New PBS KIDS Series Premieres on March 3

Skillsville, a dynamic new PBS KIDS animated series, is set to premiere on March 3  at 5:30pm on our 24/7 KIDS channels as well as the PBS KIDS App. This new show will encourage kids ages 4-8 to “power up” the skills they need for future success by depicting the benefits of one of the most popular forms of media — video games.

Taking its cue from some of the best elements that gaming has to offer, the fun new series centers on three best friends, Cora (ParCora), Dev (Devosaurus), and Rae (Racer Rae), who love to play together, whether it’s on the playground or in their favorite digital game, “Skillsville.” With each episode, young viewers will enter a world of career possibilities with the goal to hone their life skills, including self-regulation and strategies to help them to feel, focus, organize, remember and think differently. Skillsville will be available in English and in Spanish.

“Games aren’t just fun, they can also provide learning-rich opportunities for kids – letting them make mistakes, experiment through trial and error, pursue their goals, and remain persistent,” said Sara DeWitt, PBS KIDS Senior Vice President and General Manager, in a press release. “Skillsville will encourage kids to explore these fundamental skills in a variety of relatable situations, which will support them in building a strong foundation for achieving success in school, in the future career path they choose, and in life.”

Each episode of Skillsville begins with Cora, Dev, and Rae in the real world and focuses on one of the five life skills (feel, focus, organize, remember and think differently) they further cultivate in the game world. Once in the game, the characters appear as their avatars and summon Scout, a dog with dragonfly wings who flutters in and sniffs out trouble and supports them as they complete challenges. The players then work together and learn useful strategies to complete the task, win the game, and earn career-related badges. When they’re back in the real world, Cora, Dev, and Rae use the skills and strategies they’ve acquired in “Skillsville,” which are essential in helping people of all ages to learn, work, and manage the activities of daily living.

In addition to new episodes, Skillsville will include four upcoming games on pbskids.org and the PBS KIDS Games app, as well as learning resources available on PBS KIDS for Parents and PBS LearningMedia.