All month long, PBS KIDS is rallying children and families around the nation, helping to teaching your children to thank the helpers and give thanks to essential workers in their neighborhoods through a digital-led campaign.
Millions of parents are turning to free PBS KIDS educational content while children are learning and playing at home. One of the most important lessons for young children learning to be a good neighbor and citizen – now more than ever. That’s why PBS KIDS is launching a campaign to help children understand the importance of community, and provide them with resources to say “Thank you Neighbor” to the helpers – from teachers and healthcare professionals, to grocery store clerks and delivery personnel.
“Gratitude is a powerful tool— it’s something we can give back to those who help us every day, and it offers children a therapeutic outlet that leads to positive emotions,” said Lesli Rotenberg, Chief Programming Executive and General Manager, Children’s Media and Education, PBS. “Fred Rogers said it best when he said, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’ ”
Teaching your children to thank the helpers is easy with these wonderful resources from the Thank the Neighbors campaign. Thank the Neighbors campaign highlights and resources include:
· Fill-in-the-blank digital cards for families to complete and share with the hashtag #ThankYouNeighbors
· Printable coloring sheets with thank you prompts that can be emailed to community helpers, or posted for them to see
· A virtual game which allows kids to create essential worker heroes like postal carriers, utilities workers, first responders, doctors and more
· Videos that help children explore the neighbors and helpers that make up a community
· Resources for parents to help with conversations about essential workers
On pbskids.org and the PBS KIDS Games app, children can play the Hero Maker Game, which allows them to create essential worker heroes like postal carriers, utilities workers, first responders, doctors and more. The game is inspired by PBS KIDS series XAVIER RIDDLE AND THE SECRET MUSEUM, which is based on the children’s book series, Ordinary People Change the World. In addition, the PBS KIDS for Parents website will feature articles that can help parents teach their children about the essential workers in their communities and how to be a good neighbor.
PBS KIDS videos will also help children explore the helpers that make up a community, and how to say thank-you to others. From DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD to PBS KIDS’ “You Me Community” music videos, a variety of content is available on the free PBS KIDS Video App. Additionally, a “Thank You Neighbors” playlist from PBS KIDS favorite series is available on PBS KIDS YouTube.
