Elmo and Sesame Street Helping our Kids through Tough Times

Photo by stev.ie

It´s no secret now that SpanglishBaby is a real fan of Sesame Workshop and all they do.  They just seem to have it together…for real.

In our case of parents raising bi-cultural and bilingual children they constantly give us tools to make the journey more fun and inclusive of our children. Especially in the case of promoting a  bilingual, bi-cultural and global awareness through their shows.  Remember Celia Cruz performing with a cast of muppets?  Or how about Global Grover and his trips around the world, including Nicaragua and Mexico?

Not to mention that for almost 40 years now they have had loving bilingual, Latino main cast members and characters such as Luis, Maria, Gabi, the monster Rosita and Ovejita. Not only have they been in the forefront when it comes to cultural matters, but also with relevant topics affecting our kid´s daily lives.

One of the most important issues affecting a vast majority of families these days is the economic climate of insecurity.  Children´s well-being is affected by their parent´s struggles and the difficult decisions they´re having to make when it comes to their housing, medical and child care, food, clothing, etc.

Source: Sesame Workshop

In response to these recent changes in family economics, Sesame Street has produced a new PBS prime time special, Families Stand Together: Feeling Secure in Tough Times. This hour-long special, hosted by Al Roker, Deborah Roberts and Elmo, aims to help families with children, ages two to eight, experiencing difficult economic circumstances by offering strategies and tips that can lead to positive outcomes for their children’s physical and emotional well-being during this tough economic climate.

The special will air on PBS on September 9, 2009 at 8PM EST (check local listings).

We decided it´s important we let you know about this special show since Latino families, because of our large percentage of the population, are one of the groups being the most affected by the current economy.  Children identify with Elmo and the Sesame Street characters and this can help bridge the communication gap for families going through rough times.

“In these difficult financial times, we find that parents often lack the words to explain what is going on to their children and that prevents them from having the necessary conversations,” said Jean Chatzky, family and financial expert who appears on the show.  “Working with Sesame Street, we’re able to give the families in the special — and the many others watching from home — the tools they need.”

The show airs in English but you can switch on the SAP option on your television to hear it in Spanish.

Sesame Workshop will work with PBS stations and community organizations in 32 key markets to promote community screenings and to deliver 200,000 bi-lingual educational outreach kits nationwide beginning October 15, 2009. The bi-lingual (English/Spanish) outreach kit will consist of:

• A bi-lingual (English/Spanish) outreach kit with a DVD featuring documentary moments of families as well as content to help children and families talk about the feelings and stresses during economic insecurity.
• A printed children’s story which offers support and strategies for families during economic transitions.
• A parent/caregiver guide which provides strategies on how to meet challenges as a family, ideas about how to explain difficult situations to young children, and tips on planning for the short- and long-term.

Resources and materials will be available online at www.sesameworkshop.org/toughtimes beginning September 9, 2009 so that families everywhere can view the videos and download the information.

So, don´t you absolutely agree that Sesame Workshop and PBS totally look out for our bilingual niños?

Today is the last day of the 10-day giveaway of Ingenio bilingual toys over at our sister site-SpanglishBabyFinds. Head over there for you chance to win today´s bilingual Find!