Can we not just let kids be kids?
Sesame Street Has A New Extreme Weather Episode. Here’s What Climate Experts Think
climate change joke
It’s been a summer of climate extremes—from record-breaking heat waves to deadly flash floods to a fire season that has seen a number of acres burned well above the 10-year average. Even Sesame Street, where sunny days once swept the clouds away, can’t seem to keep the storms at bay.
A new special, Storm on Sesame Street, which aired on Aug. 3, follows Elmo and friends as they work together to get ready for a big storm, and help rebuild in its aftermath. The episode was created to help kids better understand extreme weather as it becomes increasingly more frequent.
“Extreme weather is now a reality for many families, and young children need support they can understand and trust,” Joseph Giraldi, chief operating officer of Sesame Workshop, said in a press release. “With our Extreme Weather response initiative, we’re using the power of Sesame Street to help children prepare for what’s ahead, cope with big emotions during moments of disruption, and begin to recover afterward. From our new storm special to year?round resources and community outreach, this initiative reflects our commitment to showing up for children and families when they need it most.”
The episode provides an opening for adults to help prepare kids about what to expect during an extreme weather event—before it actually happens. Elmo and his father help hand out food and water to their neighbors, talk through the big emotions the storm brings up, and find ways to help their friends when the storm leaves Sesame Street unrecognizable.
Just leave the kids alone. Let them grow up.
