Sesame Street Is Teaming Up with CNN to Help Kids Understand the Coronavirus Pandemic
The Sesame Street gang is looking to help kids better understand the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The iconic muppets are partnering with CNN to put on a 90-minute town hall, The ABC’s of COVID-19, aimed at parents and their children.
The special, airing Saturday morning at 9 a.m. EST, will cover education, anxiety, screen time and playdates in the age of coronavirus, according to CNN.
Big Bird will moderate the town hall alongside CNN’s chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, and anchor Erica Hill.
Getty Images Dr. Sanjay Gupta
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As the novel coronavirus continues to spread in the United States and school districts cancel in-person classes through the end of the academic year, parents are adapting to homeschooling their children and attempting to work from home while also taking care of kids.
Many are also wondering about the potential long-term effects of the pandemic — which has kept most isolated in their homes — on their children.
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In an interview with PEOPLE, psychologist Adam Grant noted the resilience of children and urged parents to take the pressure off themselves during this time.
“I just think parents should be putting a lot less pressure on themselves and worry a lot less about their kids,” he said.
“There are enough things to worry about right now. I think our kids are remarkably resilient,” added Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, who co-authored Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy with Grant. "They’re going to find things that interest them, and they’re going to find ways to keep learning. We can help them do that.”
The ABC’s of COVID-19: A CNN/Sesame Street Town Hall for Kids and Parents will air Saturday, April 25 at 9 a.m. EST on CNN.
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