I LOVED Sesame Street as a kid and I like it as a parent, too, especially when my daughter was younger. It entertained her and helped me re-parent myself at the same time. I got some serious emotional repair that way and from other kid books and shows. I worry that parents aren't watching as much as kids watch alone on devices and maybe miss out on simple, but not always known, basic and affirming messages about life, emotions and family. It's not like as a parent I'd watch Sesame Street by myself. But when I did, with my daughter, it was bonding for us - sometimes healing for me.
Anyhow, what I didn't realize until recently is that there are a lot of online resources put together by Sesame Street in Communities.
They deal with ACEs kids may be living with and through in real time. They talk about trauma, loss, grief and dealing with social, school, community and family issues. But they do it in Sesame Street style so it's appealing, warm, accessible and not like a speech or banging you over the head life lesson.
Kids and parents of color are featured, pictured and in the coloring sheets and activities. I admit I didn't realize how White even cartoons are until I was a parent. It's really important for kids to see people that look like them as well as kids who look different. It's obvious and important for all of us but if we are White we don't often realize that's pretty much what we always see in books, movies and even coloring pages.
The crafts and coloring sheets do not require a huge budget or an MFA degree, as in even the non-crafty parent can handle the set-up, follow through, and clean-up. Here's an example:
Draw What's in Your Heart: Kids can show and share feelings or memories that may be just too big for words.
Language is how people talk not how clinicians talk about their patients. For example, instead of having only a section for divorced parents there is stuff for kids about adjusting to two homes or coping when a parent is away. A kid cares about their particular life, not that others call what's happening to them divorce, separation or abandonment. Plus, as a parent, it keeps the focus on what families are dealing with in the moment, not how others define or describe that. There's some "advice" talk and information but it's bite size and not too over the top.
It mixes reading, video, coloring and craft activities (they call articles, video and printable) which means it's not all text. It doesn't feel like reading an encyclopedia. It's colorful, to the point and interactive. Parents and kids can do coloring together, too. This is all really important for time-pressed parents and for keeping the attention of everyone. Kids are often ahead of adults and don't interact with information the way we did. If we don't catch up and on to that fully we just miss them completely. It's not the only place where kids are and not all kids are using technology all of the time. But many are using it a lot and way more than ever so we have to deal with that.
They talk about real-life things lots of adults ignore. Being homeless, having a parent in jail, or in the military, or in rehabilitation... these are not uncommon. However, that doesn't mean these experiences feel common, comfortable, ordinary and safe to talk about. Often, these are topics of discussion many adults avoid even if they are common. Kids can feel super alone and isolated when life is hard and of course that makes life harder. Kids might be surrounded by other kids who don't share the same experiences and feel shame. Or, kids might be surrounded by family and community also going through something hard and who, because of that, are in survival mode and crisis and not at the processing and attending to feelings stage yet. Having these topics in coloring books, videos and as a part of a TV show or website one might be on is a non-intrusive invitation to think, talk and work with or through some life stuff, past or present without it being a big, serious or out of the daily routine thing. And, bonus, no co-pays are required.
They even have this on the site.
The Big Idea: Hope is an overlooked resource!
Note: Please share any resources you did or do like that supports parents and parenting with ACEs.
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