PBS Kids – The Next Kid Thing

PBS Kids Celebrate Spring with Explore the Outdoors Program

April 10, 2017 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

It’s finally beautiful in NJ/NYC and Spring is in full swing. Our friends at PBS Kids have a fun lineup of great programming to celebrate the outdoors and everything we love about Spring.

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PBS Kids’ annual Explore the Outdoors kicks off today with a week of new episodes from those Wild Kratts and Nature Cat! I love that it’s an Earth Month celebration with a lot of STEM thrown in.

Check out all the fun new programming coming up for PBS Kids:

PBS KIDS Explore the Outdoors Program Details & Air Dates (check local listings)

WILD KRATTS

“Archerfish School”

Premieres April 10, streaming April 10

When the Kratt Bros meet a school of Archerfish, they are taught the secret of “water droplet” archery from an Archerfish named Arrow. Soon, they are using this newly learned skill to infiltrate Donita Donata’s yacht and rescue the baby animals she has been capturing for her newest high-end fashion line.

“This Orca Likes Sharks”

Premieres April 11; streaming April 14

The Kratt Bros discover a message in a bottle telling them about an wily old orca who eats only large sharks. They find this hard to believe, so with the help of Aviva’s Dolphin Decoder, modified to speak Orca, the Wild Kratts go in search of the orca who likes sharks!

“Baby Tooth & Kid Musky”

Premieres April 12, streaming April 21

When the Wild Kratts begin to talk about predator and prey, the Kratt Bros decide to split up to investigate the lives of being a predator and a prey. But when they each befriend a young member of their respective groups and the groups collide, the gang must struggle to figure out how they react in a true battle for survival.

“Cheetah Adopted”

Premieres April 13; streaming April 28

Martin and Chris are creature adventuring on the African savannah when they encounter a warthog mom and her piglets. But they notice something odd. One of the piglets is the cheetah cub Spotswat! It’s up to the Kratt Bros to find out why this cub has been adopted into the warthog family and to reunite him with his mother, Blur.

“Musk Ox Mania”

Premieres April 14; streaming May 5

When Chris realizes that his precious creature souvenir collection is missing, the gang must travel back to the Arctic to find it. But the Arctic is now covered in a thick layer of ice and snow, so they’ll need the help of a special Arctic creature — the musk ox — and its creature powers to find it.

NATURE CAT

“Spring Hunter 3000/The Case of the Missing Moon”

Premieres April 10, streaming April 10

“Spring Hunter 3000” ? Spring has sprung! And it’s now time for Daisy’s favorite online game: Spring Hunter 3000! The goal of the game is to try to find as many signs of spring as possible: birds, flowers, you name it. The more you find, the more points you earn. And whoever gets the most points is deemed the queen or king of spring! Oh yeah! Oh yeah!

“The Case of the Missing Moon” ? Hal is so so so sad! When he went to howl at the moon, as he does every night, the moon was gone! But that’s impossible! How does a moon just disappear? There has to be a logical explanation, right? Can Nature Cat and his pals find the missing moon? Or will Hal’s nightly howls come to an end for good?

“Mighty Mountain Climbers/Bug Eating Plants!”

Premieres April 11; streaming April 14

“Mighty Mountain Climbers” ? On a dare from Ronald, Nature Cat and his pals try to climb all the way up to The Mighty Mountain Peak. They get all the supplies they need and head out, led by Nature Cat. But they soon find out that hiking up a mountain is hard and poses many problems, no matter how prepared you are. Will they make it all the way to the peak?!

“Bug Eating Plants!” ? A super-excited Squeeks shows her brand-new, homemade comic “Bug Eating Plants of the Swamp!” to her pals. As Squeeks begins to read the story, we see this action-packed adventure played out, as tiny Nature Cat, Hal, Daisy and Squeeks must make their way through the swamp while trying to stay away from the Bug Eating Plants, which proves difficult for Tiny Hal!

“Flight of the Firefly/Thunderstruck”

Premieres April 12, streaming April 21

“The Flight of the Firefly” ? While looking for fireflies in the backyard, Hal catches one so the gang can look closely at it and watch it glow. Hal names the firefly George and promises to watch it and hug it and then set it free, which he does, but for some reason George doesn’t want to fly away and hangs around Hal. George seems to have something on his mind. Since no one can communicate with a firefly, they call in Houston. With the help of his firefly communicator, they find out that George is lost and needs help finding the Firefly Fiesta!

“Thunderstruck” ? It’s Nature Scrapbook Day today! Nature Cat and his pals are out in nature, taking photos, drawing pictures and collecting various properties of nature to put in their nature scrapbook. Suddenly, a thunderstorm causes the gang to seek shelter in Hal’s doghouse. As Nature Cat and his friends learn, thunderstorms are nothing to be scared of. They also are able to see the beauty of thunderstorms, which become the last entry in their scrapbook.

“Plants Got the Moves/Magnet Mania”

Premieres April 13; streaming April 28

“Plants Got the Moves” ? Daisy has being getting ready for months for the Animal Science Fair, which occurs later in the woods. Man-oh-man is Daisy ready with her terrific exhibit, which shows how bean seeds grow. But before going to the fair, a gust of wind knocks over her science fair project, ruining it. Daisy needs help to try to find another science project to exhibit at the Animal Science Fair and finds inspiration from an unlikely source: plants that move!

“Magnet Mania” ? Ever hear of Ole’ Lucky the Lodestone? Well, it’s only the world’s biggest magnetic rock, which can attract things with iron in them, and the final destination for the gang’s celebration of Magnet Mania! But there is one problem: how do they go north to get to Ole’ Lucky when they have no compass?

“Return to Mighty Mountain/Welcome to the Vernal Pond”

Premieres April 14; streaming May 5

“Return to Mighty Mountain” ? There is no giving up for Nature Cat and his pals. After failing to reach the peak of the Mighty Mountain, they are going to try to hike all the way up again! But this time, they have a surprise: help from an unlikely, yet extremely experienced, mountain climber to guide them – Granny Bunny!

“Welcome to the Vernal Pond” ? While playing in the woods, Nature Cat and his pals come across Fern, a spotted salamander who just happens to be pregnant and ready to give birth! But she needs help getting to the safest spot in the woods to have her babies, the vernal pond. Nature Cat knows these woods like the back of his hand, yet he has never heard of or seen the vernal pond. Fern cannot wait to show them why!

Watch PBS Kids 24/7

January 30, 2017 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Earlier this month, PBS Kids, the pioneers in children’s programming, introduced a new TV channel and a live stream on digital platforms. PBS stations across the nation are able to broadcast PBS Kids shows like Curious George and Wild Kratts 24 hours a day on an additional television channel and offer a live stream. Kids will have their favorite PBS Kids shows during primetime and after school, or really, whenever they might need it!

Nielsen data demonstrates that live TV is the dominant way children access video, accounting for 68% of the time children spend watching video content. And most of kids’ TV viewing takes place on weeknights and weekend afternoons and evenings – especially within low-income families, underscoring PBS’ mission to reach all children with high quality, educational content.

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Families will be able to access the new channel on-the-go with the digital live stream which complements on-demand clips and full episodes. Viewers will be able to watch the station-branded live stream through pbskids.org and on the PBS KIDS Video App, which is available on a variety of mobile devices, tablets and over-the-top platforms such as Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Xbox One and Chromecast.

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PBS Kids is a staple in our home. Since we’re constantly on the go, I love that my little guy can access his favorite shows while he’s waiting for big bro to finish up his sports. For a kiddo with speech delays and unique needs, I’m so grateful that we have access to such excellent programming at home and on the go, regardless of the time of day. Bravo PBS Kids!

Smart Toys and Fun Gifts from PBS Kids

December 9, 2015December 9, 2015 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

My friends at PBS Kids always have fun things happening. Between fantastic programming that consistently wins awards and accolades to aligning really great collaborations, PBS Kids undoubtedly has a wonderful presence in our lives.

And since it’s gift giving season, I thought I’d share a few fun gifts that are part of PBS Kids’ Collaborations.

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As a long time fan of Plan Toys, I absolutely LOVE this collaboration with PBS Kids. Like all PlayToys, the line of PBS Kids toys are sustainable, educational and safe. The toys range from play cameras, play boats, a pull alligator, music instruments and toy banks. I’ll share a video of my kids playing with some of the toys. I can’t tell you how much we love this line. Everything in this line is under $30, making them an ideal gift for babies and kids on your list.

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One-hundred percent of net proceeds from the purchase of the toys in this holiday partnership will support PBS KIDS’ mission to empower children to succeed in school and in life. Additionally, Whole Foods Market will donate 1 percent of total sales, up to $25,000, to Whole Kids Foundation, an organization dedicated to improving children’s wellness and nutrition. The toys are available at Whole Foods nationwide and vary in price.

PBS Kids Party App + Moff Bands

No stranger to technology, PBS Kids has tapped into the wearable technology space by collaborating with Moff Bands. Moff is the maker of the award-winning Moff Band, the world’s first wearable smart toy.

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The Moff Band enables kids to play sounds and games through movement. Powering the Moff Band is a cloud-based motion and position recognition platform that analyzes and learns users’ real-time behaviors and patterns. PBS Kids partnered with Moff Bands to release the new, free PBS KIDS Party App. The app can be played with a mobile or tablet device, and is enhanced with a Moff Band. Be on the lookout for a video on our YouTube Channel!

PBS Kids Scratch JR.

We are so into coding, so PBS KIDS ScratchJr is really exciting. With Scratch Jr., kids can create their own interactive stories and games featuring their favorite characters from Wild Kratts, Nature Cat, WordGirl and Peg + Cat! Designed for kids ages 5-8.

By combining programming blocks, kids can make characters move, jump, dance and sing. In the process, kids will learn to solve problems, design projects and express themselves creatively. PBS KIDS ScratchJr allows kids to not only learn to code, but also code to learn. If you love STEM and coding as much as we do, be sure to check out this app! You can download the app for free on the App Store and Google Play.

Full disclosure: As a PBS Kids VIP, I received this information and samples to help promote the brand and the properties. As always, opinions on NKT are my own.

PBS Kids: A Creature Christmas and Nature Cat to Debut

November 23, 2015November 23, 2015 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

As we’re getting ready to feast on turkey, our friends over on PBS Kids are getting us into the holiday spirit with some great Christmas content featuring the Wild Kratts.

On November 25^th, PBS is premiering “A Creature Christmas,” which is the first hour-long holiday Wild Kratts special. In this fun special, the Kratts take a break from their fearless questing for creatures to celebrate Christmas. But when they receive an alert that their favorite critters are disappearing around the globe, their holiday celebration quickly turns into a rescue mission. Wild Kratts: A Creature Christmas premieres November 25 with encore presentations on November 26, 27, 28 and 29; December 7, 18, 20, 24 and 25.

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Then, following the debut of “Creature Christmas,” be sure to check out the brand-new action-adventure series, Nature Cat. The show stars an ordinary housecat named Fred who becomes his alter-ego, “Nature Cat,” – backyard nature explorer – when his family leaves for the day. We’re already loving the energy and spunk from Nature Cat. Check out the site!

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As longtime Wild Kratts fans, I’m looking forward to this cool holiday special. We can’t wait to see what kind of adventure the Kratt brothers are up to for the holidays. Nature Cat sounds like so much fun! I totally envision our crazy cat having his own alter-ego every time he escapes the house!

Odd-tober and Halloween Shows on PBS

October 29, 2015 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

We’ve been busy getting ready for Halloween over here. As we finish carving pumpkins and all the usual fun stuff, I wanted to share some cool stuff that’s been going on at PBS.

Earlier in the month, in honor of Odd Squad, PBS kicked the spooky season with a one-hour special and the return of Halloween-themed family favorites from various series! The premiere featured “Odd Squad: Against the Odds,” which will included five 11-minute stories with Olive, Otto and the rest of the gang as they solve the community’s strange problems.

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“Odd-tober” will continue on PBS KIDS this week with the return of family Halloween favorites, including “Curious George: A Halloween Boo Fest.” Favorite episodes from series such as Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Wild Kratts, PEG + CAT and Dinosaur Train will also air throughout the week. Don’t forget to check out games and stream the Halloween-themed episodes free on pbskids.org and the PBS KIDS Video App.

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We’re all about that crazy Curious George and his silly shenanigans. What are your favorite Halloween shows on PBS?

Summer Reading Fun with PBS Kids

August 5, 2015 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Like so many of you, our summer has been an endless list of outdoor fun. Between summer sports and fun at the lake, we’ve rarely had time to sit in and veg in front of the tv. Before we start our day, however, I tend to do some work and let Biggie enjoy some unstructured play and reading time. Before any screen time, he has to read or create something for at least 30 minutes. So far, we’ve read a Ronald Dahl book and worked on the latest Wimpy Kid book.

Our friends at PBS Kids are always encouraging educational fun. In fact, for this summer’s reading initiative, they sent us a kit to have a little reading party with friends. Since we’re all about integrating reading in our day, we happily obliged, and had some friends over for a dessert reading party!

In addition to our desserts, we all hung out and shared our love of books. The older kids had fun reading to the younger kids and the younger kids loved telling fun stories to the older kids. We chatted about what makes reading so fun, and also what kinds of books catch our eyes.

In honor of the reading party, PBS Kids sent us fun goodies to share with our guests. We loved sharing bookmarks, reading charts, badges, booklets, and yes, even books! Harper Collins sent over a selection of I Can Read books, which were perfect for my soon-to-be 2nd grader and our young reading friends. I loved that so many favorite books were included, such as Fancy Nancy and Amelia Bedelia!

Beyond the party, our friends have been loving keeping track of their reading time and sharing what books they’ve loved. We’re well on our way to finishing our new I Can Read favorites and reading aloud to little bro!

A big thank you to PBS Kids for sending us supplies to host our Summer Reading Party. We loved sharing the reading fun with our friends! For more information about PBS Reading programs, be sure to check them out online.

Full disclosure: As a PBS Kids VIP, I was sent supplies to host a summer reading party. As always, all opinions on NKT are our own.

Review: Thomas & Friends Play and Watch App

December 18, 2014 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Like many other preschoolers, my little dude is absolutely fascinated by Thomas & Friends. There’s something about those quirky locomotives and their daily duties that mesmerizes their audience.

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Designed to further engage young fans of the show, Thomas & Friends has released a brand new app from PBS Kids called, Thomas & Friends Watch and Play app. There are three problem solving games that encourage open-ended play: Track Builder, Track Repair and Steam Team Snapshots. I totally thought the snapshot game was a photo app to take selfies. ha! Not quite. These games are fun for preschoolers to explore and create on their own. I appreciate that the graphics are just as robust on these games, as they are on the show.

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In addition to the three games, Thomas and Friends features a video player that showcases episodes within an interactive frame that kids can pretend to be the conductor.

Thomas and Friends Watch and Play is available now for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch and costs $2.99. The app is rated for 4+, but my 2.5 year old could navigate through most of the app on his own. This is the first Thomas app that offers full-length episodes, in addition to games that promote problem-solving. Waiting in the doctor’s office with a restless preschooler just got a little bit easier!

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We had a great time getting a sneak peek of Thomas and Friends Watch and Play app, and we had a lot to say about it. Check out our video as we navigate through the app for the first time:

Full disclosure: I received a promo code to facilitate this review. As always, opinions are my own on NKT.

Curious George Boo-Fest Returns for Halloween on PBS Kids

October 3, 2014October 3, 2014 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Fall and all of the fun that it brings is one of my favorite times of year. Lucky us, so many of our favorite shows underscore the fall fun, including our faves over at PBS Kids.

Later this month, be sure to check out new adventures with everyone’s favorite mischievous monkey, Curious George. New adventures of Curious George will debut on PBS KIDS October 28-30, including George testing his super spy skills and exploring an aviation museum. October 28 features the premiere of “Submonkey,” an underwater adventure that includes the song “Down, Down, Down,” performed by Belinda Carlisle of the Go-Go’s.

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Be on the look out for more Halloween fun with episodes from other PBS KIDS shows, including Dinosaur Train, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Wild Kratts and more.

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To find out more about the Curious George episodes read more after the jump:

Descriptions of the upcoming Curious George episodes via PBS Kids:

Wild Kratts on HuffPo Live Today

July 8, 2014 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Any swamp animal and/or HuffPo fans out there? Today, some of our PBS Kids friends and animal experts, Chris and Martin Kratt of Wild Kratt fame, will be interviewed on HuffPo Live today.

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They’ll be discussing their upcoming special on swamp animals, as well as sharing an upcoming clip. There will be a some kids video conferencing in for the interview, too! If you tune in, be on the look out for my big guy, who will be asking a question or two! Tune into HuffPo Live at 2 for the interview!

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The segment will be a quick one, so don’t blink! If and when the video becomes available, I’ll be sure to share here!

You can catch Wild Kratts weekdays on PBS Kids or anytime on Apple Tv! The PBS Kids Video App is now available on Android and Chromecast

Meeting Cookie Monster and other highlights from the 2014 PBS Annual Meeting

May 14, 2014May 14, 2014 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Once again, I’m attending the PBS Annual Meeting as part of the PBS Kids VIP ambassadorship program. This time, the meeting is in beautiful San Francisco, where we’re getting a chance to enjoy the local restaurants after sessions, as well as take in a few sights.

The agenda for the PBS Annual Meeting serves as a preview for the upcoming year for the channel’s various shows and specials. It’s a chance for the executives at stations across the US to engage with PBS execs, show creators and others involved in creating content for PBS’ platforms.

Lots of great independent programs, Martha Stewart, How We Get To Now with Steven Johnson are among the highlights so far.

Because so many of us embrace PBS for their stellar programming, it’s safe to say that we can relate to one—or all—of their current and upcoming shows. Like many of you, I grew up watching Sesame Street, Reading Rainbow and the Electric Company. In a home where English was my first language, yet my parents spoke a different language, these educational shows served as a supplement to my immersion to American culture, and ultimately, my version of preschool.

Of course, this was *ahem* 30 something years ago, nevertheless, this sentiment rings true today for many families of different socio-economic backgrounds.

My fellow PBS Kids VIP @urbanmama tweeted this today during an earlier session:

@PBSKids is the leader in school readiness. For families who don’t have access to preschool education #PBSKids DOES teach #PBSam

After a long day of traveling (ignore my crazy hair and loco face), yesterday we had the pleasure of meeting THE Cookie Monster and his muppeteer, Emmy nominated David Rudman. Cookie and the man who brings him to life were so lovely in making us laugh. But really, as if meeting Cookie wasn’t amazing enough, he answered questions for us and did personalized videos too. I mean, really?

Here’s the quick chat I had with the Muppet of the hour, Cookie Monster.

A big push on the PBSKIds pipeline is Oddsquad. It’s a little bit Men in Black, Airplane and SpyKids. Like other PBS Kids’ shows, this new live action show embraces math concepts to solve problems. It looks like they hope to tap into the school age demo, perhaps that 5-10 category. Including the snappy humor and strong female leads, I personally appreciated the pronounced diversity among the characters.

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One of the lead boys looks just like my older boy—this is huge for mixed kids who have often wondered why other shows don’t have characters that look like them. In a few hours, we’ll be meeting Tim McKeon and Adam Peltzman, the witty creators of OddSquad. I can’t wait for this one!

Stay tuned for more PBS Kids updates on here or catch me on Twitter or Instagram for live updates at #PBSam