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Elmo Tackles Climate Fears with Hugs and Hope
23 Sep
Summary
- Elmo shared his fears during a storm to show courage helps others.
- Sesame Street's Elmo used hugs and music to comfort during a storm.
- Parents report extreme weather disrupts children's routines and play.
Elmo, the furry red Muppet from Sesame Street, recently made an appearance at a Climate Week event in New York City. The event focused on how the impacts of global heating affect children. Elmo recounted his personal experience of fear during a storm on Sesame Street, a scenario recently depicted in a show featuring Post Malone.
During the "Big Storms, Big Feelings" event, Elmo shared his perspective on courage, stating, "Courage is when you feel scared but you still help others." He described his actions of giving hugs and playing music to comfort others. Following the storm, residents of Sesame Street worked together to clean up their neighborhood.
Kim Foulds, vice-president of research and insight at Sesame Workshop, discussed a study revealing that extreme weather events are significantly disrupting children's daily routines worldwide. This includes lost time for school, outdoor play, and interaction with parents, with extreme heat being a common experience across geographies.
Experts at the event, including a climate scientist and a Unicef official, affirmed that children can comprehend climate concepts and engage in actions like planting trees. Climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe emphasized the importance of conveying to children that "others care and there are solutions that work."
