PBS Kids Games: Educational Fun for Children

The internet can be a scary landscape for parents to navigate, especially when it comes to online gaming for their children. Many parents worry that some games may be too violent or contain inappropriate content. Additionally, online gaming can potentially expose children to risks such as cyberbullying or encounters with predators.

Fortunately, PBS Kids Games offers a trustworthy online gaming platform that parents can trust. It is designed by a trusted brand in children's education and provides a wide range of free educational games covering various subjects like math and reading. Even better, these games are specifically tailored for preschool and elementary-aged children, ensuring both educational value and age-appropriate content.

If you're interested in learning more about PBS KIDS Games, we're here to help. We'll explore the platform's benefits, the types of games available, and how it compares to other children's gaming options.

What are PBS Kids Games?

PBS Kids Games is a free educational gaming platform developed by the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) network. It is designed to promote child development through interactive learning experiences. Available as both a mobile app and an online library, this platform offers a wide variety of free online games for children aged 2 to 8.

According to Abby Jenkins, the Senior Director of Content at PBS KIDS, the platform currently features more than 375 free, educational games that are easily accessible to young learners. Jenkins emphasizes that PBS KIDS, as the number one educational media brand for children, aims to provide 'lessons that last a lifetime' through its diverse gaming offerings.

Types of PBS Kids Games

Sandy Vicars, supervisor of Family Education and Support Services at Arizona's Children's Association, says that the PBS Kids Games features a variety of games that promote development across four key areas: physical, social, emotional, and cognitive skills.

Jenkins also points out that games on the platform cover a wide range of curricular areas, including math, literacy, science, arts, and social studies. For the most part, games are part of a multiplatform content strategy, so that kids can experience the same learning goals whether they watch an episode or play a game from that PBS KIDS series.

Benefits of PBS Kids Games

Because PBS Kids is the number one educational media brand for children, it's no surprise that its games have benefits. Here are some of the major ones parents should be aware of:

Safe gaming environment

One of the biggest benefits of PBS Kids Games is that it allows children to play in a safe, ad-free environment. The platform is hosted on the PBS website and has no third-party advertisements or external links, and no registration is required to play.

PBS Kids Games offers parental controls through the Parent Tools section on the website. Here, parents can manage storage and settings and access information about their child's gameplay and skills development.

Teaches important skills

According to Theresa Bertuzzi, chief program development officer and co-founder of Tiny Hoppers, a chain of early learning centers in Canada, PBS Kids Games offers a wide range of educational benefits for children.

"These games promote critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity, which are essential components of early cognitive development," she explains. "For example, "Super Why! Spelling Play" focuses on teaching reading and literacy, while math games like "Odd Squad" and "Peg + Cat" make learning about numbers and problem-solving fun and interactive."

Beyond academic skills, Bertuzzi notes that many of the games encourage children to use their hands through dragging, clicking, and tracing activities, which helps develop both fine and gross motor skills.

Introduces STEM concepts

PBS Kids Games offers a variety of engaging activities that introduce science, technology, engineering, and math concepts to kids in an entertaining way.

Bertuzzi highlights that "The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!" and "Design Squad Global" encourage children to think like engineers and designers. At the same time, "Ready Jet Go!" takes young learners on an exciting journey through space and Earth science, making complex STEM topics accessible and engaging."

PBS Kids Games also provides opportunities for children to learn coding concepts such as algorithms and sequencing. Jenkins notes, "Games from 'LYLA IN THE LOOP' and 'WORK IT OUT WOMBATS!' build on these foundational concepts." Furthermore, the free PBS KIDS ScratchJr app allows children to engage in creative coding by building their own games and stories. Kids can snap colourful coding blocks together in this app to create animated sequences.

Reinforces learning at home

PBS Kids Games offers valuable educational opportunities both at home and in the classroom. Bertuzzi states, "Teachers can use these games as supplementary fun that still helps kids with math, science and reading. This allows parents to support their children's education at home."

Family bonding

Jenkins highlights another benefit of PBS Kids Games: they provide families with opportunities for discussion and to bring screen-based activities into real life. She states, "Playing games together can be a great way to bond and learn as a family. I encourage parents and caregivers to find games by topic or a series that their child is interested in and go from there!"

Expert-recommended PBS Kids Games

Bathrooms

If you are looking for great computer games for kindergartners, Bathrooms from Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood is a great choice. It allows children to explore and interact with different types of bathrooms they will use in real life, including home bathrooms, public restrooms and portable toilets.

Vicars highlights the educational value of this game, stating, "It helps younger children practice brushing their teeth, washing their hands, and using the toilet." To maximize the game's impact, Vicars suggests, "After playing the game, help the child follow up with their care routines."

Arthur vs D.W.

Arthur vs. D.W. is another great online game featuring the beloved siblings from the popular children's series "Arthur." It offers both single-player and two-player modes, allowing children to enjoy solo play or compete with friends. As players control either Arthur or D.W. in various mini-games and challenges, they develop important skills such as strategic thinking, quick decision-making, and good sportsmanship.

Babysitting Squee

Jenkins suggests that fans of the popular PBS show "Jelly, Ben & Pogo" try this online game. In this game, players help Jelly, Ben, and Pogo take care of Squee, which is a great way to practice empathy and learn how to care for others. To further enhance this learning experience, Jenkins encourages parents to ask their kids what they appreciate most about being looked after by a babysitter after playing the game.

Pinkamazing Family Game

Based on the PBS Kids show "Pinkalicious & Peterrific," this game is designed for all ages and accommodates up to four players, making it ideal for family play. Players respond to silly prompts by drawing or acting, which helps develop children's creativity. After playing, Jenkin recommends that families explore ways to extend the game's concepts beyond the app to encourage further engagement and learning.

Story Emporium

Inspired by the PBS show "Work It Out Wombats!" Jenkins says this game is about teamwork and storytelling. Players take turns adding exciting twists to the tale, featuring their favourite Wombats characters. As the story unfolds, children make choices that steer the adventure in new directions. As a result, it fosters creativity and teaches important concepts such as cause and effect, problem-solving and task completion.

How PBS Kids Games compare to other online kids games

Unlike other online kids' games, PBS KIDS Games cover a wide range of educational areas. Jenkins elaborates, "This includes content for our youngest audience, helping them practice everyday routines like bedtime and going to the dentist. We also offer games that teach math, science, literacy, and critical thinking skills."

Their commitment to overall development makes PBS KIDS Games even more unique. Beyond academics, these games also focus on social-emotional learning, which helps kids build important life skills. Jenkins points out these games "go the extra mile" in this area.

Finally, the presence of beloved PBS characters adds an extra layer of excitement for children. "Since kids are already fans of these characters from PBS shows, it makes their learning journey even more fun and familiar," Jenkins explains.

Using PBS Kids Games to prevent boredom at home

On rainy days spent indoors, kids often gravitate towards movies or video games. However, Jenkins says that PBS Kids Games offers a more enriching alternative that combines education with family bonding.

"Playing games together gives families a chance to bond and learn together, allowing parents and caregivers to participate in their kids' play actively," she explains. "Some games even allow for multiple players, so moms, dads, and caregivers can join in on the fun."

The importance of limiting screentime

While PBS Kids Games can enhance your child's learning experience at home, Vicars says it is important to be mindful of your child's screen time and set appropriate limits.

She explains, "According to guidelines established by the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, non-educational screen time for children aged two to five years should be limited to about one hour per weekday and three hours on weekends."

Vicars says that it's also crucial for parents to integrate themes from the games into everyday play and conversations to support the sensory feedback that children require for healthy development.

"For example, when a child holds a bowl or bucket, they experience the texture and physical properties of the objects used during play," she says. "By providing materials similar to those in the game, children can create their own boats and test them in water to see if they float or sink. This hands-on interaction is crucial for developing fine motor skills and understanding basic scientific concepts through experimentation."

Future of PBS Kids Games

Jenkins explains that the PBS Kids team continuously strives to enhance their gaming experience by maintaining close contact with their target audience.

"We dedicate significant time to engaging with children and having them test our games during development, providing valuable feedback," she states. "Our goal is to reach children where they are and create content that is both relatable and enjoyable."

PBS Kids Games is also expanding accessibility features, including various audio and visual settings as well as closed captions. In addition, Jenkins says that PBS Kids Games plans to create new games based on upcoming series, including content related to CARL THE COLLECTOR, their first series centred on an autistic main character, set to premiere on November 14, 2024.

"This animated series will launch with games aimed at children ages four to eight and will feature Carl, a warm-hearted autistic raccoon, and his friends in Fuzzytown," Jenkins explains. In the debut game, Carl's Collections, kids can join Carl in building their own unique collections. This gameplay encourages creativity and allows children to explore different themes while learning about organization and categorization."

PBS Kids Games is a fantastic resource for families seeking free kids' games with an educational flair. This platform offers an array of games themed around popular PBS shows tailored to various age groups and educational stages.

As a premier educational resource, PBS Kids ensures a safe, ad-free environment for children to play and learn. However, to keep children safe online, parents can utilize the Parent Tools section on the site to manage settings, monitor their child's gameplay and track skills development.

While PBS Kids Games are great for supporting learning beyond the classroom, it's important to balance screen time with other activities. Parents can enhance the educational experience by integrating themes from the games into everyday play and conversations. This way, children can use what they've learned in real-life situations, which makes their learning experience even more valuable.

Experts

• Sandy Vicars supervises family education and support services at Arizona's Children Association, a not-for-profit agency that provides child welfare and behavioral health services.
• Abby Jenkins is the Senior Director of Content at PBS KIDS.
• Theresa Bertuzzi is the chief program development officer and co-founder of Tiny Hoppers, a chain of early learning centers in Canada.