Common Sense Media Review
By Lauri C. Anderson
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based on child development research. How do we rate?
Relaxing stories help sleep strategy & emotional regulation.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 3+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Listen
What's It About?
In episodes of GOODNIGHT, WORLD!, kids' favorite Sesame Street monsters team up with host, Alan, to tell calming stories aimed at helping young listeners relax and drift off to sleep. In the first half of each episode, Alan helps these friendly monsters manage their emotions, solve their minor problems, and wind down for rest. In the second half of each episode, a narrator from the popular Headspace meditation app takes over, guiding a related imagination session to soothe listeners into slumber. The final few minutes are a peaceful soundscape with calming noises like traffic passing, crickets chirping, and machines humming. Episodes are short and are great to use during nap time, quiet time, bedtime, or when trying to help your child calm their emotions and their bodies.
Is It Any Good?
This collaboration of powerhouse franchise Sesame Street and popular mindfulness app Headspace is predictably great. Each episode of Goodnight, World! starts out sweet and upbeat and gradually winds down to total relaxation, making this podcast useful for nap time, bedtime, or quiet time. Simple stories contain nothing mysterious, scary, or suspenseful, and kids familiar with Sesame Street will especially love hearing their favorite monsters' voices. The guided mindfulness segments are very relaxing, and include pleasant visualizations: vibrant colors, joyful characters, peaceful scenes, calm and safe situations. Scenarios in each episode are relatable to a wide audience: gardens, corner stores, laundromats, having a babysitter, having a friend over for a sleepover. The crucial limiting factor is the number of episodes. Kids may get bored of listening to the same dozen over and over again. But this may be a selling point for younger listeners who love repetition and thrive on consistency for their bedtime routines.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what strategies helped the characters calm their emotions or get to sleep in an episode of Goodnight, World!. What helped them quiet their bodies and minds for peaceful sleep? What are the parts of your bedtime routine that help you feel calm and ready for sleep? What ideas can you add to your nap time or bedtime routine?
What other podcasts, stories, or sounds help quiet your mind before sleep? What sounds or activities make going to sleep more challenging?
How did the Sesame Street characters use their imaginations in this episode, and how can you use your imagination to help you throughout your day?
What strategies do you use to calm down and be mindful, and why is it important to have these strategies in difficult situations? How can use breathing as a tool?
Self control and compassion are major themes throughout this podcast. Why are these important character strengths when trying to regulate your emotions?
Podcast Details
- Release date : June 13, 2021
- Genre : Storytelling
- Run time : 22 minutes
- Host : Alan Muraoka
- Production Companies and Networks : Sesame Street , Headspace
- Pricing structure : Free
- Topics : Book Characters , Puppets
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Self-control
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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