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Austin PBS For Families

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.

Watch PBS KIDS PBS KIDS en Español PBS KIDS Games

What We Do in the Community

An adult reads to a young child

In the Community

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.

Children read the stories they wrote

Writers Showcase

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.

Visit Writers Showcase
A group of educators and young students learn with Sesame Street characters Elmo and Grover

Play to Learn

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.

Two children play games on a tablet device

Smart Screen Time® / La Pantalla Inteligente®

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!

Read More
Family Fest

Family Fest

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.

Educator teaches a group of young students

Childcare Partnerships

We support local childcare providers through evidence-based training, classroom resources, and ongoing support to enhance child care quality and workforce stability. Digital tablets and educational media are introduced to extend children’s learning in ways that are intentional and developmentally appropriate. We complement our services with the provision of high-quality children’s books, classroom materials, and family workshops. This incredible program is made possible by generous support from Workforce Solutions of the Capital Area and of the Rural Capital Area.

An educator works with a young student

Summer Outreach

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.

Explore Our Summer Resources
ACC Parenting Students speak on a panel in the Austin PBS studios

ACC Parenting Students

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 learning media

PBS LearningMedia

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.

Visit PBS LearningMedia

Discover PBS KIDS Shows, Games, and Activities

Shows Safe for Kids

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.

Discover PBS KIDS Shows

Games to Help Their Development

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.

Explore PBS KIDS Games

Off Screen Activities

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.

Try a PBS KIDS Activity

Our Impact

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.

Read the Education Impact Report

Support Education efforts

Interested in supporting Austin PBS Education Outreach? Contact the Austin PBS Sponsorship team at: underwriting@klru.org

Meet our Education Team

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.

Benjamin Kramer, Ph.D.

Benjamin Kramer, Ph.D.

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.

Cyndy Karras

Dr. Cyndy Karras

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.

Gricelda Silva

Gricelda Silva

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.

Melissa Holloway

Melissa Holloway

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.

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