New content includes animated shorts showcasing mindfulness techniques to help children learn ways to manage their emotions.
As a way to combat stress and anxiety during these challenging times, Sesame Street and Headspace have teamed up to create ‘Monster Meditations’ – six animated shorts to help children learn the fundamentals of mindfulness, meditation and social emotional learning.
The shorts – roughly three minutes in length – will feature animated version of the Sesame Street Muppets having feelings of frustration, impatience, being overwhelmed, nervousness, disappointment and excitement.
Headspace co-founder and former Buddhist monk, Andy Puddicombe, will help each monster learn various breathing and sensory activities and other mindfulness techniques to better manage relatable, everyday scenarios.
Examples of the shorts include Cookie Monster impatiently waiting for his cookies to bake. Andy introduces a fun game called ‘I-Sense’ to teach Cookie Monster patience. Meanwhile, Elmo is having trouble sleeping because he wants to play. Andy teaches Elmo a wind-down activity to help him relax and fall asleep.
“We’re so excited to be partnering with Sesame Street on the new animated shorts,” commented Andy. “Learning the fundamentals of mindfulness early in life is an incredibly valuable skill to foster, especially at a time like this, when children and families may be experiencing higher levels of stress and anxiety.
“It not only provides children with a greater sense of calm and clarity, but also helps cultivate the qualities of compassion, creativity, and kindness. In knowing that thoughts and emotions do not have to rule their lives, children can grow up empowered, comfortable with who they are and free to explore their limitless potential.”
Dr Rosemarie Truglio, svp of curriculum and content at Sesame Workshop, added: “With today’s unprecedented uncertainty, children may be experiencing a range of big emotions like anger, frustration, disappointment and nervousness.
“Through Monster Meditations, we are modeling an array of mindfulness strategies and activities to help children manage and regulate their emotions. Whether taking slow, deep belly breaths, shifting attention by playing a game of I-Spy, or repeating affirmation self-talk phrases, we’re helping kids pay attention to what is happening around and inside of them.”
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