“Working together to prepare children for lifelong learning”

PBS eight’s Ready to Learn offers a wealth of local and national resources to support the roles of parents, caregivers, educational and service providers, working together to prepare children for lifelong learning. These resources include:

• The award-winning PBS children’s programming that sets the national standard for high-quality, educational safe viewing
• Free local workshops (CEU approved) based on national curriculum of Ready To Learn programs
• Informative, interactive local conferences and events
• State licensed educators offering local services through PBS eight
• RTL monthly newsletter and program guide
• Grant funded community partnerships and projects
• Free online resources, services and support materials
• Free online learning activities for children

Ready to Learn is a nationwide effort using on-air, online and print resources and local support to help parents and early childhood educators  and providers prepare children for success in school. Local stations, like PBS eight, build partnerships with community organizations such as childcare centers, schools, libraries, businesses, civic groups, and government agencies to do this. PBS eight broadcasts children's educational television programming and promotes online learning resources for adults and children. PBS eight extends the value of children's educational television through local workshops for parents, early childhood educators and care and service providers to help them use PBS KIDS programs as teaching tools with the children in their care.

Second only to parents, television is the young child's most influential teacher. Nothing else in our culture can match television's ability to influence how children learn, think, and act. Given the power of television, young children need adults to help them become wise television users. Many studies show that with selective viewing, television can contribute to school readiness. To help children get the most from the TV they watch, parents must take responsibility for supervising and guiding their children's TV viewing. This is why PBS eight’s Ready To Learn program is essential.