Recommended Resource: Sesame Workshop's Foster Care Topic
May is National Foster Care Month, and what better month to introduce an amazing resource that helps children, adults, and families learn more about and process their experiences with foster care? This month’s recommended resource is a special one and it’s brought to us by our familiar friends Elmo, Big Bird, Cookie Monster, and crew – that’s right, Sesame Workshop has an amazing website full of interactive resources all about foster care.
Why we think it’s awesome:
- Resources are available in both English and Spanish
- You can filter the resources by age group, language, type, and activity length
- From videos to printables, games to stories, there is truly something for everyone: kids, their caregivers, siblings, and even professionals
- In addition to foster care, they also have resources about other topics that many of our children experience, such as homelessness, incarceration, parental addiction, and violence.
Here are some example of the amazing resources that Sesame Workshop offers:
Game: Slow It Down
What Sesame Workshop says: “This activity offers children different ways to feel calmer. Each session begins with a Muppet leading a short ‘breathe in, breathe out’ exercise. Then children choose one of six activities, including drawing in sand, stamping in glitter, ‘playing’ in slime, experimenting with calming musical tones, and watching slow-motion video. Each session ends with a final breathing exercise.”
What we Noticed: Even our (grown-up) staff members enjoyed playing with the glitter and slime. Since these kinds of messy sensory activities aren’t always easily carried around with us, this game is an easy and mess-free on-the-go solution. Plus the breathing exercises are super cute!
Play it here: https://sesameworkshop.org/resources/slow-it-down-2/
Printable: Adult-Child Coloring Page: I Hear You!
What Sesame Workshop says: “During and after a traumatic experience, our brains may be ‘hijacked’ by fear, anxiety, or anger. Doing a nonverbal activity such as coloring or a jigsaw puzzle together can help us reconnect and get ‘unstuck.’ This coloring page can help adults communicate important ideas to children without saying a word: We can relax together. We can have a good time together. We can concentrate. I am here with you. We can make something beautiful, even when the world around us feels ugly.”
What we Noticed: The concept of an adult-child coloring page is pure genius! While the Muppet family in the center of the page is easier for little hands to color, the intricate hearts around the edges can keep a grown-up’s hands busy and mind engaged, allowing them to be fully present with their child. There are simple but very thoughtful instructions provided for making the most of this activity. This seems like a great activity for any adult-child pair, but especially a child who is in a new home and may feel afraid and unsure.
Download it here: https://sesameworkshop.org/resources/adult-child-coloring-page-i-hear-you/
Video: A Heart Can Grow
What Sesame Workshop Says: “Children need to know that it’s ok to love their birth parent(s)…When we have to say goodbye to people (and places), it can feel like our hearts are breaking or shrinking, but…those memories don’t need to leave our hearts.”
What we Noticed: Children experiencing foster care may feel like they are the only ones – but seeing a character on Sesame Street (in this case, the adorable little Muppet, Karli) openly talk about her foster mom and missing her birth mom can normalize their experience and help them to process their big feelings. The great part about this video is that it shows Karli and Elmo doing a simple art project to demonstrate the concept of a heart growing with all of the new memories it holds while still remembering the old ones. After watching the video, you can do this project with your kids too!
Watch it here: https://sesameworkshop.org/resources/a-heart-can-grow-video/
Whether you are a seasoned foster parent, or looking for support as you begin your foster care journey, we hope that Sesame Workshop’s foster care resource will be a great help to you!
Want to receive recommended resources and other monthly content delivered to your inbox? Sign up for email newsletters here.