Caring for Each Other is a 2020 initiative from Sesame Workshop to help young children and their families cope with the coronavirus pandemic. The initiative consists of videos, coloring pages, eBooks, and information sheets aimed at parents to help navigate "the for now normal."
The initiative features existing videos that spotlight health and safety tips such as staying clean and hugging oneself. Links are included to full Sesame Street episodes and eBooks to help people stay entertained.
Original short-form videos produced for the initiative, live-action and animated, have been posted to Sesame Street’s social media. In addition, resources for parents have been posted about how to explain COVID-19 to kids and self-care for adults. The initiative intends to update regularly as the pandemic plays out, with original and existing content being continually added.
A television special produced as part of the initiative, Elmo's Playdate, aired on April 14. The specials Elmo's World News and Elmo's Playdate: Scavenger Hunt followed that summer.
Videos[]
Image | Title / Description |
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Elmo's Virtual Hug (March 23, 2020) Elmo talks to the viewer from his home via video chat (set up by his mommy). Elmo mentions the virtual fun they'll have and gives the viewer a virtual hug. (YouTube) | |
Elmo's Morning Routine (March 24, 2020) Elmo shares his morning routine, going through every item of a checklist he drew himself. Before he starts his day of playing and learning, Elmo invites the viewer to stretch and wiggle. (YouTube) | |
Thank You, Healthcare Workers! (March 25, 2020) In a video posted to most of Sesame’s social media accounts sans YouTube, Abby Cadabby sends a thank you message to healthcare workers and their families. | |
How to Self Hug with Abby Cadabby (March 28, 2020) Abby talks to the viewer about giving herself hugs to help her feel better. This video was used for Abby's appearance on One World: Together at Home. (YouTube) | |
Special National Doctor's Day Message (March 30, 2020) In celebration of "National Doctor's Day," this video compiles thank you messages from Elmo, Grover, Abby, Rosita, Ernie and Rubber Duckie, Cookie Monster, and Count von Count. (YouTube) | |
Oscar the Grouch Says #StayHome (April 6, 2020) Oscar tells people to stay home, noting the uniquely grouchy appeal of social distancing. This video would be used for Oscar's appearance on One World: Together at Home. (YouTube) | |
Grover Shows Near and Far from Home! (April 10, 2020) Grover does a riff on his classic Near and Far routine from his home. (YouTube) | |
The Count's Thank You Message (April 19, 2020) The Count lists and thanks the various frontline workers. (YouTube) | |
Learn to Belly Breathe with Rosita (April 24, 2020) Rosita explains her frustration about not being able to go to the park with Elmo, and demonstrates belly breathing to overcome such big feelings. (YouTube) | |
Practicing Social Distancing with Abby and Rudy (May 3, 2020) Abby's family are practicing physical distancing, but she can still interact with her friends on video chat. Rudy pops in and plays with the filters on the camera. (YouTube) | |
Elmo's Bedtime Routine (May 4, 2020) It's almost Elmo's bedtime, so he goes over his bedtime checklist. He practices singing "Rock-a-bye Baby" with the viewer. (YouTube) | |
Telly's Blanket Fort (May 8, 2020) Telly Monster shows off a blanket fort that he has built to help himself feel comfortable and safe. (YouTube) | |
Heroes in Your Neighborhood Song (May 20, 2020) Elmo, Grover, and Abby sing a variation of "The People in Your Neighborhood", rewritten as "The Heroes in Your Neighborhood", as a tribute to various essential workers. (YouTube) | |
Bert and Ernie Share Jokes (May 22, 2020) Ernie calls Bert from the other side of their apartment to tell him knock-knock jokes. (YouTube) | |
More Jokes with Bert & Ernie! (July 12, 2020) Ernie pesters Bert with more knock-knock jokes. Bert tries to get back at Ernie by telling him one. (YouTube) | |
Back to School with Elmo PSA (September 8, 2020) Elmo is masked and ready to go back to school, but Louie informs him that he'll be learning from home today. While Elmo takes off his mask, Louie talks with the viewer and reminds them to take a slow, deep breath when times get tough. (YouTube) | |
Wear a Mask with Oscar PSA (September 12, 2020) Oscar promotes wearing a mask around others in public, not only for health but so he won't have to see any smiling faces. (YouTube) | |
Healthy Habits with Grover PSA (September 15, 2020) Grover shares some health tips and has trouble getting his mask on. (YouTube) | |
Fluffster Wears a Mask (September 21, 2020) Daniel talks to Julia via video chat about wearing her mask at the park. She's bothered by the feeling of the mask on her ears and nose, but her dad reminds her that Fluffster is good at wearing his mask. Julia's mom puts the mask on her, and Daniel helps Julia practice wearing a mask. The segment was branded as part of Sesame Street and Autism. (YouTube) | |
Julia and Elmo's Video Playdate (September 21, 2020) Elmo teaches Julia a silly dance; she's amused but doesn't engage. Elmo finds Baby David, and Fluffster joins in on the dance. The segment was branded as part of Sesame Street and Autism. (YouTube) |
Abby's Dance Party[]
Image | Title / Description |
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Play Freeze Dance (March 27, 2020) Abby plays freeze dance with the viewer. She briefly talks to an off-camera Rudy, who's finger-painting. (YouTube) | |
Emotions Dance (April 17, 2020) Abby invites the viewer to do dances based around feelings. Emotive images of Elmo appear to show what feeling to dance to. This video was used for Abby's appearance on Elmo's World News. (YouTube)
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Friends Dance with Rosita and Zoe (May 1, 2020) |
Elmo's Sing Along[]
Image | Title / Description |
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Happy and You Know It (April 1, 2020) After helping his daddy fold the laundry, Elmo has a virtual sing-along and sings "If You're Happy and You Know It." (YouTube) | |
Old MacDonald (April 8, 2020) Elmo wants to sing an animal song: "Old MacDonald." (YouTube) | |
Wheels on the Bus (May 6, 2020) Elmo misses riding the bus to preschool, so he's been pretending to ride a bus, which naturally reminds him of the song "The Wheels on the Bus." (YouTube) | |
ABCs (June 15, 2020) After practicing his ABCs with his mommy, Elmo sings "The Alphabet Song" with the viewer. (YouTube) | |
BINGO (July 20, 2020) Elmo talks about the video chat he just had with Julia, whose dog Rose kept sticking her nose at the screen. Rose reminds Elmo of a dog song and sings "Bingo." (YouTube) |
Parent PSAs[]
Image | Title / Description |
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A Moment to Yourself (April 5, 2020) Louie offers some self-care advice for overwhelmed parents, while his son Elmo tries to get his attention off-screen. (YouTube) The segment was translated for Indian audiences. (Facebook) | |
Being Flexible (May 17, 2020) Alan explains how he has adapted his morning routine, with quick appearances from Louie, the Count, and Cookie Monster joining him for a video chat. (YouTube) | |
Louie Talks Routines (May 31, 2020) Louie reminds the viewer that it's okay to occasionaly put off a routine and says routines should be flexible. (YouTube) | |
Laugh and Smile (June 21, 2020) Alan shows some simple ways to have fun like dancing or wearing a silly hat. (YouTube) | |
Things to be Thankful For (July 12, 2020) Alan lists three things he is thankful for. (YouTube) |
Storytime[]
Image | Title / Description |
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Storytime with Alan: The Bunny Hop (April 9, 2020) Alan hosts a "storytime" series in which he reads aloud Sesame Street storybooks. In this episode, he reads The Bunny Hop. (YouTube) | |
Storytime with Alan: Love from Sesame Street (April 22, 2020) Alan reads Love from Sesame Street. (YouTube) | |
Rosita the Grouch (May 11, 2020) Rosita tells a story she wrote with her mother about a monster who felt grouchy about staying inside, but learns that she can still do the things she loves in a different way. (YouTube) | |
Storytime with Alan: Another Monster at the End of This Book (September 21, 2020) Alan reads one of his favorite stories, Another Monster at the End of This Book. (YouTube) |
Animated videos[]
PSAs
- Premiering on March 30 online and on HBO, these animated PSAs (narrated by Tyler Bunch) show the Sesame Street characters demonstrating safe hygienic practices. Two videos feature the song "Brushy Brush" rewritten as "Washy Wash" and another a parody of MC Hammer's "U Can't Touch This" featuring a chicken saying "Wash Hands Now."
Stories
- Alan (Alan Muraoka) narrates a series of animated stories starring the Sesame Street Muppets.
Julia's Family
- A series of videos features Julia's family practicing new routines to stay healthy and safe.