I was a PBS kid. Now my kids are, too.

“We don’t have cable; I watch Arthur.”

Growing up in the ’90s, this was like sending a bat signal (or aardvark signal?) to find other kids I could relate to through a shared love of public television.

I understood why they thought the mystery-solving tweens on Ghostwriter were so brilliant. I knew they had imagined a dream field trip with Ms. Frizzle. And everything they knew about The Three Musketeers came from a terrier in a fake mustache and feathered cap.

Wishbone is still the only reference point I have for several great works of literature.

My love for PBS KIDS has stayed with me. I’m one of those millennials who can’t help but share a D.W. meme. Sesame Street instilled a very specific way I count to 12 in my head. It’s fun to show my older child series like Storylords, explaining the top-heavy TV carts schools once relied on to bring educational videos from class to class.

I, too, am a long-suffering middle child with an attitude.

PBS shows for kids have evolved over the years, but the educational value and emphasis on things like empathy and inclusion are the throughlines that continue to elevate PBS KIDS as a trusted source of media for families and educators.

Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood carries forward the kind and compassionate teachings of Mister Rogers. Super Why! is getting a refreshed series, but the Super Readers are still helping kids fall in love with reading. Odd Squad‘s humorous approach to math and problem-solving reminds me of the playful ways Sesame Street once taught me to rhyme.

It’s why my kids are PBS kids, too.

I asked my colleagues at Wisconsin Public Media to share their own PBS memories and appreciation for PBS KIDS. I hope their experiences spark fond memories or inspire you to watch a new show with your family.

Share about your favorite PBS show from childhood!

“We watched Sesame Street and Mister Rogers, of course, but another show that I always loved I don’t remember the name of! There was a man and woman, and the man would read a book and the woman would draw pictures to go with the story.” – Holly, history producer

Holly is referring to Gather ‘Round, featuring storyteller Paul Lally and illustrator Rae Owings. The series was syndicated on PBS stations starting in the late 1970s.

“I still find myself singing the Cyberchase theme song more regularly than I’d like to admit. I’m convinced this is where my love of science and space started.” – Kylie, education producer

“Growing up, we never had cable or anything other than what came in over the standard airwaves, so PBS KIDS was a mainstay for my entertainment. As someone who absolutely loves math and computers, Cyberchase was always my go-to after school. The adventures of Matt, Inez and Jackie, along with their cybird, Digit, helped foster my love for math, and the Cyberspace setting always tickled my computer nerd brain in a way that no other show really could.” – Steven, fundraising systems manager

“I loved watching Sesame Street when I was growing up. It was fun to see the Muppets, and I liked seeing how the people that lived in the neighborhood helped the kids resolve problems.” – Ellen, outreach specialist

“I watched Reading Rainbow and absolutely loved it. I was a reader and loved seeing other people – peers and older – who loved reading like I did.” – David, education producer

“I loved how [The Magic School Bus] brought me into different worlds – it was so captivating. I don’t think I realized how much I was learning and what an impact it would have on me even as an adult. My favorite episode was the one on symbiotic relationships in the ocean. I grew up freshwater and saltwater fishing. It gave me a whole new perspective when I looked into the ocean … I still have that curiosity today.” – Ben, membership services specialist

What PBS KIDS shows have you enjoyed with the kids in your life?

“My kid was a Peg + Cat kid. We still say ‘High Ca-rhombus’ because the characters were so engaging and the math literacy was relatable and retainable.” – Judith, digital marketing manager

“My niece and I love watching Pinkalicious and Molly of Denali. What we love about Molly of Denali is that she’s always out there trying to figure something out or make the world better. It’s really inspiring to see this kind of content in a kids show and let them see how you can do anything that you want to do!” – Heather, video promotions manager

“PBS KIDS Online was just starting when my daughter was young. She spent a lot of time at doctors’ offices and in the hospital as a kid, and even when she could barely read, we could entertain her with some PBS KIDS coloring and matching games. It was a reliable tool for distracting her when she was uncomfortable.” – Jen, motion graphics designer

What do you appreciate about PBS KIDS?

“I love that the adults in every show are consistently handing back problems to children; giving them the assurance that they are capable and competent to figure out a solution while asking them insightful questions as well as inviting them to consider other perspectives. I tried to be a parent and teacher that instilled this beautiful belief in yourself to my own children and students.” Jami, education engagement specialist

“Growing up, I learned my ABCs on a static TV screen with Sesame Street. Today, I get to watch the children in my life learn how to protect our planet through interactive games like Go Green! It is incredibly rare for a show to maintain its heart, integrity and public service mission for over 50 years without ever chasing commercial fads. Playing these new games feels like a beautiful full-circle moment.” – Melinda, director of individual and legacy giving

“Oh my gosh, I could talk about this all day! The social-emotional learning built into the shows is so important. And PBS KIDS finds accessible and easy ways to talk about the hard stuff. That’s something I’ve always appreciated. We feel our feelings a lot, and that’s okay.” – Dulce, associate director of community engagement and impact

Every family has its own approach to media and screen time. How does PBS KIDS fit into yours?

“We limit screen time in our house, and we strongly believe in the importance of unstructured play and activity. Since our kids started watching TV programming at a young age, we have always encouraged most of their screen time to be spent watching PBS KIDS over other programming, as we could see that the unstructured time following screentime was often encouraged by what they had watched and learned on PBS KIDS. They had a drive to build on what they learned.” – Brooke, coordinator of event volunteers

“Since my child is two, I like to engage with him during our screen time. Sometimes we’ll have little break-out sessions as he shows interest in certain things, where I’ll be explaining how a game works, asking him questions or talking about the plot, and helping him figure out an on-screen challenge.” – Trina, production and operations engineer

What the kids are saying

“I like Odd Squad because it allows my imagination to soar higher.” Cora, age 9

“I like that it’s entertaining and enriching, allowing me to learn while watching TV.” – Dex, age 13

“I like that the Wild Kratts have adventures every day. I like learning about animals, and they make it fun.” – Rafe, age 10

“ELMO!!!!” Rocco, age 2

“I love Wild Kratts because they’re always out in nature doing different things like walking new places, finding new animals and bugs! I also love Pinkalicious! It’s a very fun show.” – Evaney, age 8

We’d love to hear about your memories and family faves – share them in the comments!