The Best Thing for Divorce…Sesame Street? (And How It Helps Kids)

When you’re a parent going through a divorce, one of the toughest talks is explaining it to your little ones. How do you find the right words to make them feel safe and secure? Well, guess what? There’s a surprisingly wonderful helper out there: Sesame Street!

Those amazing folks behind Elmo and Big Bird have created some truly incredible Sesame Street divorce resources. They’re designed to help you gently guide your family through transition.

Our main goal is to show you the kind, understanding, and child-friendly guidance that Sesame Street offers to move families toward a healthier divorce. We’ll dive into how they can help, the key messages they share, and how you can use these educational resources for your children. 

Why Sesame Street is Uniquely Positioned to Help Children with Divorce

Sesame Street has always been skilled at talking about big, sometimes tough, subjects in a way that kids can grasp. Their approach to divorce is no different.

• Characters Your Kids Already Love: Familiar, beloved characters like Abby Cadabby, Elmo, and Gordon create a safe and relatable space for children to learn about difficult topics. It’s likely your kids already feel a connection to them, making it easier for them to listen and understand. 
  • Example: When Abby Cadabby, a favorite fairy-in-training, shares her own story of having two homes, children can relate to her feelings and experiences. Learning important lessons through a character they already trust and adore is invaluable for children of all ages.
• Words Kids Understand: Sesame Street takes complicated ideas and breaks them down into simple, direct words that young children (ages 2-8) can easily understand. They skip the confusing grown-up talk and focus on clear explanations.
  • Example: Instead of using legal terms, they explain divorce in terms of “grown-up problems” that parents couldn’t fix, making it understandable even for kids in preschool.
• Helping with Big Feelings: This program truly shines when it comes to emotions. They help children learn how to name and express their “big feelings” – like sadness, anger, confusion, or fear – in a healthy way. They teach kids that all feelings are okay and that talking about them can really help.
  • Example: Through sweet songs and thoughtful discussions, characters like Gordon help children realize that feeling “so many different feelings at the same time” is totally normal when big life changes are happening.
• Based on Real Research: Here’s a comforting thought: Sesame Workshop doesn’t just guess what kids need. Their resources are created with the help of child psychologists, family therapists, and lots of research. This means their materials are truly effective and genuinely help with your child’s emotional well-being. Their divorce resources are built on strong, proven ideas about child development.

Key Messages from Sesame Street’s Divorce Resources

Sesame Street’s “Little Children, Big Challenges: Divorce” program delivers several really important messages that are designed to make children feel safe and supported.

• “It’s Not Your Fault”: This is probably the most crucial message. Sesame Street makes it crystal clear that divorce is a grown-up issue and it is never the child’s fault. Kids often carry immense guilt, thinking they caused the divorce, and this message helps lift that heavy burden.
  • For example: In one heartwarming scene, Abby Cadabby tells Gordon she worries her parents divorced because she didn’t clean her room. Gordon gently but firmly assures her, “It is not your fault. A divorce happens because of problems between grown-ups. It is never a child’s fault.” This can be a huge relief for a child.
• “Mommy and Daddy Still Love You”: Throughout these resources, the consistent message is that even if parents are no longer married, both parents will always love and take care of their child. That special love for the child remains strong and steady, even if the marriage itself ends.
  • For example: Abby’s story shows her parents living in two different houses, but she emphasizes, “My Mommy would still be my Mommy, and my Daddy would still be my Daddy, and they would always love me and take care of me, no matter what.”
• “Some Things Will Change, Some Things Will Stay the Same”: These resources help prepare children for practical changes that might happen (like having two homes) while reassuring them that many things will stay the same (like their parents’ love, daily routines, and cherished family traditions).
  • For example: The idea of “Two-Hug Day,” where a child gets a hug from one parent before going to the other parent’s house and another hug upon arrival, helps kids understand moving between homes in a comforting way.
• “It’s Okay to Have Big Feelings”: The program normalizes and validates children’s emotional responses to divorce. It teaches them that it’s perfectly fine to feel sad, angry, or confused.
  • For example: Through songs and discussions, characters like Gordon help children understand that feeling “so many different feelings at the same time” is just a normal part of big changes.
• “It Helps to Talk About It”: The resources strongly encourage open conversations between children and the adults they trust. They highlight that sharing feelings and asking questions can really help children cope.

How You, As a Parent, Can Use Sesame Street’s Divorce Resources

Sesame Street has put together a fantastic toolkit for parents and caregivers to help their children navigate divorce. This makes talking to kids about divorce easier and more accessible.

• Watch Videos and Sing Songs Together: Sit down with your child and watch the short videos and listen to the songs. These can be great starting points for conversations and help your child understand what’s happening in a gentle way.
  • For example: You could watch the “Abby Shares Her Experience with Her Parents’ Divorce” video with your child and then talk about their reactions and any questions they might have.
• Read Storybooks: Look for books or videos like “Two-Hug Day” (often available through the initiative). Reading these together can help children understand the idea of having two homes and moving between them.
• Use the Parent/Caregiver Guides: These guides are gems! They offer practical tips, age-appropriate language, and advice specifically for adults on how to talk about divorce with children and help them adjust to changes. Think of it as a valuable – Sesame Street approved – guide for parents.
• Try Interactive Activities: Explore the coloring pages, “Face Maker” tools, or other printable activities that Sesame Workshop provides. These can help children express their emotions and understand their new family structure in a fun, creative way.
• Keep the Conversation Going: Remember, divorce isn’t a one-time talk. It’s an ongoing journey. These tools are fantastic starting points for repeated discussions as your children grow and their understanding changes. Revisit the resources whenever new questions or feelings pop up. You’ll also find wellness tools to help you take care of yourself through the divorce. 

The Benefits of Using Child-Friendly Divorce Resources

Using child-friendly divorce resources like those from Sesame Street offers significant advantages for both children and families. 

• Less Stress and Anxiety for Children: When kids understand what’s happening in a way that makes sense to them and feel like their emotions are heard and valid, they can cope much better with the changes. These resources will help you prepare and answer tough questions that come up.
• Better Parent-Child Communication: These resources give you a common language and a shared starting point for tough conversations, making it easier for you and your child to talk openly. And when kids have additional questions, you’ll feel empowered answering even more questions.
• Less Conflict Exposure: When both parents use these child-focused resources, it naturally shifts the focus to the child’s perspective and needs. This can help reduce the amount of conflict your children are exposed to.
• Smoother Adjustment: Children adapt more easily to big changes when they feel informed, supported, and have an idea of what to expect.
• Validation of Feelings: Your children learn that whatever they’re feeling – whether it’s sadness, anger, or confusion – is normal and that it’s absolutely okay to express those feelings.

Aurit Mediation’s Commitment to Child-Focused Divorce

At Aurit Mediation, our core values are deeply connected to the principles you find in Sesame Street’s resources. We believe in a child-focused approach to Arizona divorce, meaning we aim for solutions that are simple, caring, and strategically designed with your children’s best interests at heart.

Just like Sesame Street helps children understand divorce, Aurit Mediation helps parents navigate the divorce process with their children’s well-being always at the very top of the priority list. We work to foster low-conflict resolution and help you create stable parenting plans, providing a supportive environment that truly minimizes the negative impact of divorce on children.

Supporting Your Family Through Divorce

Divorce is a journey, and it’s okay to feel overwhelmed. But here’s the good news: you absolutely don’t have to walk it alone. Resources like Sesame Street provide invaluable support for your children, helping them understand and cope with what’s happening. When you combine these amazing resources with a healthy process through mediation, you’re setting your family up for a smooth transition.

Ready to ensure a child-focused divorce process for your family? Explore Sesame Street’s divorce resources. To learn how mediation can make your divorce easier, less expensive and never go to court, schedule a Free 1-hour Online Consultation for you and  your spouse. An experienced mediator will cover everything you need to know to decide if mediation is right for your situation. Or you can choose an Individual 20-Minute Call if you prefer to first have some of your questions answered privately.

Let us help you navigate this journey with compassion and expertise, ensuring your children’s well-being is always protected.