ChildLife: Blog
Child Life Specialists' Favorite Sesame Street Resources
May 15, 2025, 13:30 PM
by
Aubree Bailey
Sesame Street, developed by Joan Ganz Cooney and Lloyd Morrissett, was first developed to prepare disadvantaged preschoolers for kindergarten through a blend of entertainment and education. It's first episode aired in 1969, and since then, the television program has revolutionized how children and families learn and develop together at home and in their communities. Sesame Street has aired in 120 countries while covering topics from basic shapes, numbers, and letters to grief, conflict, and health.
88% of child life professionals attested to using Sesame Street Resources on a social media poll in May 2025, and we've rounded up some of their favorite resources from the Street!
Distraction Tools:
The Monster at the End of the Book: A classic distraction book used by CCLSs for decades! You can purchase the ebook app for iPhones and iPads or the physical copy as a board book for easy cleaning. You can also find a free read-a-loud in Grover's voice here. The second half of the video features sound effects.Cookie Calls: An app for iPhones and iPads for video calls with cookie monster!
Elmo Calls: An app for iPhones and iPads for video class with Elmo!
Grief: The resource that was recommended the most by CCLSs!
Grief Toolkit from Sesame Workshop: Available in English and Spanish, this tool provides support for children and families experiencing loss and grief through developmentally appropriate explanations of death, education for parents and caregivers, and activities for emotional expression and memory making. Child life specialists noted the following resources in the toolkit as some of their favorites:
-
What Happened: Elmo learns about death
-
Coping with Big Feelings: Elmo learns to talk about his feelings about the death of his uncle.
-
Memory Boxes: Jesse helps Elmo learn about ways to remember their loved one who has died.
Feelings and Socioemotional skills:
Feelings, Feelings, Everywhere: A e-book/game that teaches children about feelings and how to notice and cope with themFeeling Faces: A game that helps children learn and identify feelings through facial expression
Social Emotional Skills Toolkit: Help kids build skills to develop healthy relationships, respect differences, and build the social and emotional skills they need through resources like Bubble Breathing and Body Scan with Big Bird.
Healthcare
Elmo and Abbey's Check Up Play Date: A video modeling medical play as preparation for doctor's visits.Visiting the Doctor: Go along with Grover for a check-up.