Sesame Workshop Expands Emotional Well-Being Resources for Young Children

The nonprofit organisation releases new content to help families talk about big feelings and partners with publishers on books to expand on wellbeing topics

Sesame Workshop, the global nonprofit organisation behind Sesame Street, has launched a new collection of free emotional well-being resources to help children navigate everyday challenges, build resilience and strengthen their problem-solving skills.

Featuring Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Rosita, Grover and other Sesame Street faces, the free videos, songs, books and digital resources are designed to meet families where they are and support communication between parents and providers. 

“When children are given the tools to navigate challenges, they gain the confidence to learn, grow, and thrive,” said Rocio Galarza, Vice President, U.S. Educational Programs, Sesame Workshop. 

“Love and support through everyday moments are the first and most important building blocks in helping children overcome whatever comes their way. But parents and care providers need support, too, especially when it comes to talking about children’s emotional well-being. We know that developing a healthy mind, body, and heart starts early and that caring, trusted adults make a world of difference. Through these resources, we’re giving families and educators simple, research-based ways to help children understand their feelings, build resilience, and know they can ask for help.”

Available free of charge at www.sesame.org/mentalhealth, the initiative includes new and existing resources designed to help normalise conversations around emotions and provide families and educators with simple ways to support a child’s emotional well-being every day.

A standout addition is the uplifting new We Can Do Hard Things song, which reminds children that frustration, mistakes and setbacks are all part of learning and growing.

In the video, Elmo struggles to hit a baseball while Abby Cadabby becomes frustrated practising her magical spells. Through encouragement, persistence and teamwork, the pair discover they are capable of doing hard things when they keep trying.

New resources, funded by MetLife Foundation, will empower children and their caregivers with practical knowledge and strategies to strengthen social connections and nurture relationships. Digital content featuring Elmo, Abby Cadabby, and their Sesame Street friends emphasises core messages such as the value of taking others’ perspectives, doing kind things, and cooperating. These themes are also woven into select Tales from 123 segments in Sesame Street’s current 56^th season on Netflix.

Additional resources, supported by the Morgan Stanley Alliance for Children’s Mental Health, are designed to help parents and caregivers foster emotional well-being and resilience in their children and the family. Articles featuring Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Rosita, and Grover highlight strategies such as developing a growth mindset, perspective-taking, community-building, collaborative problem-solving, and active listening.

“At a time when leading pediatric organisations have identified children’s mental health as a national concern, Sesame Workshop’s emotional well-being initiative focuses on reaching children early, with the support of like-minded organisations,” said Lesley Bourns, Senior Vice President, Impact Programs, Sesame Workshop. 

“Our emotional well-being videos and books emphasise nurturing relationships and compassion for oneself and others, helping children build a strong foundation for lifelong emotional health.” 

New Sesame Street Books Supporting Emotional Well-Being

Several new Sesame Street themed books are also launching to help children navigate emotions through storytelling and play.

- Random House Children’s Books is releasing ‘Elmo’s Day with Rocco’, a new Little Golden Book that stars Elmo, Zoe, and of course, Zoe’s pet rock. Young readers will love the hilarious dynamic between Elmo and Rocco. Will Elmo find a healthy way to express and manage his big feelings?

- Chronicle Books will release ‘Elmo Checks In: How Is Everybody Doing?’ later this year, inspired by Elmo’s viral social media check-in and will see the furry red monster bring his affirmations and trademark insight and comfort to anyone in need of a little reassurance.  

- Lerner Publishing Group is launching ‘Building Relationships with Sesame Street®’, a new six-book series exploring key social and emotional learning topics, alongside additional mindfulness-focused titles later this year.

- Mayo Clinic Press Kids is debuting its ‘Everyday Feelings with Sesame Street’ series with ‘Get the Wiggles Out: Playful Ways to Embrace Every Feeling’, helping children navigate emotions through movement, play and self-expression. This playful picture book helps kids manage big feelings, one movement at a time, from nervous wiggles to excited jumps. When Elmo feels nervous at the doctor’s office and Abby bursts with excitement at the library, Get the Wiggles Out shows children fun, simple ways to handle big feelings. Additional titles will roll out later this year.

Explore the free emotional well-being resources on the Sesame Workshop website.