Sesame Workshop and the LEGO Foundation to premiere Elmo’s World News
While children and families everywhere continue to feel the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, a new Sesame Street special episode from Sesame Workshop and the LEGO Foundation will bring playful learning and support in managing big feelings to viewers across the world. In Elmo’s World News, Elmo hosts a pretend news program from his bedroom, calling on Muppet correspondents and children from around the globe to share ways they’re continuing to play and learn while staying safe.
Launching this week, the 25-minute special episode will air in over 13 languages across the Middle East, Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and more as part of Sesame Workshop’s Caring for Each Other initiative. The special, which was produced with creatives and puppeteers across multiple continents, will model playful learning activities for families to do together at home and give children strategies to manage big feelings like frustration or sadness.
Weather Reporter Grover shows how he uses his imagination to “bring the outside inside” by adapting his favorite outdoor activities to create indoor fun. Special Correspondent Cookie Monster tells viewers about his “Things That Make Me Happy” box, a simple activity families can do together to practice mindfulness and gratitude with everyday objects. Reporter Raya shares a playful and interactive update on ways children around the world maintain daily routines, while the reporting team of Basma and Jad pop in with breaking news on how children are managing and expressing their “big feelings” through movement and dance.
“With so many children around the world navigating new routines, it’s more important than ever to give families the tools they need to cope with challenges and foster playful learning at home,” said Sherrie Westin, President of Social Impact and Philanthropy. “Play is critical to a child’s healthy development, and that’s especially true during times of uncertainty. Together with the LEGO Foundation, we can harness the power of play to meet the evolving needs of families everywhere and help them build the resilience that will carry them through these tough times and beyond.”
In addition to Elmo’s World News, Sesame Workshop will produce a series of short-form videos and digital activities and tips on staying healthy, learning at home through play, and caring for yourself and others. The short-form content will be released over the coming months to help families through the different challenges and transitions they experience during the COVID-19 pandemic.
