A New Playbook for Little Coders: Scratch Sponsors PBS Run of Mia & Codie to Bring Coding into Homes

Scratch steps in so millions of PBS viewers can meet Mia & Codie

Scratch will sponsor a run of the preschool series “Mia & Codie” on PBS member stations, a move meant to bring early coding ideas into living rooms, classrooms and community centers. The sponsorship covers broadcast airings and a package of co-branded learning materials that will sit alongside episodes. For parents and caregivers, the core promise is simple: short, friendly TV stories about curiosity and problem solving, paired with free tools that let very young children try basic coding concepts at home.

What the deal includes and where families will find it

The sponsorship covers a set of “Mia & Codie” episodes that will be distributed through local PBS member stations nationwide. Stations will be able to air episodes as part of their regular preschool blocks and to feature Scratch-branded segments or messages before or after the show. In addition to broadcast placement, the agreement includes downloadable activity sheets, short video tie-ins and simple, guided play ideas that families can use without a computer.

The materials target the show’s core audience — preschoolers and early elementary kids — and are written for caregivers and teachers rather than for older students. PBS stations will receive a co-marketing kit that local educators can use at story time, in playgroups, or in after-school settings. Scratch also plans to make companion digital content and printable guides available on its site so parents can pick up the themes from the show and turn them into hands-on activities.

Timing for the rollout will vary by station, but the sponsorship is designed for immediate use in the coming broadcast season. Stations that opt in can run the full episode block with the Scratch materials or use selected elements as part of outreach events and classroom visits.

How the partnership could help families and young learners

The idea behind pairing a beloved preschool program with a learning platform is to lower the barrier between watching and doing. On TV, young children see characters explore problems. The Scratch materials then offer tiny, practical steps so kids can imitate those ideas with toys, blocks or simple unplugged games. That’s important because children at this age learn best by touching and trying, not by sitting through long lessons.

Because PBS member stations have deep local reach, the partnership could bring these resources to a wide and diverse audience. Many stations serve rural and low-income communities where paid early learning tools are less common. Co-branded printables and short, phone-friendly video clips give caregivers a low-tech way to build curiosity about sequences, cause and effect, and basic logic — the foundations of computational thinking — without the need for a tablet or laptop.

The sponsorship also encourages reuse in classrooms and library story hours. Educators can use the episode and the activities to spark small group projects or play-based centers that emphasize talking, listening and experimenting. The materials are intentionally short and modular so busy parents and teachers can fit them into existing routines.

What the partners are saying about the move

Leaders at Scratch framed the sponsorship as a way to meet families where they already are. A spokesperson said the goal is to make playful coding ideas as familiar as reading and counting in the early years. PBS representatives highlighted that member stations often look for partners who can add practical resources to programming, and described the collaboration as a natural fit for a show that champions problem solving and friendly characters.

The creators of “Mia & Codie” also welcomed the sponsorship, noting that episodes are designed to model curiosity and persistence, and that the Scratch materials will give children a chance to try similar challenges in their own homes. All parties emphasized accessibility: the materials are free and built to work in low-tech settings.

Why Scratch and PBS make sense together

Scratch is best known for its block-based coding platform that helps older children make interactive stories, games and animations. Over the years, the Scratch team and its foundation have produced short workshops, printed activities and free curriculum pieces aimed at broadening access to basic computational thinking. Pairing that mission with PBS member stations — which have long provided trusted educational content — is a logical extension of both organizations’ work in early learning.

PBS member stations act independently but share a public service remit: provide educational content that reaches homes and communities that commercial broadcasters sometimes miss. In recent years those stations have run similar partnerships with nonprofits and foundations to extend TV content into real-world learning. This Scratch sponsorship follows that playbook but focuses specifically on very young children, where hands-on play is the most effective way to build skills.

How families and educators can take part

Families should watch local listings from their PBS member station to see when the sponsored “Mia & Codie” episodes will air. After an episode, parents can download short activity guides from Scratch’s site or pick up printed kits from participating stations and libraries. Educators and librarians who want to use the materials in group settings can request the co-branded kit from their local station and adapt the activities for story time, circle time, or play centers.

Stations will track participation through requests for materials and by reporting outreach events. That local measurement will help Scratch and PBS understand where the resources are used most and how to refine the materials for different communities.

For families and teachers looking for simple ways to get started, the biggest thing to remember is that coding for preschoolers looks like asking questions, making predictions, and trying small changes — all things Mia & Codie model on screen and that the Scratch materials help children practice at home.

Sources

• prnewswire.com