Sesame Workshop Launches New Initiative to Help Caregivers and Kids

Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street, has long been a pioneer in promoting positive mental health and social development in children. Now, the company wants to help caregivers and kids adjust to life during the COVID-19 outbreak with its new initiative Caring for Each Other.

In response to the pandemic, Sesame Street is offering a variety of free resources to help caregivers and children manage anxiety and foster a playful learning environment at home. According to a press release, these resources include new content on topics such as handwashing, how to cough or sneeze properly and how taking good care of yourself means taking good care of others, as well as messages of love and kindness from the muppets themselves.

“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,” Dr. Rosemarie Truglio, senior vice president for curriculum and content for Sesame Workshop stated in the release. “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.”

As part of the initiative, Sesame Workshop is also offering over 110 free Sesame Street ebooks on all major ebook platforms, including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble Nook, Google Play and Kobo. Along with new content regularly uploaded to the Caring for Each Other website, the company is also streaming Sesame Street episodes on HBO and PBS stations, as well as the PBS KIDS 24/7 channel.

“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,” Dr. Jeanette Betancourt, senior vice president for US social impact for Sesame Workshop also stated in the release.

To learn more about Caring for Each Other, check out its website and sign up for the Sesame Street newsletter.

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