As the entire world endures the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, it can be hard for adults to understand the ins and outs of it all, let alone children.
But after more than a month of embracing a new normal—e.g., kids out of school and not being able to see their friends—kids might be starting to ask you questions that you’re unsure how to answer.
Thank goodness for Sesame Street. Since 1969, the puppets of 123 Sesame Street have been teaching kids all sorts of things in the most engaging way, and they don’t plan to stop during a pandemic. That’s why they’ve created a special episode that will help explain what’s going on in the world.
Tune in to a very special COVID-19 town hall on Saturday, April 25, 2020 at 9 a.m. on ABC. Together, with Big Bird as your host and the collaboration with CNN journalists Sanjay Gupta and Erica Hill, “The ABC’s of Covid 19: A CNN/Sesame Street Town Hall for Kids and Parents” will air.
The town hall will involve all your favorite characters of Sesame Street—from Elmo and Grover to Abby Cadabby and Rosita—who will be talking about the pandemic and its affects it may be having on the kiddos (in a kid-friendly way, of course).
If your kids have specific questions, just fill out this questionnaire and yours just might get picked to be shared. (Hint: It’s not just for kids—parents can submit their burning questions as well.)
The special will be an hour and a half long and focus specifically on screen time, anxiety, and school.
Right before the town hall, you might want to tune in to another special episode that aired last week if you missed it. Called “Elmo’s Playdate, the program is a half-hour long and is set up in a video conferencing style that mimics what a real virtual playdate might be looking like for kids right about now.
In it, Lin Manuel Miranda, Anne Hathaway, and Tracee Ellis Ross join together with Cookie Monster, Elmo, and Grover to celebrate healthcare workers and what it’s like to adjust to social distancing.
Sesame Street has really done a lot to ease the transition of this strange time for kids. But they’ve also done a great job at tugging at parents’ heartstrings as well. For example, this PSA from Elmo’s dad for overwhelmed parents is enough to make any parent tear up during this time.
We think this town hall will be a great special for both parents and kids to watch together. Tell us: Have your kids been struggling with the pandemic? Will you be watching this special town hall together on Saturday?