Belonging: 'See Us Coming Together' with Sesame Street

Sesame Street image is the property of its licensing entities, no intended infringement.

Hello Kiddies, Parents, Caregivers, and Teachers!

Ms. Rose is so pleased to let you know about this Thanksgiving special airing on November 25, 2021, by our friends at Sesame Street and can be seen on HBO Max, PBSKids, Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube. As you know Sesame Street and all our friends from Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Ernie & Bert, Mr. Snuffleupagus, Elmo, Oscar the Grouch and so many more of our favorite friends have always strived to teach us new and exciting things.

Sesame Street is over 52 years old and has always strived to build bridges between cultures and teach us fun, engaging, and sometimes even tough topics. Even with such topics as racism, Sesame Street has launched its racial justice initiative. You can check out more wonderful material and media at Sesame Workshop There is also a discussion guide with activities and strategies on how to discuss the various topics addressed in the special. You can download it here.

Image is the property of Sesame Street and its licensing entities, no intended infringement.

As the neighborhood prepares for “Neighbor Day” you will be introduced to a new character friend, Ji Young. Ji Young is 7 years old and Korean American. You will get to celebrate the rich diversity of Asian and Pacific Islander communities from food to music. Ji Young is the first Asian American character friend at Sesame Street. She and all our Sesame Street friends will be joined by celebrity actor friends Simu Liu and Anna Cathcart, comic book artist Jim Lee, chef Melissa King, television personality Padma Lakshmi, and tennis star Naomi Osaka. Ms. Rose hopes you find some time during your Thanksgiving celebrations to join Sesame Street and friends in welcoming Ji-Young to the neighborhood!

I hope you always find a way to make others feel welcomed and that they too, belong!

My Special Aflac Duck®

Hello Kiddies, Parents, Caregivers, and Teachers!

There are just some things worth bragging about and this is one of those things. Ms. Rose is delighted to discover and learn more about My Special Aflac Duck® as part of the Aflac Childhood Cancer Campaign. Aflac is an American Insurance company founded in 1955.

Aflac’s unique cancer care policy and partnership with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center makes it a valuable ally to fight pediatric cancer. It has been more than 35 years, since a significant and sizable contribution by then CEO Dan Amos to pediatric cancer, provided the foundation for the development and commitment for the campaign to continue. Aflac has provided direct funding to pediatric cancer research but found that social and emotional needs needed to be met. This resulted in the creation of the My Special Aflac Duck®. The My Special Aflac Duck® started in 2018. Aflac along with its not-for-profit partners in the children advocacy space along with input from Kiddie cancer patients and families from Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center helped to create the duck through careful research and development. The duck is a robotic companion and is suitable for 3 years and up, for Kiddies who have been diagnosed with cancer. The duck is free and can be requested by medical professionals/facilities here.

My Special Aflac Duck® contains Medical Play Accessories, Feeling Cards, and Soundscape™ Spaceship features. In addition, Aflac has also provided an app that expands the duck’s features further and provides an interactive virtual story-telling scape for Kiddie’s to learn more about the duck’s world.

This image is the property of My Special Aflac Duck®

The Medical Play Accessories provided include a port-a-cath, stethoscope, pulse oximeter, syringe, and self-adherent wrap. Medical Play therapy especially with these accessories can provide kiddies the needed familiarity, with medical equipment and tools, that they may face in a clinical setting. Familiarity can diminish fears and increase confidence. This is so valuable considering the amount of time a Kiddie may spend in the hospital for treatments. The Feelings Cards are located on the duck’s chest, Kiddies can simply use them to communicate their feelings by tapping on the chest, which lights up. Kiddies at 3 years old + often do not have the capabilities to identify and describe their feelings. The Feelings Cards can help Kiddie’s express their feelings by visually identifying their feelings and communicating this more effectively to their medical care team.

The Soundscapes™ feature provides Kiddies with soothing or distracting sounds of the forest, ocean, farm, or amusement park. Contributions from Child Life Specialists and Psychologists assisted with designing these sounds as part of distraction therapy. These special soundscapes can assist with diminishing anxiety and fear or can provide an audible distraction from uncomfortable bedside procedures; such as shots, painful dressing changes, or catheter changes etc.

The My Special Aflac Duck® is truly a wonderful companion for Kiddies battling pediatric cancer. I hope you were delighted to learn about this comforting tool for Kiddies battling a tough disease and that you keep them and their families in your thoughts!

Nutrition+Education+Diversity Books

Hello Kiddies, Parents/Caregivers,

and Teachers!

Like all of you, Ms. Rose is always looking for resources that combine several lessons into one!

As a nutrition educator and diversity ally, I was excited to come across these books by author Roseanne Greenfield Thong. Roseanne has a rich history as an educator teaching English in California, Guatemala, Vietnam, and Hong Kong. This background is evident in her books. Roseanne combines culture competence and awareness, language lessons, and color & shape recognition. These are topics that kiddies and parents/adults alike can learn together!

Image is copyrighted material and belongs to Roseanne Thong and Illustrator John Parra

Ms. Rose hopes you find some quality time to explore these books together! Also, please check out Roseanne's many other works! Happy Reading!