(March 20, 2020 - New York, NY) - In response to the unprecedented uncertainty facing young children and families, Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street, is offering a broad variety of free resources to help children and families during the coronavirus pandemic. Today's announcement of the Caring for Each Other initiative marks the beginning of a commitment to support families for the duration of this crisis, with brand new content featuring the Sesame Street Muppets sharing messages of love and kindness, playful learning activities, and virtual play dates launching soon. Mindful that the adults who care for children need support too, the resources are intended to help caregivers as well as children.
Sesame Street: Elmo's Virtual Hug
The initiative features resources designed to help parents provide comfort and manage anxiety, as well as help with creating routines, fostering playful learning at home, and staying physically and mentally healthy. SesameStreet.org/caring will be regularly updated to meet the needs of families as the situation evolves. Families can also watch Sesame Street episodes on HBO, PBS stations, and the PBS KIDS 24/7 channel, with an expanded offering of free on-demand episodes of Sesame Street on PBS KIDS digital platforms.
"Around the world, young children's lives are being turned upside down, and parents and caregivers are looking for ways to give their children-and themselves-a sense of stability in this new normal," said Dr. Rosemarie Truglio, Senior Vice President for Curriculum and Content, Sesame Workshop. "But there are things parents and caregivers can do to face each day with optimism. Sesame Street is here to provide the caring adults in children's lives with the resources they need to help children, and foster their healthy development at home."
Sesame Workshop is also creating brand new content on topics like handwashing, how to cough or sneeze properly, and how taking good care of yourself means taking good care of others, which will be available in the US and globally in a wide range of languages and released in the coming weeks.
Sesame Street has long been a source of comfort for children and families during difficult times," said Dr. Jeanette Betancourt, Senior Vice President for US Social Impact, Sesame Workshop. "While we don't always know what to expect, we know that Sesame Street friends have the power to convey simple strategies and messages to help children and the caring adults in their lives find comfort. With Caring for Each Other, we can help families get through these uncertain times and build hope for the future."
Additionally, over 110 free Sesame Street ebooks are available on all major ebook platforms including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble Nook, Google Play, and Kobo.
Resources will also be distributed through a wide range of partners in the US and globally, including community providers serving vulnerable families through Sesame Street in Communities sesamestreetincommunities.org and PBS stations.
