PBS Kids Launches Tablet with Educational Content and Parental Controls -- THE Journal

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PBS Kids Launches Tablet with Educational Content and Parental Controls

By Richard Chang
10/17/16

PBS Kids is launching its first tablet — the Playtime Pad. Produced by electronics company Ematic, the 16 GB children’s tablet is designed to provide a one-stop destination for PBS Kids’ educational content, with more than 25 games and 120 video clips and music videos pre-loaded, along with more than 100 hours of video on the PBS Kids video app.

Other apps such as PBS Kids ScratchJr and PBS Parents Play and Learn are also included.

The Playtime Pad features a front and back camera and a Paint Box coloring app that encourages kids to exercise their creative muscles. The tablet has built-in controls and restrictions, enabling parents to customize the device for each of their children, set limits on screen time using a play timer and manage what kids can access.

“PBS Kids is continuously looking for new ways to engage children with media that sparks their curiosity and fosters a love of learning, supporting our mission to help all kids reach their potential,” said Lesli Rotenberg, senior vice president and general manager, Children’s Media and Education, PBS, in a statement. “We know that families lead busy, on-the-go lives, so we are excited to offer our high-quality, innovative content on an affordable tablet that helps kids learn and explore with their favorite PBS Kids characters, whenever and wherever.”

The Playtime Pad extends PBS Kids’ efforts in the digital space, which includes more than 30 learning apps and the site, pbskids.org. In January 2017, PBS Kids will launch a free, 24-hour channel and livestream delivered by PBS member stations, which will be accessible across platforms, including the Playtime Pad, the company said Monday.

“More and more, kids are using tablets to not only play their favorite apps, but also watch their favorite shows,” said Roy Rayn, president of Ematic, in a statement. “We at Ematic believe the combination of PBS Kids’ brand and educational content and our knowledge of developing the best kids’ tablets is a powerful one.”

The Playtime Pad will be available starting Nov. 6 at Best Buy stores and on bestbuy.com for $79.99, on walmart.com and on shop.pbskids.org. All of the net proceeds PBS receives from purchases of the Playtime Pad will support the company’s mission to empower children to succeed in school and life, the company said.

For more information, visit pbskids.org or pbs.org.

About the Author

Richard Chang is associate editor of THE Journal. He can be reached at [email protected].

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