PBS Kids Club is no longer available.
As a child who fondly remembers Sesame Street and relished the moment when Jimmy Fallon recorded an acoustic version of the theme song with The Roots, it is easy for me to say, “I love PBS.”
My husband and I consciously attempt to limit our kids screen time, but I am the first to admit that there are days when that well thought out philosophy is thrown out the window. Since our children are only permitted a certain amount of television we were selective about their first TV programming experience. From Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood to Clifford, our kids watch slow paced television shows commonly found on the Public Broadcasting Channel (better known as PBS).
When my husband mentioned the Kids Club Thirteen, I admit I initially scoffed at the idea. He researched the program and actually proposed that we pay the $75 annual membership to join. As you do not know my husband or I, there are two very surprising things that occurred. The first being that my husband was the one who researched this program (and not me) and the second is that as an admitted cheapskate (or parsimonious for those looking for the SAT vocabulary word) I bought the membership.
What is the appeal of the Kids Club Thirteen membership?
Kids Club Thirteen hosts 13 Fun and Free Activities in New Jersey and New York each year. As a family of four, we have had the pleasure of going to Dinosaur Field Station for FREE. Mathematically, the membership cost less than that one trip would have cost us if we bought the tickets. Since joining, there have been FREE events at Liberty Science Center (two this year), Dinosaur Field Station (two this year), Big Apple Circus, Fall Family Day at Stickley Museum, and there was even a Parents Day Out Movie Tour in New York City.
Dinosaur Field Station was a FREE family activity twice this year with Kids Club Thirteen.
The membership fee pays for itself if you attend one of the big ticket experiences, and it will expose your family to many wonderful and educational opportunities. There are several things you should know which I have learned from the past several months.
- The events are announced via their Facebook page and website, so you might want to check those pages on a regular basis.
- You can RSVP for the activities on the event page they create on Facebook or email an RSVP.
- You will receive identification cards which need to be presented to pick up the tickets at the time of the event.
- The events may change as I have noticed different activities from prior years.
- The membership lasts twelve months from the date of registration.
- Lastly, if the event has a set time it must be followed so I do not recommend showing up two hours early.
My children learned about dinosaurs this Fall.
This is a great program for families in New York and New Jersey. In March, we will returned to Liberty Science Center for a Sesame Street Body Exhibit. We cannot wait to see what they are planning next! Hopefully, we will see you there!