Sesame Workshop and SC Johnson recently collaborated to create a new line of videos promoting healthy practices at home—in an eco-friendly way!
As part of Sesame Workshop’s Caring for Each Other initiative, the videos star Elmo and his father Louie. The pair models healthy routines your kiddo may need to follow for sick days, bedtime and bath-time.
photo courtesy of PR Newsfoto/SC Johnson
Not only will the videos help children learn about basic hygiene practices, the educational Elmo-packed clips will also focus on and promote sustainable practices. Fisk Johnson, Chairman and CEO of SC Johnson, said in a press release, “It’s important that we all work together to help children respond to challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Johnson continued, “Our goal is to combine our expertise in science and innovation with Sesame Workshop’s decades of experience in educating and connecting with children so we can equip them with the skills needed to lead healthier and more environmentally conscious lives.”
Steve Youngwood, CEO of Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street, said of the collab with SC Johnson, “Sesame Workshop is proud to work with SC Johnson to help families stay healthy, connected, and full of curiosity—with a little help from the Sesame Street Muppets.” Youngwood added, “Together, we can give children the skills they need to thrive and navigate whatever comes next in 2021 and beyond.”
For more information on the new videos or the Caring for Each Other initiative, visit Sesame Workshop’s website here.
SEGA’s Sonic the Hedgehog is coming to a LEGO shop near you! LEGO Ideas has announced that a concept design submitted by 24 year-old, UK-based LEGO super fan Viv Grannell will soon be brought to life for fans all over the world.
LEGO Ideas is an initiative that helps take new ideas that are then voted on by fans with the hope of them being turned into real-life bricks. Grannell took inspiration from SEGA’s platformer experience Sonic Mania™, and incorporates characters and environments from the game’s Green Hill Zone level.
photo: LEGO
The Sonic Mania Green Hill Zone LEGO Ideas® design first goes into the product development phase in partnership with SEGA® and after finalization, will be available worldwide. The set is the perfect representation of Sonic the Hedgehog and comes as the franchise celebrates its 30th anniversary this June.
Stay tuned for more details, including release dates and pricing.
During these unprecedented times food banks continue to be a lifeline for families struggling to put food on the table. Parents from coast to coast rely on Feeding America member food banks to help provide nutritious food, including dairy, for their children to grow strong. Starting this January, Yoplait is teaming up with Jennifer Lopez to help provide funds to food banks through the Lids to Feed America program
The Lids to Feed America program makes it easy for consumers to support local Feeding America member food banks, where families can access essential foods. And it all starts with a short trip to the grocery store.
Look for the specially marked Yoplait products at your local grocery retailer, scan and submit your receipt at YoplaitLids.com and Yoplait will donate to Feeding America.
For each eligible purchase on a receipt and submitted receipt, Yoplait will donate 10 cents to Feeding America for a maximum total donation up to $600K.
“I’m honored to partner with Yoplait for Lids to Feed America. Through my work with them I’ve learned that dairy is one of the most requested but least donated items at food banks,” said Lopez. “Dairy is a crucial part of helping kids grow and that’s why we’re launching this campaign – to donate funds to Feeding America, so they can provide foods, including dairy, to help our communities grow stronger.”
Feeding America is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through the Lids to Feed America Program, Yoplait aims to help families that rely on Feeding America’s network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs.
“Feeding America reports that in the wake of the pandemic the number of children facing hunger may rise to 18 million, or 1 in 4 children overall*1,” said Susan Pitt, director of brand experience, General Mills. “As a brand dedicated to providing the delicious and nutritious snacks kids need to grow strong, we knew we had to step in. With that, Lids to Feed America was born. Our hope is that this initiative helps communities with funding to get essential foods, including dairy, to children and families nationwide.”
This holiday season will be like any other and not seeing far away friends and family may be hard on our little ones. CNN and Sesame Street are teaming up next Saturday for their fifth Town Hall to help families prepare for a very different holiday season. The hour-long special, The ABCs of COVID-19, will be hosted by CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta and Anchor Erica Hill, along with Sesame Street’s Big Bird and friends on Saturday, Dec. 19 at 10 a.m. ET on CNN, CNN International and CNN en Español.
Familiar faces from Sesame Street and experts from CNN and across the country will be ready to answer children’s questions about staying healthy through the winter months, celebrating the holidays while distanced from extended family and friends, and coping with big feelings as they continue to face unprecedented challenges in their young lives.
The special will stream live without requiring a log-in on CNN’s homepage and across mobile devices via CNN’s apps for iOS and Android. It can also be viewed on CNNgo and via CNNgo apps for Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire, Chromecast, and Android TV) and will be available on demand to subscribers via cable/satellite systems, CNNgo platforms, and CNN mobile apps.
This year, CNN and Sesame Street have collaborated on five Town Halls for children and families, meeting them in moments of challenge and crisis through the COVID-19 pandemic and racial justice movement.
This holiday season will look dramatically different for many children and families. Sesame Workshop and Viatris Inc. are launching new resources to support the social and emotional needs of families across generations around the world during the pandemic. This new global resource will reach families on six continents.
Today’s release of materials on SesameStreet.org/caring in English, Spanish, Hindi, and Portuguese is designed to help young children talk through and name big feelings like stress and fear, encourage positive caregiving strategies and routines, and help families find ways to celebrate together when far apart.
“We know children and families everywhere are struggling as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. Together with Viatris, we are offering families strategies to cope with today’s challenges and foster emotional wellbeing long into the future,” said Sherrie Westin, President of Social Impact and Philanthropy, Sesame Workshop. “As we head into the holidays with so many routines upended, we want to help children and their caregivers manage big feelings and spend quality time with each other, even when apart.”
“Our work with Sesame Workshop stems from our mission to empower people worldwide to live healthier at every stage of life,” said Lara Ramsburg, Head of Corporate Affairs for Viatris. “From young children to parents, grandparents, and other caregivers, we hope these new resources will be of value to anyone who has experienced the emotional impact of the pandemic on their families. As we begin our journey as Viatris, we’re committed to supporting social impact initiatives and partnerships that have the potential to have a lasting, positive impact on patients, families and communities worldwide. We’re pleased to collaborate with Sesame Workshop, who has a long history of making a difference in the lives of children around the world.”
Viatris, a new kind of global healthcare company, is committed to doing its part in support of public health needs amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to the generous support to make these new resources possible, Viatris will share the resources with its global workforce of approximately 45,000.
The resources launched today as part of Sesame Workshop’s Caring for Each Other initiative, which was created in response to the uncertainty facing families during the COVID-19 pandemic and has reached families in more than 100 countries and 41 languages. http://SesameStreet.org/caring is regularly updated to meet the needs of families as the situation evolves, with resources designed to help parents provide comfort and manage anxiety, as well as help with creating routines, fostering playful learning at home and staying physically and mentally healthy. Resources will also be distributed through a wide range of national and community providers as part of Sesame Street in Communities, Sesame Workshop’s program to support children and families.
—Jennifer Swartvagher
Featured photo: Sesame Street In Communities via YouTube
TIME, TIME for Kids and Nickelodeon have finally announced the winner of the 2020 Kid of the Year and 15-year-old scientist and innovator Gitanjali Rao from Colorado has taken home the prize. The multi-platform initiative has set out to recognize young leaders who are making a positive impact in their communities, and Rao is no exception.
She and other top finalists will be honored during the Kid of the Year TV special hosted by Trevor Noah on Fri. Dec. 4 at 7:30 p.m. The special will be aired on Nickelodeon, TeenNick and Nicktoons and will feature guests stars such as Kristen Bell, Simone Biles, Billie Eilish, Rob Gronkowski, Neil Patrick Harris, Chris Hemsworth, Ken Jeong, Angelina Jolie and Malala Yousafzai.
photo: TIME
Rao sat down with Angelina Jolie in an interview to discuss her work with technology. “I don’t look like your typical scientist. Everything I see on TV is that it’s an older, usually white man as a scientist…. My goal has really shifted not only from creating my own devices to solve the world’s problems, but inspiring others to do the same as well. Because, from personal experience, it’s not easy when you don’t see anyone else like you. So I really want to put out that message that anybody can do it. If I can do it, you can do it, and anyone can do it.”
The top five Kid of the Year honorees will receive a cash prize and will serve as a Kid Reporter for TIME for Kids at a Nickelodeon event. You can find more information about the program atKidoftheYear2020.com, and don’t forget to pick up a copy of the Dec. 14 issue of TIME featuring Gitanjali Rao on newsstands this Fri., Dec. 4.
Nickelodeon, TIME and TIME for Kids announced the top 20 finalists for the first-ever Kid of the Year honor. This new initiative will recognize extraordinary young leaders who are making a positive impact in their communities. The top five honorees from the list will be featured in a television special hosted by Trevor Noah.
The Kid of the Year TV special will introduce the top five honorees ahead of the ultimate Kid of the Year being named, and feature guest stars from entertainment, sports and pop culture to help surprise them and celebrate their work. Celebrity guests scheduled to make appearances throughout the special include Kristen Bell, Simone Biles, Brie Larson, Zachary Levi and Russell Westbrook, among others.
The special will simulcast across Nickelodeon, CBS Television Network, TeenNick and Nicktoons on Sat., Dec. 5, at 8 p.m. (ET/PT). One kid will be chosen as Kid of the Year and will be featured on a cover of TIME with a companion story in TIME for Kids.
Each of the five Kid of the Year honorees will receive a cash prize and have the opportunity to serve as a Kid Reporter for TIME for Kids with exclusive access to a Nickelodeon event. For additional information about the initiative, visit KidoftheYear2020.com.
Looking for some easy, last-minute recipes for Halloween? Never fear, HERSHEY is here!
A new initiative by the World Food Championships (WFC), HERSHEY and Walmart has curated a new playlist of videos on YouTube that feature WFC’s award-winning chefs whipping up simple, spooky sweets.
“From inspiration to affordable and easily accessible ingredients, these new recipe ideas will take the fear out of family cooking this Halloween,” says WFC President Mike McCloud. So what can you expect?
The new recipes include HERSHEY’S Halloween Crispy Treats, Cute and Creepy Halloween Spiders, and Pumpkin Bars with Milk Chocolate Glaze. You can expect a simple video with easy steps on the entire recipe. Anyone can access this free collection of videos by heading to the Walmart Chef’s Halloween Recipes YouTube playlist.
Jon Davis, GM/VP Walmart and Sam’s Club for HERSHEY’S shares that “Halloween is a season that offers a variety of different ways to celebrate, including making sweet treats and creepy desserts. We are excited to join forces with the Walmart Chefs to provide these fun and tasty recipe video tutorials.”
Take some time for yourself. In celebration of National Coffee Day, Milano is partnering with Tan France to make me-time extra special this fall. The Milano x Tan France Cup & Saucer set is crafted to make eating Milano cookies even more indulgent.
This new initiative hopes to inspire you to take a moment to recognize and celebrate life’s wins both big and small. #HaveACookie to celebrate all of those little victories like getting the kids to bed early.
France said, “I’ve partnered with Milano cookies to create a limited-edition cup & saucer set, specially designed to add a little extra sweetness to your daily routine. Whether you’ve accomplished a huge work goal or simply need a break from all that is 2020, what better way to celebrate than to have a cookie?”
Each set includes a bag of Double Dark Chocolate Milano cookies, the perfect balance of crisp cookies and rich, luxurious chocolate, to enjoy with your fall drink of choice.
“Now more than ever, it’s important to appreciate and reflect on wins big and small — and I personally enjoy doing so while curling up with my favorite cup of coffee and having a Milano cookie!” said France.
Milano will be giving away a select number of the limited-edition sets on the Milano Instagram (@Milanocookies) on National Coffee Day. Fans can enter for a chance to win between Sept. 29 and Oct. 2 by following @Milanocookies and tagging who they’d like to #HaveACookie with.
Get ready to cast your ballot. Just in time for the 2020 elections, the Yara Shahidi Barbie doll is here to inspire young girls from around the world. As part of their ongoing Role Model Series, Barbie is shining a light on notable women who affect positive change in the world.
You may know Shahidi as an actress and model but off-screen she uses her platform to inspire others. She launched Eighteen X 18 voting initiative to educate and motivate first-time voters to turn out for the 2018 mid-term elections. The Yara Shahidi doll hopes to empower the next generation of voters to stand up for what they believe in, emphasize the importance of using one’s voice at every age and show young voters how they hold the power to help shape a better future.
To further encourage a conversation around the voting process, a QR code on the doll’s packaging links to WeVoteNext which provides directions on how to register to vote based on one’s zip code.
The collectible doll is available now for pre-sale exclusively on Amazon and Barbie.com.
