The ABCs of Back to School: A CNN/Sesame Street Town Hall for Families
By Ashley Moulton,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Sesame Street special tackles 2020 back-to-school season.
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The ABCs of Back to School: A CNN/Sesame Street Town Hall for Families
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What's the Story?
THE ABCS OF BACK TO SCHOOL: A CNN/SESAME STREET TOWN HALL FOR FAMILIES was a live special about how families can prepare to go back-to-school during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was produced by CNN and Sesame Street and hosted by CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta and Erica Hill, along with many of the Sesame Street Muppets. The Muppets do skits about things like wearing masks and how to set up a workspace for distance learning. Real kids and parents from around the United States send in pre-recorded questions via video, asking questions like "Does this mean the germs are gone?" and "When can we have birthday parties again?." Gupta and a panel of experts answer kids' and parents' questions around three main topics: how to go back to school safely, how to have a good school year while distance learning, and how to handle anxiety about school during the pandemic.
Is It Any Good?
This special does a great job of reinforcing good habits for kids doing both in-person and distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. It also aims to help kids with the uncertainties surrounding school, reassuring them that grown-ups are working hard to give them a good school year and that everyone's in this together. Kids will likely get a lot out of hearing other real kids' questions and knowing that other kids have the same worries and curiosities as they do. Seeing Muppets doing now-familiar things like wearing masks and showing off their makeshift bedroom desks also helps normalize the pandemic for young kids.
The ABCs of Back to School: A CNN/Sesame Street Town Hall for Families is quite long though, so young kids will probably lose interest if they try to watch it all in one sitting. Parents may ultimately feel unsatisfied by the experts' opinions, as there's still so much uncertainty around the pandemic and school, and experts are only offering their best guesses for how to proceed. Regardless, if parents and kids watch the special together, it can be a great conversation starter to help parents get an insight into kids' feelings during this unusual time.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what questions kids may have about going back to school during the pandemic. What topics did they bring up in The ABCs of Back to School: A CNN/Sesame Street Town Hall for Families? Is there anything your family is especially worried about? Is there anything you're excited about?
What are some ways school might be different during the 2020-2021 school year? What are some ways they'll be the same?
What's your family's plan for staying safe? If kids are going to school, what are some things we can all do to stay healthy?
TV Details
- Premiere date: September 12, 2020
- Cast: Erica Hill , Sanjay Gupta
- Network: CNN
- Genre: Educational
- TV rating: NR
- Last updated: October 22, 2020
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