Summer is a season full of adventure, creativity, and new discoveries—and it’s also a great time to help kids stay engaged in learning. In addition to our beloved PBS KIDS programming, Nine PBS offers a wide range of free, curriculum-based resources designed to spark curiosity and support learning all summer long.
Recognized as the most educational media brand for children, PBS KIDS features the largest library of educational games in both English and Spanish. From early reading and math skills to science exploration and social-emotional development, there’s something for every learner. And parents agree: 89% say PBS KIDS is the network that best prepares children for success in school, helping them grow academically and emotionally.
School may be paused for summer break, but Nine PBS, and our partners, are proud to offer fun, engaging resources that keep kids learning all summer long!
STL Summer Adventures – St Louis County and Public Libraries
Our friends at the library join Nine PBS every summer for Storytime in the Commons— a free morning of crafts, games, fun, and learning. Check out some pictures from our June event here. And be sure to mark your calendars to meet Daniel Tiger at our next Storytime on September 6!
In the meantime, keep boosting summer literacy with STL Summer Adventures – a reading and exploration program from St. Louis County and St. Louis Public Libraries. Kids of all ages receive a prize just for reading or attending library and community events. With 20+ branches across the St. Louis area, there are always events to attend including trivia, crafts, and learning opportunities.
PBS KIDS for Parents has many resources to make summer learning lots of fun! Crafts and science experiments with related episodes of your kids’ favorite shows help teach creativity and critical thinking. Quick, kid-friendly recipes allow kids to help in the kitchen and develop cooking skills. These activities range in age and are inclusive for the whole family. PBS KIDS for Parents also has printable resources such as summer checklists and activity books to promote learning and development over the summer.
Available on Nine PBS every weekday and anytime online, Teaching in Room 9 is our award-winning kids program that features local educators teaching a variety of topics, including literacy, STEM, social-emotional learning, movement, and more. These fun episodes are just 30 minutes and span a variety of topics that will interest all viewers. All episodes are available to watch on YouTube and ninepbs.org.
From the animators at St. Louis’s Lion Forge Entertainment, the Nine PBS series Drawn In follows four kids and the adventures that happen when their real world collides with a comic-book world. Drawn In inspires literacy and builds a solid foundation of reading that is essential to learning. These stories are available in video shorts, print and digital comic books, and online games.
PBS LearningMedia – For Students
PBS LearningMedia has a HUGE catalog of articles, video clips, and interactive lessons. Simply select your student’s age and topic of interest, then get ready to explore a world of PBS content and activities. This allows students to explore topics they want to and continue to learn over summer break.
The Magic House is a St. Louis staple for summer fun for kids. In addition to their year-round activities, right now families can enjoy “Super WHY! Super Readers, Power Up!” This special exhibit brings a favorite PBS KIDS show to life, including a visit to Super Why’s House or the Alphabet Path. Kids can solve word-based problems, just like their favorite characters in the show. This exhibit runs until September 7.