NEW SESAME STREET INITIATIVE HELPS CHILDREN COPE WITH EXTREME WEATHER
- Guest Writer
- 7 hours ago
- 3 min read
Anyone who has sat through a night of howling wind with a frightened child knows the feeling: you want to reassure them, and you're not entirely sure what to say.
Sesame Workshop has just launched a new initiative built for exactly that moment, a set of free resources designed to help children, families and communities prepare for, cope with, and recover from extreme weather, whether that's a hurricane, a flood or a bushfire.
It begins with a brand new special, Storm on Sesame Street, premiering on Netflix this week and arriving on YouTube in September.
A storm, a street, and some famous friends
In the special, Elmo and his friends work together to get ready for a big storm, learning how to be prepared, how to be brave, and how to calm their bodies and minds when things feel scary.
Afterwards, Sesame Street looks different. Everyone pitches in to help their neighbours rebuild.
With the help of the neighbourhood, including celebrity guests Post Malone and Michelle Buteau, Elmo and Abby set out to make a difference, and discover that small acts of kindness and a bit of support from friends can be the biggest help of all.
It builds on the legacy of the much-loved Sesame Street Gets Through a Storm, in which Big Bird's nest was destroyed in a hurricane, and the community came together to rebuild it.
Why now
Extreme weather is affecting more families than ever. Children born in 2020 are projected to experience up to seven times as many extreme weather events as those born in 1960.
The knock-on effects are the sort of thing parents feel in their bones: displacement, damage to the home, higher utility bills, health impacts, less time outdoors, and disruption to school and childcare.
Among parents who've been through an extreme weather event, 78 per cent said they worried about the impact on their children.
"Extreme weather is now a reality for many families, and young children need support they can understand and trust," said Joseph Giraldi, Chief Operating Officer at Sesame Workshop.
"With our Extreme Weather response initiative, we're using the power of Sesame Street to help children prepare for what's ahead, cope with big emotions during moments of disruption, and begin to recover afterwards.
"From our new storm special to year-round resources and community outreach, this initiative reflects our commitment to showing up for children and families when they need it most."
What you can actually use
The initiative goes well beyond the screen. New free resources in English and Spanish are available to parents, caregivers and providers at sesame.org/emergencies, including:
New digital content: Sesame Street videos with beloved characters offering timely advice and comfort.
Refreshed family guides: Updated Let's Get Ready and Here for Each Other guides, revised to reflect the growing intensity and frequency of extreme weather.
Shareable activities: New printables and articles supporting children's and families' wellbeing around environmental stressors like heat and air quality.
A new storybook: Available in print and digital later this year, to help children find words for goodbye and healing when the things they love are lost.
Sesame Care Kits: Child-friendly "go-bags" featuring familiar friends like Elmo and Abby, packed with comfort items and everyday essentials including backpacks, blankets and toothbrushes, to support families during evacuations and displacement.
About Sesame Workshop
Sesame Workshop is the global nonprofit behind Sesame Street and so much more. For over 50 years, it has worked at the intersection of education, media and research, creating joyful experiences that enrich minds and expand hearts, in service of empowering each generation to build a better world.
Its beloved characters, iconic shows and community outreach bring playful early learning to families in more than 190 countries.
Learn more at www.sesame.org and follow Sesame Workshop on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Threads and X.
