Carl pays extraordinarily close attention to detail and comes up with unique ideas that others might not consider. These traits have helped him amass his extensive collections — from autographs and bottle caps to fake mustaches, pet rocks, sweaters, and virtually everything in between — which can come in handy for solving problems around the neighborhood with his friends.

Carl’s friends include Sheldon, an empathetic beaver with a knack for connecting people and a soft spot for the underdog. As Carl’s best friend, he is attuned to Carl’s unique logic and ways of looking at the world, sometimes helping him navigate complex social nuances when necessary. Carl’s friend Lotta, a quiet and self-assured fox, is also autistic. She experiences hypersensitivity to loud sounds, powerful smells, and certain food textures, and has exceptional talents in art and music. Other friends include Nico and Arugula, identical twin bunny sisters whose personalities couldn’t be more different, making their quest to define their individual identities extra complicated. And Forrest, a hyperactive and impulsive squirrel with a tree nut allergy, who is always down for an impromptu adventure.

Through its relatable stories, characters, and messages, and with a production team that includes neurodiverse writers, production staff, animators, advisors, and voice talent, CARL THE COLLECTOR showcases and celebrates our differences and commonalities, and that we all have something unique to offer.

Carl the Collector is presented as part of WXXI Education services & Move to Include^TM, WXXI and The Golisano Foundation’s award-winning national initiative promoting disability inclusion, representation, and accessibility in public media. Visit movetoinclude.org to learn more.

Learn More About the Series

Molly of Denali | Truth, Trust, and Harvest/Thanks-For-Giving | PBS KIDS

Molly, Trini, and Vera are excited to plant the community garden with Auntie Midge’s Wampanoag friend, Gertie, but the girls keep quarreling and can’t get anything done! They learn about the Three Sisters story from the Haudenosaunee, People of the Longhouse about working together to find success. /After discovering that Grandpa Nat doesn’t celebrate Thanksgiving, Molly, Tooey, and Trini learn about the history of the holiday. Motivated to help, the kids work to create a feast that honors the people who came before them.

Go to Molly of Denali: Videos, Games, Podcast & Activities for more fun.

Play games and watch full episodes and podcasts of Molly of Denali on https://pbskids.org/molly

Halloween Videos, Games & Activities with PBS KIDS!

🎃 Happy Halloween from PBS KIDS! 🎃👻🕸🕷️
83+ Videos to Watch on the Playlist

Celebrate Halloween all month long with PBS KIDS! Watch full episodes and clips of your favorite spooky specials from Weather Hunters, Carl the Collector, Molly of Denali, Wild Kratts, Arthur, Odd Squad, Lyla in the Loop, Dinosaur Train, Alma’s Way, Donkey Hodie, Xavier Riddle & the Secret Museum, & Peterrific, Sid the Science Kid, Pinkalicious, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Super Why!, Let’s Go Luna, and more!