April is the Month of the Military Child. The beloved characters of “Sesame Street” are getting in on the celebration to make every military child feel special. Sesamestreetformilitaryfamilies.org is a free resource for military families available in both English and Spanish. Families and professionals serving military children can access content that will help them during deployments, military moves, homecomings, and injuries or grief.
The program is a part of Sesame Workshop, the parent organization responsible for the iconic children’s television program “Sesame Street.”
Resources to Help Military Families Thrive
Many tools are provided to military families with children through school initiatives and service-affiliated support organizations, such as Fleet and Family Services and Army Community Services. But a lot of the coping strategies and resources are geared for school-aged children and those who are able to better understand the ups and downs of military life.
“Sesame Street” aims to support young children and their caregivers.
On the web platform, programs include videos where the “Sesame Street” characters talk about their own experiences with military life. Elmo shares how he stays connected to his dad when he deploys, as well as how he prepares for that separation.
The gang at “Sesame Street” also have helpful ideas for everyday life, such as how to create a meaningful morning or bedtime routine. These seemingly small things can be difficult for young children when they are also adjusting to a new home or the absence of a parent.
Videos, coloring pages, and activity ideas are all provided. Some are geared towards parents, while others speak directly to children themselves.
Sesame Workshop has developed an app to support military families as they relocate. “The Big Moving Adventure” walks kids through the steps of moving, including preparing for the move, packing, and getting used to a new home. Videos for kids and tips for parents are also available.
Communication is at the heart of many of the tips and techniques recommended and practiced as part of Sesame Workshops.
Many of the resources are aimed at helping children process emotions. This can be a difficult skill for young children, especially when experiencing difficult situations such as a deployed parent, military move, or dealing with an injury or death.
“Teaching kids communication skills, helping them maintain a positive outlook, and supporting them as they express how they feel can reduce stress…and help kids thrive and grow,” the site recommends.
Helping Those Who Help Military Families
“Sesame Street” recognizes that many community providers serve military children and families without having a direct connection to the military themselves. An entire section of the program is provided to help those who work with military families do so effectively.
Sections are provided on deployment, homecomings, and relocations. All three events can be stressors for military children and require providers to be especially alert to individual needs. Videos and guiding questions are included to help providers prepare, along with handouts and tips to use during visits with military families.
(Credit: Facebook/Sesame Street for Military Families)
A History of Supporting Military Families
Sesame Workshop launched its Military Families Initiative in 2006 in response to the need the organization saw to support military children around the world. The first programming focused on Helping Families During Military Deployment. It was designed to “help families and their young children cope with the challenges of deployment and build resilience in times of separation and change.”
Due to the overwhelmingly positive reception to the Talk, Listen, Connect: Helping Families During Military Deployment material, Sesame Workshop added programming for Deployments, Homecomings, Changes in 2008 and When Families Grieve in 2010.
