“Children who are healthy in both mind and body tend to be happier, show greater motivation to learn, and have a more positive attitude about themselves and the world,” said Jeanette Betancourt Ed.D., Senior Vice President, U.S. In response to this, Sesame Workshop has committed to a deeper, stronger role in addressing the emotional well-being of young children and their families.

The crisis has only deepened during the pandemic, indicating that young children especially need support and resources to build their long-term emotional health and well-being. The youngest children are often overlooked in discussions about mental health - but there’s growing evidence that young children are struggling, now more than ever. Last year, several groups, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, took the unprecedented step of declaring a mental health emergency among the nation’s children.

“We at Sesame hold a vision of a world in which all children can flourish and feel the joyfulness of life and do so with appreciation for their own mental health and well-being,” said Sherrie Westin, President, Sesame Workshop. “Through the power of our beloved characters and proven resources, we’re raising awareness about the importance of nurturing children’s emotional well-being and lessening the stigma associated with seeking support for children’s mental health.” The Workshop’s approach will offer strategies to support all families – from celebrating joyful everyday moments and helping children learn the essential skills they need to understand and manage their feelings to supporting parents and community providers in understanding the importance of recognizing signs of possible emotional distress. Responding to the growing mental health crisis for young children and building on decades of experience developing social-emotional learning content for families, the Workshop will address this critical need through a wide range of activities and engaging content designed for the whole family and available on multiple platforms to reach children and families wherever they are. (New York, NY – May 3, 2023)–Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street, today announced a new organization-wide focus on the emotional well-being of young children and their families. Laurie Santos and The Happiness Lab, a suite of research-based resources, the return of the Goodnight, World! podcast with Headspace, and more Multi-platform initiative kicks off Mental Health Awareness Month with a variety of offerings including a new YouTube special, Elmo’s Mindfulness SpectacularĪctivities and resources also include a PSA campaign with the Ad Council, new podcast episodes with Dr.

Doctor Who by Steve Cole