Resources for Helping Kids Understand the Coronavirus

News about the coronavirus is dominating all social media, news outlets, and even word of mouth. A big question for parents is "How much should I tell my little one?" And even more important, "How do I keep them safe?"

Young children

Friends, for younger children, I have to tell you that once again, it is PBS to the rescue. Last week, they published this awesome article with tips for parents on how and what to tell your kids about COVID-19.

The main three points?

1. Keep it simple,
2. Reassure children that they are safe,
3. Emphasize simple things your family can do to be “germ busters” such as washing your hands and practicing healthy habits.

And they also include an excellent list full of links to PBS KIDS videos, games and activities all about handwashing and staying healthy. 

Here's one example from our friends, Rosita and Elmo (in English & Spanish)!

Older Children

And for older kids, you may have already seen this excellent video from BrainPop. It's part of their free resources...

PBS Celebrates Día de los Muertos

One of the things I love best about PBS is how hard it works to be inclusive and to reflect the experiences of their viewers. From Sesame Street to Molly of Denali, I feel like the shows on PBS KIDS introduce children to a diverse world and also help empower children from a variety of backgrounds. And the same is true for their programming for adults.

Did you know that PBS has quite a few resources for Día de los Muertos? Sometimes it's hard to get things exactly right, but most of the time, the introduction (to children) is pretty accurate. I've chosen my favorite episode, craft, and lessons that introduce Day of the Dead to families.

First, for the children...

PBS KIDS

One of my son's favorite new PBS KIDS shows, Let's Go Luna!, has an episode dedicated to the Day of the Dead! Click here to watch it online - just skip to the second half of the show (12:00) to watch it.

PBS Parents

PBS's website for parents also has this super fun tutorial to help you Make Your Own Catrina Doll. They are just the cutest and pretty easy for children to make on their own!

PBS Learning Media

There are a few different lessons on here, but these two are my favorites. The first is a comprehensive unit with multiple videos. The second is a nice introduction to the holiday from a personal point of view.

• Día de los Muertos: Tradition and Translation | Craft in America

• Day of the Dead/Día de los Muertos | Everyday Learning

PBS

And finally, for teens and adults, there is a wonderful documentary available for streaming on PBS.org. Artbound has this Día de los Muertos episode that features an "altarista" from L.A., and also talks about the history of Day of the Dead in this country.

Other Posts About Day of the Dead:

• Día de los Muertos, Day of the Dead Lesson Plans and Activities
  
  
• Last-Minute Print-and-Go Day of the Dead Activities
  
  
• Monarch Butterflies & Day of the Dead
  
  
• Dia de los Muertos Nichos

PBS Shows on DVD: The Berenstain Bears & Dinosaur Train

As the busy holiday season approaches, parents look for ways to give their kids some downtime at home but still keep them learning or busy. If this sounds like you, then maybe you'll love learning that last month, PBS KIDS released new DVDs of their popular shows The Berenstain Bears and Dinosaur Train.

DVDs are a great alternative to just putting on the TV and letting your kids watch for hours. You can control not only the content, but the amount of time spent watching AND you can do it commercial free. :)

THE BERENSTAIN BEARS: Tree House Tales, Volume 1 has 26 stories from this beloved bear family. I love this show because of the important values it teaches, such as kindness, consideration, respecting others, and more. I don't worry about what my child is learning when he watches it. And did you know that you can find lesson plans and activities for the Berenstain Bears on PBS?

DINOSAUR TRAIN: Dinosaurs Big and Small was also released on DVD. It contains 10 episodes focused on - Yep! - shapes and sizes. Lots of great math concepts taught in these episodes: comparing, shapes, counting, and more. And like the other one, you can find great lesson plans for Dinosaur Train online. Check out PBS Learning Media.

Oh, and you can also stream some of the episodes from these DVDs on the PBS KIDS Prime Video Channel!

But if you are traveling and looking for something to keep the kids occupied on a long trip, both DVDs are inexpensive and can be found on Amazon:

PBS Launches Spanish-Language Versions of PBS KIDS Programs

Stop the press! I just found out that PBS is launching Spanish-language versions of some of its top kids' shows! I get questions from readers all the time when I share news about PBS KIDS shows, asking me if they are available in Spanish. I was always sad to say no. But not anymore!

This post contains affiliate links.

PBS Kids Shows in Spanish 

Here are the shows you can find on their PBS KIDS Amazon Prime Video Channel:

• DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD, 
• DINOSAUR TRAIN, 
• SCIGIRLS, 
• CYBERCHASE, 
• and CAILLOU. 

There is a total of 30 episodes of PBS KIDS programming available in Spanish. And if you are a subscriber of the PBS KIDS Amazon Prime Channel, you won't pay any extra fee for the newly available programs.

Hopefully, they will be expanding the number of shows...(Psst! WILD KRATTS, please! I mean, Aviva already sprinkles a teensy bit of Spanish in every now and then. )

PBS Kids Toys

If you'd like to nurture your child's love of educational shows and extend the learning through play, check out the PBS Kids Shop. Here are a few of my favorite toys based on our favorite PBS Kids shows. 

Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood Trolley with Daniel Tiger Figure

Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood - Friends & Stuffies exclusive figure set 10 piece

Cyberchase Activity Workbook for Ages 7-11

Thanks, PBS KIDS!

Other Posts You May Enjoy

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• PBS KIDS Launches New 24/7 Channel
  
  
• New PBS KIDS Show Helps Nurture Creativity in Preschoolers

Earth Month on PBS KIDS Starts TODAY

PBS KIDS has a whole new set of episodes that celebrate Earth Month that will begin airing TODAY!

Any Wild Kratts lovers out there in MommyMaestra readerville? I have two here at my house. So they've been ticking down the days ever since they heard that WILD KRATTS, NATURE CAT, and READY JET GO! will all be airing new episodes this week.

And, of course, we are especially excited that Wild Kratts will be featuring flamingos in their episode today. In fact, they filmed part of this episode at the bird park where my husband worked before we moved back to Texas. So cool!

It's also exciting that there will be the first-ever crossover episode of NATURE CAT that includes a guest appearance from Chris and Martin Kratt of WILD KRATTS.

The awesome thing about these episodes is that they inspire kids to go outside, explore, and have their own nature adventures.

So don't miss out! If you have little ones who are PBS fans, be sure to watch your favorite shows all this week!

New PBS KIDS Show Helps Nurture Creativity in Preschoolers

When my kids were little, being creative was easy. All I had to do was keep my art cabinet stocked full of basic goodies: drawing paper, crayons, markers, colored pencils, rulers, glitter, pipe cleaners, scissors, glue... yada-yada. My house was full of art, inventions, crafts, and such.

But I've noticed that as they grew, these items were used less and less. Today, I usually have to give my kids specific projects to get them to ask for art materials.

According to some information from PBS KIDS that I read, creativity "defines our ability to be successful in the workplace, solve complex problems, enhance our socio-emotional skills, and craft several stories a day." The first workplace spaces that popped into my mind were PR firms, graphic design studios, and publishing houses. But if you really, really think about it, pretty much EVERY workspace benefits from employees who can solve complex problems and be creative in their day-to-day work.

The same information sheet said that "kids lose their creativity as they age." And that "the creativity scores of American children have consistently cropped every year for the last 28 years." How sad is that? And how do I stop that from happening with my own kids?

I think, that with my older two, I'm still motivating them to be creative with various projects and art class. My son also has a room FULL of LEGOS and spends lots of time creating his own masterpieces.

But now I have a little baby and I am giving this whole issue more thought. Starting when your kids are young is important. Do you nurture your preschooler/elementary child's creativity?

PBS KIDS is thinking about this issue, too. And tomorrow, Monday, February 19th, they are launching their first series dedicated entirely to the arts and creativity: PINKALICIOUS & PETERRIFIC! Based on the best-selling book series by Victoria Kann, the show follows the adventures of Pinkalicious, her brother Peter, and their neighborhood friends. It focuses on encouraging its young viewers to engage in the creative arts and self-expression.

Pinkalicious is an artist at heart who imagines creative possibilities everywhere she looks. The show is designed to help your preschooler explore the arts with:

• Creative Problem Solving: the characters model creative problem solving and the power of teamwork.
  
• Everyday/Everywhere Art: Art and beauty can be found in everyday objects and in every moment throughout the day.
  
• Community Through Art: The arts help define communities, connect neighborhoods, and help us learn about each other and the larger world.
  
• Communicating Through Art: Artistic activities contribute to learning skills, helping children communicated thoughts, ideas, and emotions.

I think that as a society, we are starved for creativity. You can see evidence of it in the explosion of adult coloring books, the zentangle craze, and the renewed interest in needlework. Just walk into any bookstore and you'll see arts and crafts books in the entryway prominently displayed.

I see it in myself all the time now. When I was younger, I happily flitted from one creative project to the next. But over the last 15 years or so, I became so focused on mothering, I forgot about my own creative needs. That's why I love creating printables so much now. And I want to help my kids nurture their own creative spirits and not get lost like I was for years.

--------------------------------

Four Ways You Can Nurture Your Child's Creativity

1. Draw: Research indicates a connection between seemingly distracted scribbling and greater info retention and creativity.
   
2. Mold: Making things with your hands is a large part of finding your flow, and flow is highly correlated with happiness!
   
3. Look: Changing your perspective to see in a different light can lead to new ideas (try the rose-colored glasses!)
   
4. Play: Music can create happiness, which can broaden your mindset and enhance your desire to explore

So if you have a preschooler, be sure to check out the new PBS KIDS show, PINKALICIOUS & PETERRIFIC tomorrow, Monday, February 19th, on your local PBS station!


Disclosure: I am a PBS VIP. I received information about the new show and the products shown above for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

PBS KIDS Plug & Play

Did you know that this week, PBS KIDS launched the first ever kid-safe TV and playtime streaming stick? Now I'm not promoting increased screen time for your little ones, but I do advocate that when your child is watching TV, the content be child-friendly AND educational!

The PBS KIDS Plug & Play device is pre-loaded with exclusive sing-alongs, games and more, which can all be accessed without Wi-Fi (I love that it doesn't eat up my data!!). This allows kids to navigate through the interactive playtime experience, in an entirely kid-friendly environment, with access to nothing but kids content.

When connected to Wi-Fi, the Plug & Play’s features expand, offering free access to PBS KIDS’ 24/7 channel and livestream, and over 100 hours of on-demand videos, with no subscription required. 

So let's say that you let your little one watch TV for one hour three times a week. With this device, you can rest easy knowing that they will have over 33 weeks of quality, educational content in videos alone. That's not including the sing-alongs, games and other stuff. So when you put it all together, that's basically one school year!

And that's a parenting win-win.

The PBS KIDS Plug & Play will be available for $49.99 in Walmart stores nationwide by May 24 and other retailers later this year.

Disclosure: I am a PBS KIDS ambassador, which essentially means I learn about new programs and products to share with my readers on a regular basis. I did not receive any compensation for this post and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

PBS KIDS Celebrates Autism Awareness Month

As you may know, April is Autism Awareness Month and in an effort to promote awareness, acceptance, and understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorder, PBS KIDS will be airing special shows featuring autistic characters throughout the month. PBS also has great online resources for parents and teachers to learn more. Here are some of the resources you'll find:

ONLINE RESOURCES

• PBS Parents has a whole section dedicated to autism with articles on everything from how to identify autism in children to their educational needs.
• PBS Learning Media has great articles for educators.

NEW EPISODES, SPECIALS & PROGRAMMING EVENTS

PBS KIDS airs episodes featuring characters with Autism during National Autism Awareness Month. Includes a premiere episode of SESAME STREET featuring a new muppet character, Julia, who has autism.

• 4/10       Sesame Street “Meet Julia” **NEW**
• 4/10       Dinosaur Train “Junior Conductors Academy”
• 4/10       Arthur “When Carl Met George/D.W. Swims with the Fishes”
• 4/11       Arthur “Pets and Pests/Go Fly a Kite”
• 4/12       Arthur “Carl's Concerto/Too Much of a Good Thing”
• 4/13       Arthur “He Said, He Said/Bunny Trouble”

Celebrate Mr. Rogers' Birthday with PBS {Free Download}

Did you know that today is Fred Rogers' birthday? He would have been 89 years old. When I was a kid, I rarely missed an episode of Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood. I loved learning about how things were made in those little video clips he often showed and I was positively enthralled by Lady Aberlin in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe.

As an adult and a parent, I have a totally different view and a profound respect for Rogers' advocacy for children and education. He testified in court and before the U.S. Senate on behalf of children's programming. Rogers received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, some forty honorary degrees, and a Peabody Award. He was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame, was recognized by two Congressional resolutions, and was ranked No. 35 among TV Guide's Fifty Greatest TV Stars of All Time. Several buildings and artworks in Pennsylvania are dedicated to his memory, and the Smithsonian Institution displays one of his trademark sweaters as a "Treasure of American History."

To celebrate Fred's legacy and encourage fans to share their personal stories of how Fred, PBS and member stations have positively impacted them, PBS will be celebrating his life all day today on their social media. Be sure to keep an eye out for their posts!

Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood is a new animated show on PBS KIDS based on one of Rogers' characters in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe. Today, there's a Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood Trolley-themed takeover of pbskids.org and a special new Trolley kart in PBS KIDS' online world Kart Kingdom (now also available as a free app for iPad).

They've also created these new Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood iOS stickers and added them to the free PBS KIDS sticker pack. You can download them here:

To download the stickers, click here

Disclosure: I'm a PBS KIDS Ambassador, which allows me to share special news and materials with my readers. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

PBS KIDS Launches New 24/7 Channel

Did you know that starting today, PBS KIDS is launching their new 24/7 channel? It's part of their mission to make high-quality, educational television available to families at any time of the day or night. 

Families will be able to access the new channel on-the-go with the digital live stream which complements on-demand clips and full episodes (these continue to be available for free on the PBS KIDS Video App and streaming via pbskids.org). Viewers will be able to watch the station-branded live stream through pbskids.org and on the PBS KIDS Video App, which is available on a variety of mobile devices, tablets and over-the-top platforms such as Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Xbox One and Chromecast.

To be honest, I'd much rather my kids be watching PBS KIDS than most of the junk that's on now. IF my kids are going to be watching TV, I'd rather it be educational. And fortunately, my kids love shows like WILD KRATTS and ODD SQUAD.

While it is important to limit your child's screen time, it sure is nice to know that there is a channel you can let them watch without having to monitor it for commercials and inappropriate shows. Thanks, PBS KIDS!

5 Ways to Explore the Ocean with Young Children

One of the most fascinating habitats for children to explore is the ocean. Marine life is so incredibly different from anything they might encounter in their daily lives, that it captures their imagination almost instantly.

Here are five ways to explore marine biology with your little ones.

This post contains affiliate links.

Read About the Ocean

There are literally hundreds of amazing books that have been published on the ocean. I especially love picture books with visually stunning pictures and illustrations that take your child's imagination on a trip under the sea. But don't forget to include storybooks that take place on, near, or under the ocean. They help your child connect with sea life in a more personal way.

Check out my list of 15 Children's Books about the Ocean. The list includes excellent titles in both English and Spanish. 

Activities

Hands-on activities are so much fun and promote learning. Children who do activities (coloring, crafts, art) are much more likely to remember the concepts being taught. And the activity doesn't have to be messy or complicated. A simple coloring book like Sea Creatures Coloring Book For Kids is fun for toddlers and preschoolers and easy to take on the road. Older children may enjoy this more artistic and detailed coloring book, Detailed Coloring Books For Kids.

If you're looking for activities a little more challenging, here's a post with 24+ Ocean-Themed Activities for Kids that includes crafts and other activities for a variety of ages.

For more ideas, check out my Ocean Life Activities board on Pinterest...

Games

Seriously, nothing gets kids more excited than games. Even if the actual game itself isn't very educational, simply having an ocean theme can get kids excited about learning after the game is finished. 

Or you can use it as an incentive for more serious learning by saving it for a reward after a day of "hard" learning. ("Wow! We learned a lot today. Let's play a game to finish up!")

Watch SPLASH & BUBBLES

Have your little ones seen the PBS KIDS series Splash and Bubbles? It's from The Jim Henson Company. It's designed to encourage kids (ages 4 - 7) to explore the natural undersea world. Developed with top marine biologists, you can be reassured that the content is accurate, educational, and super fun! For example, in the first episode, your child will learn about bioluminescence and the ocean depths. (PSST! Four 11-minute stories are available NOW in the free PBS KIDS Video App and on pbskids.org.)

Field Trip!

There's nothing like first-hand experience, so if you happen to live not too far from the coast, pack up your kids for the weekend and head to the beach. If it's too far away, or a little out of your budget, look for an aquarium or zoo near you. Even museums of natural sciences often have an exhibit dedicated to the deep.

Other Posts You May Enjoy

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• Children's Books About Sharks in English and Spanish
  
  
• Children's Crafts & Activities for Shark Week
  

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Disclosure: This post is written in collaboration with PBS KIDS. All opinions are the writer's.

WordWorld's It's Time for School on DVD

One of the best concepts for an educational TV show, in my opinion, is WordWorld. It really was a genius idea for helping children grow up in a print-rich environment. But did you know that you can buy the show on DVD? I didn't until PBS KIDS sent me a copy. And I thought that it would be great to share it with you since with school starting, this particular WordWorld DVD is especially timely.

WordWorld's "It's Time for School" collection features eight different stories, starting with Shark's First Day of School. It's a sweet episode that helps prepare children for their first day in a school setting. Like many kids, Shark is afraid to go, but with the help of his good friend, Duck, he finds the courage he needs. Cat, the teacher, is encouraging and fun and by the end of the day, he's had a great time.

I love that this DVD set also comes with a learning and activity book featuring the WordWorld characters. Inside are coloring pages and activities that help children learn to associate the characters with their written name.

You can also visit the WordWorld website where you'll find interactive books, apps, and games to extend the learning your child gets from each episode. There's even a section for parents and educators with links to pages that describe the show's educational approach and tips for teaching at home or in the classroom.

If you'd like to buy your copy of this awesome little DVD to share with your preschooler, visit the PBS Educational Media shop.

Enjoy!

ODD SQUAD: The Movie

Both my kids are crazy about ODD SQUAD. (I have to admit a certain fondness for Agent Otto, myself.) So they were a little sad at first when Agents Olive and Otto were replaced by Agents Otis and Olympia, but they love the new characters, too.

Anyway, when they heard that there was a full-length movie coming out on Monday, August 1st, on PBS KIDS they were totally psyched. Whenever they happened to catch a promo of the movie while watching the show, they'd come running to remind me that we HAD to be home on the 1st so they could watch the movie. Their excitement doubled when they discovered that Otto and Olive would be on the show, too.

So when I had a chance to preview the show for PBS KIDS, I said, "YES!" The preview DVD and agent "gear" arrived a few days ago and my kids went nuts, racing to the TV to watch it.

The ODD SQUAD: The Movie does not disappoint. 

The creators went all out on this one with both actors and visual effects. In this episode, a rival group of adults that calls itself Weird Team arrives with a gadget that fixes any odd problem. As a result, Odd Squad is run out of business and all the agents are forced to disband and go back to their lives as regular kids. Using math skills and teamwork, the kids discover Weird Team isn’t actually solving problems, but just covering them up. The Season 2 cast teams up with the Season 1 cast to stop Weird Team and save the world from destruction by "Daves" (you'll have to watch the show to find out what this means!).

I could see now why Olive, Otto, and Oscar were replaced and why there will probably be new team members each season: they're growing up!! Otto and Oscar towered over all of the other agents. :) So to stay true to Odd Squad, new kid agents will be required.

My kids enjoyed this so much that every morning when I wake up, they're watching it, laughing. I said, "What's the deal? How many times are you going to watch this movie?" My son's response was, "We're going to watch it every day until it airs."

Ok. It's summer. I'll give them a pass.


Disclosure: I'm a PBS KIDS Ambassador which grants me access to upcoming shows, events, and more to share with my readers. All thoughts and opinions are strictly my own!

Keep the Summer Learning Going wtih PBS KIDS

Wow! We're almost to August 1st and that means summer break is quickly disappearing. Have you been keeping up with your kids' summer learning opportunities? Don't worry. That doesn't mean spending hours each day sitting at the table doing worksheets. Remember, learning is supposed to be fun and easy!

You can create unique learning opportunities for your children using simple supplies that you either:

• probably already have at home, or 
• can download and print, or
• buy at your local store.

For example, chalk is incredibly versatile! There are so many learning activities you can do with it. If your kids are spending time outside on the porch or sidewalk, give them some chalk and some directions. Younger children can practice letter identification (write random letters then ask them to circle all the letter "a's" that they see) or beginning letter sounds ("Draw me something that begins with the letter B."), while older children can practice their storytelling skills by drawing wordless stories or playing sidewalk Boggle.  

Click on the image below to download the idea chart.

Activity kits like the Crystal Mining Kids Lab shown in the top image are also super popular and very educational. You can find similar ones at your local Target, Walmart, or craft store. They're designed to keep your kids busy learning and out from behind a screen.

And of course, there's nothing better than reading books. From activity and craft books to chapter books and novels, your kids will be boosting not only their vocabulary, but their reading and spelling skills, too. 

PBS KIDS has some awesome summer-themed downloads for your family. If your kids watch PBS KIDS shows, they'll be crazy about this year's designs with the Kratt brothers on their reading log and inside their summer adventure booklet. The latter has lots of fun activities such as writing your own creature adventure or making leaf and bark rubbings.

Their summer learning site on PBS Parents also has a daily tip calendar to give you ideas on how to engage your children throughout the summer. And if you're on social media, you can participate in their social media challenge. Just share pictures with the hashtag #MyFavoriteSummer. You can find this week's theme here. 

And don't forget that PBS KIDS has lots of new summer programs. In fact, the first ODD SQUAD Movie is scheduled to premiere next Monday on August 1st.

So take advantage of all the resources that are available to you and keep your kids learning this summer so that they start school strong this fall!

Explore the Outdoors with PBS KIDS

This morning, I filled my hummingbird feeder for the third time this year. Do you know what that means? It means that despite several late freezes, spring has officially sprung here in North Carolina. We welcome the warmer temperatures with great joy because my kids get so restless being trapped inside during the winter months. The hammocks get shaken out, the bike tires aired up, and the gardening gloves get dirty again.

We look for other ways to enjoy the outdoors as a family, too. A couple of weeks ago, we broke out the kayaks and the fishing poles and headed down to our local swamp. We were lucky to have warm weather and plenty of biting fish! I loved that my family had the opportunity to enjoy such a beautiful setting at the beginning of the season.

And once again, PBS KIDS is celebrating their annual Explore the Outdoors initiative with new programming and fantastic online content for your family. Last week, new episodes of Ready, Jet, Go! aired featuring earth science and astronomy concepts. Maybe your child learned about asteroids, meteors, and meteorites. Or maybe they learned about the northern lights.

My kids are anxiously awaiting the new Wild Kratts episodes coming out next week, including the series' 100th episode! In true creature adventure fashion, my kids have been outside scouting for wildlife. They have been monitoring a dove nest in our carport for the last several weeks and the two babies finally fledged a few days ago.

This thing actually works!

The first butterflies showed up a few weeks ago. In fact, this weekend, my two kids went out and caught a tiger swallowtail and set it up in a butterfly habitat for an hour or two for observation before letting it go.

But you don't have to have a fancy butterfly house for your kids to enjoy nature. There are fun activities available at pbsparents.org/outdoors that you can download for your children. From making planters out of tin cans to making your own Wild Kratts nature journal, you'll find easy to follow directions and engaging printables.

Also next week, you'll see new episodes of Nature Cat. Your little ones might learn different ways they can help the environment or about nocturnal animals. So be sure you don't miss out!

5 Ways to Celebrate the Launch of Ready Jet Go! & Giveaway

Tomorrow (Monday), a new series is premiering on PBS KIDS. Ready Get Go! is a stellar new show whose goal is to nurture your son or daughter's love of science through space exploration. The premise is simple: Jet Propulsion is the new alien "kid" in town and he takes his young friends on adventures to explore our solar system and the effect it has on our planet, such as gravity, tides, and moon phases. The multicultural cast of characters is adorable.

I love that the show helps kids learn about astronomy and earth science concepts. In fact, one of my favorite parts is the live-action interstitial that features Dr. Amy Mainzer, a Jet Propulsion Laboratory astrophysicist. She uses the time to demonstrate awesome science experiments your kids can do at home, takes field trips to science-based places, explores new technology and interviews scientists.

So how can you prepare your kids for the show or continue to nurture their budding interest in astronomy or other earth science? Here are my five recommendations. Don't miss the giveaway at the end!

1. Read it!

Reading about a topic is a great way to spark a child's interest, especially if you (the parent) are reading aloud to your child. Here are some really awesome books that will capture your child's imagination and sense of wonder about the universe!
(affiliate links)

1. Child's Introduction to the Night Sky: The Story of the Stars, Planets, and Constellations--and How You Can Find ... by Michael Driscoll and Meredith Hamilton
2. Glow-in-the-Dark Constellations by C. E. Thompson
3. Zoo in the Sky: A Book of Animal Constellations by Jacqueline Mitton and Christina Balit
4. 13 Planets: The Latest View of the Solar System by David A. Aguilar
5. The Kids Book of the Night Sky by Ann Love and Jane Drake

2. Launch it!

I don't know a single child who doesn't love a good rocket. Mine are no exception. This weekend, in fact, after watching a preview DVD of Ready Jet Go!, my son braved the frigid wind outside to launch a hydro rocket that PBS KIDS sent us for this review. Over and over he went from the kitchen (filling up his rocket) to the back porch so he could launch it. Your child may enjoy doing the same! You can find easy-launch rockets at your local toy or craft stores, or you can order them online at Amazon. My son played with one similar to this one (aff).

3. Play it!

There are so many really fun games and products about astronomy available on the market now! We played the Space Matching Game, which features photos from the archives of NASA. You can find it and other space-themed learning products here on the Chronicle Books website.

4. Color it!

Little fingers might prefer to spend time coloring their own constellations, such as these. You can download them for free and others over on the Ready Jet Go! website. You'll also find online games and video clips of the show.

5. Find it!

Head outside on a clear night and look up! Find all those wonderful constellations above our heads. If you need help identifying them, there are some great apps and other tools designed just for you.

For iOS:

• StarWalk 2
• SkyView
• Sky Map

For Android:

• Sky Map
• SkyView
• StarWalk 2

THE GIVEAWAY

To help you encourage and develop your child's interest in space and our own planet, one lucky MommyMaestra Reader will win a DIY telescope kit and a world map placemat.

To enter, simply use the Rafflecopter below.

Happy learning!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I'm a PBS KIDS ambassador. I received a DVD promo and products to review for this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

App Review: WILD KRATTS Baby Buddies

Did you know that there's a new PBS KIDS app out? And it features one of my son's favorite shows: WILD KRATTS!

Name: WILD KRATTS Baby Buddies
Subject(s): science (basic needs, biology)
Brief Description: An interactive app for kids that teaches children about animal care and animal science.
Price: $1.99
Language: English
Ages: 3 - 8 years
Device: iOS, Android

My animal-loving son absolutely adores this app because it allows him to take care of baby animals. He joins Chris and Martin Kratt as they care for young creatures on the African Savannah. There are five different ones: a baby elephant, cheetah, crocodile, zebra, and aardvark. Within the savannah, each species lives in a different niche and has different requirements for survival. Your child will learn how to feed, wash, protect and play with each baby animal.

For each species, Chris or Martin activate their creature power to be more like a parent to that animal. Your child will learn about the different adaptations each animal has. For example, your child may learn that baby cheetahs have a different pattern to their fur to help them look like badgers and scare hyenas away.

The only complaint my son has is that there are only African animals - he'd love to see more species from around the world!