Mindful media matchup: Launch learning with the PBS KIDS Games app

Looking for ways to spark learning over break that are (actually) simple? Or are you just tired of that one YouTuber who keeps giving your kids ideas for “simple recipes” that are neither “simple” nor “recipes”?

Download the free PBS KIDS Games app with over 280 kid-tested games designed to engage young minds, encourage creativity and nurture kindness. Plus: The app is always free, with no in-app purchases and no ads! Just high-quality educational fun with your favorite PBS KIDS characters. You can download games for offline play so you don’t need to worry about a wifi connection.

Here are four of our favorites paired with offline activities to extend learning, foster connection and create lasting memories with your kiddos.

Sort, search and count with Sesame Street

Join Abby Cadabby, Elmo and Cookie Monster at the supermarket while learning about healthy foods, counting, sorting and what different fruits and vegetables do for our bodies. In the game Sesame Street Supermarket Challenge, players use their sorting skills to find foods at the grocery store. As they shop, they learn about the benefits of nutritious choices like crunchy carrots or yummy bananas.

Play this game in real life with the activity Supermarket Scavenger Hunt! First, make a set of letter cards you can take with you to the grocery store. At the store, have your child select a card. As you shop, ask your child to find a food starting with that letter. For an extra challenge, choose a color to pair with the letter. Can they find something red that starts with the letter “B”?

Build and test a rover

Designing machines involves trial and error, but sometimes that’s the most fun! In the game Ready Jet Go! Rover Maker, players use their problem-solving skills to design rovers that can traverse different terrains on Earth, Moon and Mars. If your rover doesn’t make it to the finish line, don’t sweat it. Just try again!

For a hands-on engineering activity, kids can Build and Test Paper Bridges with just a few items at home. To get started, stack two piles of books next to each other and lay a piece of paper across them. Then, see how many pennies it can hold before it falls. Next, challenge kids to make the bridge stronger using only paper. How many pennies can their bridge hold?

Play pretend with Daniel Tiger

There are countless ways to develop creativity through pretend play. Let kids’ imaginations shine with the game Dress Up featuring Daniel Tiger and his friends. Dress Katerina like a doctor, make a silly robot costume for O, or create a party outfit for Miss Elaina. For a fun challenge, give your child a description of what Daniel should wear and see what they come up with. What would Daniel wear if he were going to a birthday party in space?

Bring their imaginations to the table with this Create Memorization Skills Through Play activity. Set up a pretend restaurant with your child and try different strategies for remembering customers’ orders. You could repeat the order out loud over and over or draw a picture of the order.

Go on an animal adventure with Wild Kratts

Learn about animals and their unique features in the Wild Kratts Amazin’ Amazon Adventure game. Zach Varmitech is capturing animals in the Amazon, and the Kratt brothers need help rescuing them. Players search for clues about animals to help build creature power suits, giving the Kratts the boosts they need to save the day.

Creature powers are essential for the Kratts’ rescue missions, but can they be helpful at home? Try it out with the game Creature Power Generator. Print and assemble the creature power dice (or create your own!). Then, take turns rolling the dice to match an animal to an everyday activity. How would a dragonfly brush its teeth? Can you eat breakfast like a shark?

Download the PBS KIDS Games app for free. Watch game play-throughs on the PBS KIDS Games YouTube channel.