Austin PBS is thrilled to provide free programs aimed specifically for young children and families across Central Texas. Our education team has created and compiled helpful resources for anywhere, anytime learning moments. Explore below to see what Austin PBS can do for your family.
Enjoy a collection of favorite shows, games, and hands-on activities from our Education Team
Celebrate the differences that make each child special with new episodes of Carl the Collector, play themed games, and find crafting inspiration. Plus, see tips for parents and caregivers on how to help young ones deal with big feelings.
Austin PBS isn’t just television; it’s a trusted educational service that thousands of Texas families and educators rely on for developmentally appropriate, non-commercial resources. The following initiatives provide children with quality tools and activities that foster curiosity, creativity, and school readiness.
The annual Austin PBS Writer’s Showcase is a program that encourages kids to get involved in reading and writing both in and out of the classroom. In 2025 there was a record 400+ submissions written and illustrated by kids across Central Texas in both English and Spanish. The finalists from each grade level are invited to come and read their story on stage in Studio A to celebrate their achievements. Every single story we receive through this program is published on our website so participants can share their stories with loved ones near and far.
This free 10-session program for children ages 2 to 5 and their parents or caregivers promotes kindergarten readiness, learning routines, and responsible digital media use. Participants receive take-home kits and digital tablets to support them in their learning at home. Play to Learn has shown to improve children's developmental skills while while promoting prosocial behaviors and prepare them for their first years of school.
The Austin PBS Education team created a set of guidelines for parents and caregivers to navigate healthy media use for their children. This free guide provides practical tips on how to keep screen time healthy, fun, and safe - not just for kids, but for the whole family!
Our annual Family Fest is a free event for families across the Austin area. We open our studios and invite families to join us for special performances, screenings, educational resources, and interactive games.
We support local child care providers with digital tablets, classroom supplies, and hands-on assistance to enhance child care quality and workforce stability. This incredible program is made possible by generous support from Workforce Solutions of the Capital Area and of the Rural Capital Area.
We partner with summer enrichment programs (PK–12) serving low-income communities to align PBS resources to their curricula and to introduce Smart Screen Time to parents and youth. Our Summer Outreach program helps ensure kids continue learning over the break for a smoother transition back to school.
We’ve partnered with our neighbors Austin Community College to provide resources, care packages, and special programming for ACC students who are parents of young children (0–8). Parenting students face specific challenges as they navigate parenthood while pursuing demanding coursework and often full- or part-time employment. Austin PBS is here to help support them at this crucial time in their lives.
PBS LearningMedia is a free online resource built for educators but accessible to all that provides thousands of classroom-ready materials for PreK-12 students, including videos, lesson plans, interactives, and primary sources. Austin PBS has contributed content and activities to PBS LearningMedia from shows such as Austin City Limits and Chasing the Tide, among many others.
PBS KIDS shows are thoughtfully created to support children's learning at every stage. PBS KIDS focuses on building skills such as communication,critical thinking, literacy, and STEM while fostering fun and engaging storytelling. Developed with the guidance from educators and child development experts, these shows are designed around children's developmental needs and prioritize inclusive storytelling. PBS KIDS puts children’s education and safety first by offering content parents can trust to support their child’s learning.
Turn playtime into learning time! PBS KIDS Games encourage children to practice important academic and life skills in fun, interactive ways. Children can explore literacy, math, science, social studies, and computational thinking through games featuring their favorite PBS KIDS shows. PBS KIDS Games are developed with input from educational and child development experts.
PBS Parents offers a wide variety of hands-on activities for the whole family to enjoy. From crafts and science experiments to creating your own carnival games inspired by “Lyla in the Loop”, these resources support learning beyond the screen. Activities are inspired by PBS KIDS shows and can be found by age, interest, and learning focus, helping families turn everyday moments into meaningful experiences.
Funding for public media plays a crucial role in providing free, high-quality educational programming and essential resources to the community. Despite losing federal funding in 2025, our team has continued to make an impact in the community. You can read more about this work and its importance in our impact report.
This incredible team is comprised of childcare and early education experts who spend time out in the community learning what caregivers in our community really need. Every day, they create and distribute free resources, host workshops and events, and make a real difference in the lives of kids and families across Central Texas.
Chief Education Officer
Benjamin Kramer has led education work at Austin PBS since 2011. He has previously worked as a Bilingual Spanish/ESL teacher, principal, and professor. One constant in his work as an educator has been the use of free and affordable media and technology to foster language acquisition. Benjamin holds a B.A. from Princeton University, a Master's in Education from Harvard University, and a Ph.D. in Curriculum & Instruction from UT-Austin. As a boy, he would adjust the antenna from the roof of his house in order to receive the local PBS signal.
Child Care Partnership Specialist
Dr. Cyndy Karras has served as the Child Care Partnership Specialist at Austin PBS since April 2025. She is a bilingual early childhood professional dedicated to advancing access to equitable, high-quality child care. Her career spans roles as a preschool teacher, director, higher education faculty member, and consultant. She specializes in building collaborative partnerships and providing professional development for early childhood educators, including those serving Spanish-speaking communities. Dr. Karras holds an M.A. in Educational Psychology from New York University and a Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Sciences from The University of Texas at Austin.
Education Project Manager
Gricelda Silva has been with the Education Department at Austin PBS for almost 2 years. She oversees all education-related projects and events and manages PBS LearningMedia content uploads for the station. In addition to her work at Austin PBS, Gricelda serves as Co-Producing Artistic Director of Glass Half Full Theatre, an Austin, Texas-based company that creates multilingual devised works featuring puppets and humans that highlight themes of social & environmental justice. Gricelda is a native Spanish-speaking Mexican-American originally from Laredo, Texas. She holds B.A.s in Psychology and Philosophy from St. Edward’s University.
Program Director, Play to Learn
Melissa Holloway is a bilingual early childhood educator who has taught across multiple states. As a native Spanish speaker, Melissa credits PBS with helping her learn English. She holds a Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education from Florida International University in Miami, FL. For the past five years, she has supported educators and families at Austin PBS, and now brings her experience to the Play to Learn program. When she’s not at work, you’ll find her painting, enjoying being a mom, or happily bird-watching.