At a time when explaining to kids why staying at home and not playing outside becomes an everyday task, Sesame Street decides to help Moms and Dads.
That's right, Elmo and Cookie Monster, together with the rest of the gang comes to rescue parents in explaining why it is best to maintain social distance, stay at home, and virtual interactions.
The organization, Sesame Workshop, initiated Caring for Each Other, where caretakers of children like parents can find different ways to learn, give children comfort, and even help parents cope with the "for now normal."
Part of this initiative is a special that Sesame Street aired, April 14, Elmo's Virtual Playdate! Anne Hathaway, Tracee Ellis Ross, and Lin-Manuel Miranda join Elmo and Cookie Monster in a virtual playdate. Miranda led rounds singing of "Old Mcdonald had a Farm," while Hathaway sang a duet of "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes" with Elmo.
In the playdate, they discover alternatives to be "together" and playing while in their separate homes. They even had virtual snacks brought by Cookie Monster.
The entire special is seen with all of the characters in a video conference while singing round songs and playing virtual games.
It was also Sesame Street's way of reminding kids of what to do and what not to do during this time. Lessons like washing their hands and the essential roles played by medical professionals in this health crisis were featured in the program by the Sesame Street characters.
Although shooting the entire playdate was a bit handful for the people behind the scenes, they most certainly find this fulfilling. NY Times shared a photo of Peter Linz, who plays Ernie. There he was seen multitasking for the episode. But according to him, he thinks the job he did was meaningful, especially since it is potentially seen to give joy to a lot of people.
In a statement, the chairman of WarnerMedia Entertainment, Bob GreenBlatt, said that the special is not just a different kind of home-viewing but is also a good source of entertainment in this stay-at-home-period due to the virus.
If you missed the playdate, there are also other activities in the Caring for Each Other site. It has weekly tasks for parents and other videos for kids to watch. Also posted on the website are tips for parents to make sure they are in perfect shape during this time of uncertainty. It includes ways to create routines during the "for now normal," talking to children about the COVID-19, and taking care of oneself.
This initiative from Sesame Street could be a tremendous help to children and parents, according to a psychology professor at Yale University, Alan Kazdin. The familiarity with Sesame Street's cheerful characters can help kids adapt to their unstable environments. Because since their characters seem to have adapted to the set-up during a pandemic, children can relate as well.
