Sesame Workshop expands its emotional well-being initiative with new resources to help small children manage their big feelings and reinforce their social problem-solving skills. With new tools and digital content featuring Sesame Street characters, the nonprofit continues its dedication to helping caregivers improve and support the emotional health of young kids.
“When children are given the tools to navigate challenges, they gain the confidence to learn, grow, and thrive,” says Rocio Galarza, Vice President of U.S. Educational Programs at Sesame Workshop. “Love and support through everyday moments are the first and most important building blocks in helping children overcome whatever comes their way. But parents and providers need support, too, especially when it comes to talking about children’s emotional well-being. We know that developing a healthy mind, body, and heart starts early and that caring, trusted adults make a world of difference. Through these resources, we’re giving families simple, research-based ways to help children understand their feelings, build resilience, and know they can ask for help.”
The new additions to the initiative are supported by funds from MetLife Foundation and the Morgan Stanley Alliance for Children’s Mental Health.
The MetLife Foundation-funded resources focus on equipping kids and caregivers with tools to nurture relationships and social connections. Through collaborations with community partners, these resources will be available in the United States, Mexico, Brazil, India, and the Middle East. The content highlights themes important to early childhood development, including learning about other perspectives, kindness, and teamwork.
Resources like "A Time to Talk" are directed toward parents. | Source: Sesame Workshop
Resources are available in multiple languages. | Source: Sesame Workshop
Resources funded through the Morgan Stanley Alliance for Children’s Mental Health include videos and a new song titled “We Can Do Hard Things” designed to help parents strengthen their kids’ emotional resilience. Articles featuring characters like Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Grover, and more tackle important topics, including active listening, community-building, and problem-solving through teamwork.
“At a time when leading pediatric organizations have identified children’s mental health as a national concern, Sesame Workshop’s emotional well-being initiative focuses on reaching children early, with the support of like-minded organizations,” says Lesley Bourns, Senior Vice President of Impact Programs at Sesame Workshop. “Our emotional well-being videos and books emphasize nurturing relationships and compassion for oneself and others, helping children build a strong foundation for lifelong emotional health.”
The new expanded resources also include new children’s books from Random House, Chronicle Books, Lerner Publishing Group, and Mayo Clinic Press Kids.
The newest addition to Random House’s Little Golden Book collection features illustrations in the classic Funko Pop! style. Elmo’s Day with Rocco is a comedic adventure featuring Elmo, Zoe, and Zoe’s pet rock, Rocco and helps kids learn how to express themselves.
Based on Elmo’s viral 2024 post, Elmo Checks In: How Is Everybody Doing? from Chronicle Books offers comfort and reassurance to kids whenever they need it. This fall, Lerner Publishing will also release Building Relationships with Sesame Street, a six-book series that addresses early-childhood emotional and social themes.
Mayo Clinic Press Kids will debut its Everyday Feelings with Sesame Street series with the first installment, Get the Wiggles Out: Playful Ways to Embrace Every Feeling, later this month. The book encourages kids to get moving and shows ways they can manage their emotions by being active. More books in the series will be released throughout the year.
The new resources are available in English and Spanish for free at sesame.org/mentalhealth.
For more information about Sesame Workshop’s emotional well-being initiative, visit sesame.org.
