Kids & Learning

Inside PBS Parents
Family Activities
Issues & Advice
Ready to Learn Workshops

This workshop teaches parents and childcare professionals how to turn the television into a tool for learning. Parents and kids alike all love Clifford, Sesame Street, Dragon Tales and other great programs on WFSU but did you know that these programs could also help your child be ready for school? Learn how to utilize the educational programming found on WFSU so that your child will have the social and emotional development as well as cognitive skills to meet success in school. Learn how to extend the message of the program with books and activities after the TV is turned off. We call it the "Triangle of Learning" – View, Do and Read. This workshop also looks at child development performance measures and how they can be integrated into the Ready To Learn model.

There is a lot of emphasis these days on preparing our young children to read. How can we integrate core curriculum that is appropriate and effective in a preschool setting and early elementary? What is all this talk about phonics, fluency and phonemic awareness? In this workshop we will look at what the research says and how to implement developmentally appropriate practices at home and in the classroom. We will examine some of PBS children’s programs and see how they develop early literacy skills in a fun and interactive manner. Programs such as Clifford, Sesame Street, Barney, Reading Rainbow and Between the Lions engage children and teach concrete skills as well as the love of reading. Children don’t even know they are learning. We will also discuss great children’s books and fun activities that help extend the lesson after the television is turned off.

Anger is a natural emotion that can be overwhelming for young children. Mister Rogers and Family Communications developed this workshop to train caring adults how to help young children gradually learn the self-control needed to manage angry feelings. Using small group exercises and fun activities, participants learn how to help children channel angry feelings. Participants will also learn intervention strategies to help children regain control. This workshop is particularly helpful for caregivers and parents.

Children are surrounded by media – video games, television, magazines, radio are part of our daily lives. How do we teach our children to be choosy users of this media and know how to view it with a critical eye?In this workshop learn how to interpret media and use it effectively with children. Learn how to utilize the power of TV and the internet. We will show you how to extend the message on the screen with great books and activities.

Research is giving us an extraordinary new understanding of how a child’s mind and brain develop. Babies are born with unique capabilities and we know that the way we parent can influence their development. Thisworkshop is designed to help parents develop better parenting skills. The model of this workshop is based on viewing 60-second television interstitials that look at how children think, feel and learn. Attendees will participate in breakout activities that help them examine and identify cues that babies use to communicate, how they learn through imitation and reading adult faces, how language develops and how stress impacts a child’s development.

Having trouble with math? Don’t know how to teach it to your children in a fun and innovative way? Cyberchase is a multimedia project that encourages children ages 7-11 to see, think, and do mathematics. The TV show, online puzzles, lesson plans, and print activities have been carefully designed to support math education and reflect the curriculum standards of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. This workshop teaches the participant how to utilize all these resources and engage in their math and brainpower in order to save the day in cyber world or maybe just in their everyday lives!

WFSU children’s programs offer many fine examples of music and literacy. Music and songs provide a wonderful teaching tool. Research shows that teaching children songs to sing help build early literacy skills needed for reading. Participants will rediscover the child within as we sing, create and play instruments. This workshop is particularly for fun-loving adults!

The early years are a crucial time in children’s lives to nurture lifelong healthy habits. Between 2 and 5 years of age, children begin to develop food preferences and their bodies change rapidly – physical control, motor skills and balance improve, and their muscles get stronger. Children at this age are very curious about the world and how it works, and their earliest explorations often begin with learning about their bodies. Come learn with Sesame Street about the important role caregivers play in helping children develop a healthy lifestyle. Through interactive games and activities you learn fun new creative ideas to introduce children to the importance of eating healthy foods, physical activity, hygiene, rest and relaxation.