It’s devastating to see PBS Kids coming to an end due to funding cuts after being around for over 26 years.
This streaming service brings back childhood nostalgia to many. The broadcast was made for children who couldn’t receive the proper education they needed.
The primary federal cut was to the Ready To Learn grant, which supported PBS Kids educational programs. This cut was due to President Donald Trump’s executive order, signed on May 1.
Many children who can’t go to school have been able to receive education by watching Ready To Learn from the comfort of their home.
According to an article from The 74, “In an era where roughly half of young children in the U.S. are not enrolled in any formal early educational program (a discussion for another day), Ready To Learn has served all children – especially in communities where access to quality preschool is scarce or nonexistent.”
Kids were able to gain proper knowledge and learn the basics of education through PBS Kids.
As someone who didn’t speak English as their first language, PBS Kids was a form of education that helped me learn English along with other subjects. It always kept me engaged because every show is dedicated to a different subject, such as math, reading, writing, science and so much more.
To name a few, shows like “Sesame Street,” “Curious George” and “Martha Speaks” all help expand children’s vocabulary. This comes in handy when children are wanting to use new and different words in their writing and everyday use.
Watching PBS Kids taught them to have manners, respect others and listen to discipline in order to be prepared for real life and their future. Growing up learning all of these qualities made it seem that I was ready to conquer life.
Cutting federal funding for PBS Kids comes with many effects on children. It affects children who can’t receive education from schools or who come from a low-income household.
Without PBS Kids, families can’t provide their children with free educational shows straight from home. Families will have to take excessive steps for their child to be on the same level as other kids.
Knowing that PBS Kids is close to an end is still unbelievable. PBS Kids helped many people, including myself, be able to gain education straight from home. It feels as if a part of my childhood is being ripped away from me as I try to grip onto the memories that are left of PBS Kids.
