1 00:00:15,476 --> 00:00:22,356 Speaker 1: Pushkin, did you ever hear of a happiness hack or 2 00:00:22,396 --> 00:00:25,156 Speaker 1: well being strategy on this show? And think, gee, I 3 00:00:25,236 --> 00:00:29,116 Speaker 1: wish I learned that one years ago. It's certainly never 4 00:00:29,156 --> 00:00:31,396 Speaker 1: too late to discover the lessons that the science of 5 00:00:31,396 --> 00:00:34,436 Speaker 1: happiness has to offer. I know from your emails that 6 00:00:34,476 --> 00:00:36,996 Speaker 1: some of you listening right now are in your sixth, seventh, 7 00:00:37,036 --> 00:00:39,796 Speaker 1: and even eighth decades, and that you still feel that 8 00:00:39,836 --> 00:00:41,516 Speaker 1: you learn a ton from what we talk about on 9 00:00:41,556 --> 00:00:45,076 Speaker 1: the Happiness Lab. But there's also a growing movement arguing 10 00:00:45,116 --> 00:00:48,196 Speaker 1: that it's never too early to start mastering these happiness hacks. 11 00:00:48,876 --> 00:00:51,796 Speaker 1: The very things that science shows can make grown adults flourish, 12 00:00:51,996 --> 00:00:55,916 Speaker 1: practices like mindfulness, gratitude, or being sociable and other oriented. 13 00:00:56,196 --> 00:00:58,156 Speaker 1: All of these are habits that can boost well being 14 00:00:58,276 --> 00:01:00,676 Speaker 1: in younger minds too, And that's the reason that I 15 00:01:00,716 --> 00:01:03,716 Speaker 1: got started teaching happiness in the first place. The students 16 00:01:03,716 --> 00:01:06,556 Speaker 1: who take my Science of well Being class are incredibly smart, 17 00:01:06,636 --> 00:01:09,956 Speaker 1: but also surprisingly anxious and unhappy young adult. I think 18 00:01:09,996 --> 00:01:12,436 Speaker 1: my class helps, but I wish that my students could 19 00:01:12,436 --> 00:01:14,956 Speaker 1: have learned all the strategies I teach long before they 20 00:01:15,116 --> 00:01:18,476 Speaker 1: entered college. That's why I recently launched a free course 21 00:01:18,516 --> 00:01:21,076 Speaker 1: for adolescents called The Science of Well Being for Teens, 22 00:01:21,356 --> 00:01:23,036 Speaker 1: which you can find on YouTube or. 23 00:01:22,996 --> 00:01:24,076 Speaker 2: On Coursera dot org. 24 00:01:25,156 --> 00:01:27,476 Speaker 1: But we shouldn't just begin taking care of our emotional 25 00:01:27,556 --> 00:01:29,996 Speaker 1: health in middle school either. We should be getting this 26 00:01:30,076 --> 00:01:33,396 Speaker 1: knowledge to kids even earlier. So how can we get 27 00:01:33,476 --> 00:01:35,836 Speaker 1: children to start investing in their happiness as soon as 28 00:01:35,836 --> 00:01:38,116 Speaker 1: they start learning their abcs and how to count? 29 00:01:38,436 --> 00:01:39,636 Speaker 3: Oh, I've had that the norm? 30 00:01:40,356 --> 00:01:43,116 Speaker 1: Well that's a little clue because the experts that you'll 31 00:01:43,116 --> 00:01:45,676 Speaker 1: hear from in this episode are the amazing people at 32 00:01:45,676 --> 00:01:49,396 Speaker 1: Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit that's behind Sesame Street, which has 33 00:01:49,396 --> 00:01:53,956 Speaker 1: helped teach generation after generation of children literacy, numeracy, and yes, 34 00:01:54,116 --> 00:01:57,756 Speaker 1: social emotional skills. Grover Big Bird and all the human 35 00:01:57,796 --> 00:01:59,036 Speaker 1: residents of Sesame Street. 36 00:01:59,076 --> 00:02:01,036 Speaker 3: You've forgot the Alma, But that's okay. 37 00:02:01,196 --> 00:02:04,436 Speaker 1: Sorry, Grover Big Bird. Elmo and the team have a 38 00:02:04,476 --> 00:02:07,796 Speaker 1: track record in getting vital educational messages out not only 39 00:02:07,836 --> 00:02:10,756 Speaker 1: to young viewers, but also to the people watching alongside them, 40 00:02:10,916 --> 00:02:15,556 Speaker 1: whether that's parents, caregivers, grandparents, older siblings, or teachers, and 41 00:02:15,676 --> 00:02:17,676 Speaker 1: recent work has begun to show that with the right 42 00:02:17,756 --> 00:02:21,276 Speaker 1: characters and stories, we can teach children's strategies for protecting 43 00:02:21,316 --> 00:02:25,876 Speaker 1: their well being even in really difficult times. Take for example, 44 00:02:25,996 --> 00:02:28,996 Speaker 1: some new research coming out of NYU. They tested the 45 00:02:29,036 --> 00:02:33,436 Speaker 1: improvements that preschool children showed after watching Alan Simpson, which 46 00:02:33,436 --> 00:02:36,476 Speaker 1: is the Arabic version of Sesame Street that Sesame Workshop 47 00:02:36,516 --> 00:02:39,956 Speaker 1: created in collaboration with the International Rescue Committee and a 48 00:02:39,996 --> 00:02:43,356 Speaker 1: generous grant from the MacArthur Foundation. The research showed that 49 00:02:43,396 --> 00:02:46,836 Speaker 1: after watching the show, young viewers and crisis affected areas 50 00:02:46,916 --> 00:02:50,076 Speaker 1: were more able to successfully identify their emotions and to 51 00:02:50,156 --> 00:02:53,316 Speaker 1: apply a simple coping strategy. As a result, watching the 52 00:02:53,316 --> 00:02:56,396 Speaker 1: show had taught these kids the emotional abcs they needed 53 00:02:56,756 --> 00:03:00,436 Speaker 1: even in the midst of a terrible humanitarian crisis. So 54 00:03:00,476 --> 00:03:03,476 Speaker 1: when an opportunity came along to collaborate with Sesame Workshop 55 00:03:03,716 --> 00:03:07,116 Speaker 1: and their ongoing efforts to teach well being fundamentals, you 56 00:03:07,196 --> 00:03:09,676 Speaker 1: better believe I jumped at it. Later in the year, 57 00:03:09,716 --> 00:03:12,396 Speaker 1: will be bringing you a special season of shows featuring 58 00:03:12,436 --> 00:03:14,756 Speaker 1: not only all of your furry friends from Sesame Street, 59 00:03:14,916 --> 00:03:18,156 Speaker 1: but also the many experts from Sesame Workshop who craft 60 00:03:18,156 --> 00:03:21,556 Speaker 1: the content that so playfully teaches viewers such important lessons. 61 00:03:22,156 --> 00:03:24,996 Speaker 1: But this new series won't just be for kids or 62 00:03:25,076 --> 00:03:27,996 Speaker 1: just for parents or caregivers of a kid. Whether you're 63 00:03:28,036 --> 00:03:30,756 Speaker 1: aged three or one hundred and three, you'll still hear 64 00:03:30,876 --> 00:03:33,716 Speaker 1: new things about the science of happiness, just with a 65 00:03:33,756 --> 00:03:37,156 Speaker 1: little added Sesame Workshop furry fun. And To kick off 66 00:03:37,196 --> 00:03:39,836 Speaker 1: the collaboration, I took part in a live event at 67 00:03:39,876 --> 00:03:43,556 Speaker 1: the Arizona State University and Global Silicon Valley Summit, a 68 00:03:43,596 --> 00:03:46,636 Speaker 1: massive conference for educators which was held in San Diego 69 00:03:46,756 --> 00:03:49,276 Speaker 1: in April. At the summit, I had a chance to 70 00:03:49,316 --> 00:03:52,596 Speaker 1: interview three of the key players at Sesame Workshop, their 71 00:03:52,676 --> 00:03:56,956 Speaker 1: CEO Steve Youngwood, the Chief Production and Creative Development Officer, 72 00:03:57,116 --> 00:04:01,676 Speaker 1: Kay Wilson Stallings, and everyone's favorite furry red monster Elmo. 73 00:04:02,796 --> 00:04:03,436 Speaker 2: So welcome. 74 00:04:03,516 --> 00:04:05,476 Speaker 1: Today, we're going to be talking about things that we 75 00:04:05,516 --> 00:04:08,036 Speaker 1: can be doing to lay the foundation to help our 76 00:04:08,076 --> 00:04:11,956 Speaker 1: young people as emotionally as mentally healthy as they possibly can. 77 00:04:12,116 --> 00:04:13,236 Speaker 2: I'm Laurie Santos. 78 00:04:13,236 --> 00:04:15,396 Speaker 1: I'm a professor of psychology at Yale and host of 79 00:04:15,396 --> 00:04:17,716 Speaker 1: the Happiness Lab podcast. I spend a lot of my 80 00:04:17,796 --> 00:04:20,676 Speaker 1: time thinking about how we can help mental health at 81 00:04:20,676 --> 00:04:23,276 Speaker 1: the level of higher ed in my college students. But 82 00:04:23,356 --> 00:04:25,316 Speaker 1: lately I've been feeling like my job would be a 83 00:04:25,396 --> 00:04:27,716 Speaker 1: lot easier if I didn't have to wait until students 84 00:04:27,716 --> 00:04:30,636 Speaker 1: got to college to start thinking about their emotional health. 85 00:04:30,876 --> 00:04:32,276 Speaker 2: And that's what we're going to be talking about today. 86 00:04:32,316 --> 00:04:33,956 Speaker 1: We're going to be talking about how we can lay 87 00:04:33,996 --> 00:04:37,756 Speaker 1: the foundation of children's emotional health as early as possible, 88 00:04:37,996 --> 00:04:40,396 Speaker 1: and how the media can really help with that. This 89 00:04:40,436 --> 00:04:42,356 Speaker 1: is going to be the first in a whole series 90 00:04:42,436 --> 00:04:45,076 Speaker 1: of conversations that we're doing as part of my podcast 91 00:04:45,356 --> 00:04:49,036 Speaker 1: with experts on how we can teach children using the media. 92 00:04:49,076 --> 00:04:51,356 Speaker 1: And that is why I have my fantastic other panelists 93 00:04:51,396 --> 00:04:54,636 Speaker 1: and guests here today. The Happiness Lab is so excited 94 00:04:54,636 --> 00:04:57,956 Speaker 1: to be partnering with Sesame Workshop and to toast it off, 95 00:04:57,956 --> 00:04:59,476 Speaker 1: I'm going to turn it over to Steve and Ka 96 00:04:59,676 --> 00:05:00,636 Speaker 1: to introduce themselves. 97 00:05:01,716 --> 00:05:02,116 Speaker 4: Thank you. 98 00:05:02,276 --> 00:05:05,116 Speaker 5: I am the CEO of Sesme Workshop and we're most 99 00:05:05,156 --> 00:05:08,516 Speaker 5: known obviously for Sesame Street, you know, which you know 100 00:05:08,676 --> 00:05:11,516 Speaker 5: has joy but also sort of like touched kids and 101 00:05:11,556 --> 00:05:13,796 Speaker 5: families for over fifty plus years around the world. 102 00:05:14,076 --> 00:05:16,516 Speaker 4: You know, at a bit of a higher level. 103 00:05:16,276 --> 00:05:18,436 Speaker 5: As we kind of look at our vision going forward, 104 00:05:18,836 --> 00:05:22,636 Speaker 5: you know, it's really to empower that next generation to 105 00:05:22,756 --> 00:05:26,076 Speaker 5: build what we hope is a better place, and you know, 106 00:05:26,116 --> 00:05:28,636 Speaker 5: We do it by trying to be a child's most 107 00:05:28,636 --> 00:05:32,676 Speaker 5: trusted friend, trying to be a caregiver's valued partner, and 108 00:05:33,116 --> 00:05:35,636 Speaker 5: you know, we try to create as a global impact 109 00:05:35,756 --> 00:05:40,836 Speaker 5: organization these experiences that enrich minds and in large hearts. 110 00:05:41,396 --> 00:05:44,316 Speaker 5: We focus on early childhood because we do believe that 111 00:05:44,396 --> 00:05:46,356 Speaker 5: is where you can have the greatest long term impact 112 00:05:46,356 --> 00:05:50,116 Speaker 5: of building a foundation. And we do it by entertaining kids, 113 00:05:50,116 --> 00:05:52,196 Speaker 5: but not as an end in itself. It's really about 114 00:05:52,316 --> 00:05:55,156 Speaker 5: as a means to an end of educating them and 115 00:05:55,396 --> 00:05:57,756 Speaker 5: addressing the most pressing issues, which is why we're so 116 00:05:57,796 --> 00:06:00,876 Speaker 5: excited to be with Laurie here. Emotional well being is 117 00:06:00,916 --> 00:06:04,316 Speaker 5: clearly a pressing issue for a society for adults, for parents, 118 00:06:04,356 --> 00:06:07,676 Speaker 5: for children. And it's funny, you know, Laurie is excited 119 00:06:07,716 --> 00:06:09,716 Speaker 5: working with us because it's like she I was older, 120 00:06:09,796 --> 00:06:11,356 Speaker 5: and what can you learn from younger? 121 00:06:11,396 --> 00:06:12,356 Speaker 4: To me, it's. 122 00:06:12,196 --> 00:06:14,916 Speaker 5: Almost like it's more like, Wow, if we can see 123 00:06:14,956 --> 00:06:17,916 Speaker 5: where their problems are better understand them later, we can 124 00:06:17,916 --> 00:06:20,756 Speaker 5: sort of backward engineer and have a more impactful program. 125 00:06:20,916 --> 00:06:23,116 Speaker 5: So I'm excited for the conversation. I'm excited where this 126 00:06:23,196 --> 00:06:25,196 Speaker 5: relationship will go, and I'm excited to be here. 127 00:06:25,396 --> 00:06:28,596 Speaker 6: It's okay, Hi, my first time here, and I'm very 128 00:06:28,636 --> 00:06:31,236 Speaker 6: excited to be here as well, and excited to share 129 00:06:31,236 --> 00:06:33,916 Speaker 6: with you what we're doing at the workshop to engage 130 00:06:33,956 --> 00:06:36,796 Speaker 6: in this work and to have the greatest impact possible. 131 00:06:37,876 --> 00:06:39,836 Speaker 1: And so I wanted to start with the state of 132 00:06:39,876 --> 00:06:41,676 Speaker 1: where we're at right now, you know, because this is 133 00:06:41,676 --> 00:06:44,316 Speaker 1: a big focus on children's mental health, and so Steve, 134 00:06:44,476 --> 00:06:46,236 Speaker 1: you know, talk to me about some of the statistics 135 00:06:46,236 --> 00:06:48,276 Speaker 1: about where things are and how are you trying to 136 00:06:48,276 --> 00:06:51,316 Speaker 1: elevate your work on mental health with kids through Sesame workshop. 137 00:06:52,436 --> 00:06:52,916 Speaker 4: Yeah. 138 00:06:52,996 --> 00:06:57,196 Speaker 5: So from the beginning, we've always taken a whole child's 139 00:06:57,236 --> 00:07:00,596 Speaker 5: curriculum approach, and emotional well being is part of it. 140 00:07:00,636 --> 00:07:03,396 Speaker 5: But clearly we're in a different moment now, which is 141 00:07:03,436 --> 00:07:06,516 Speaker 5: why we're having taking a different you know, focus on it, 142 00:07:06,636 --> 00:07:08,396 Speaker 5: following COVID and a lot of other. 143 00:07:08,236 --> 00:07:09,716 Speaker 4: Things that are going on. 144 00:07:10,396 --> 00:07:12,956 Speaker 5: And it's both the different moment in terms of how 145 00:07:13,076 --> 00:07:16,836 Speaker 5: kids are sort of experiencing, but also a different moment 146 00:07:16,836 --> 00:07:20,396 Speaker 5: in terms of where it is in the conversation in society. 147 00:07:20,836 --> 00:07:23,156 Speaker 5: We're particularly focused because there's a lot of attention on 148 00:07:23,276 --> 00:07:25,996 Speaker 5: older audiences teens and college students and it's often the 149 00:07:26,036 --> 00:07:29,036 Speaker 5: younger kids, who we believe are the most important, that 150 00:07:29,116 --> 00:07:32,636 Speaker 5: don't get talked about. If you look at this generation 151 00:07:32,716 --> 00:07:34,716 Speaker 5: of three to five year olds, they were born into 152 00:07:34,796 --> 00:07:38,876 Speaker 5: COVID and I was just with some preschoolers and researchers 153 00:07:38,876 --> 00:07:42,436 Speaker 5: and he's talking about the real, tangible, obvious like implications 154 00:07:42,716 --> 00:07:47,116 Speaker 5: that they grew up with anxious households. They grew up 155 00:07:47,516 --> 00:07:49,996 Speaker 5: with masks and so you see this in as they 156 00:07:50,036 --> 00:07:52,916 Speaker 5: can't read facial expressions as well. They grew up with 157 00:07:52,996 --> 00:07:55,196 Speaker 5: a closed community and some of their sort of verbal 158 00:07:55,196 --> 00:07:58,476 Speaker 5: development it is slowed down. And those are real things 159 00:07:58,516 --> 00:08:00,756 Speaker 5: that we don't know how but inevitably that they will 160 00:08:00,756 --> 00:08:03,196 Speaker 5: have impact. But then you look at the parents, it's 161 00:08:03,196 --> 00:08:06,196 Speaker 5: different now, it's less stigmatized. They're bringing more kids to 162 00:08:06,316 --> 00:08:09,716 Speaker 5: mental health facilities. Percent of them now leave. It's a 163 00:08:09,756 --> 00:08:12,276 Speaker 5: major issue for early child at eighty percent of them 164 00:08:12,636 --> 00:08:16,116 Speaker 5: believe that media can help. So we're at a moment 165 00:08:16,196 --> 00:08:19,636 Speaker 5: where the issue is bigger, the conversation is more open, 166 00:08:20,476 --> 00:08:23,196 Speaker 5: and you know, it is a time for us to 167 00:08:23,236 --> 00:08:26,036 Speaker 5: put a more sort of pointed focus on it as 168 00:08:26,356 --> 00:08:28,716 Speaker 5: we hope help the kids today. But we always say 169 00:08:28,796 --> 00:08:31,196 Speaker 5: it's also it's the foundation. So if you can build 170 00:08:31,236 --> 00:08:33,756 Speaker 5: the habits today, you can make a difference in the future. 171 00:08:34,756 --> 00:08:37,076 Speaker 1: And I think this is something where Sesame really can 172 00:08:37,076 --> 00:08:39,356 Speaker 1: play a very critical role because this is not the 173 00:08:39,396 --> 00:08:41,756 Speaker 1: first time that Sesame Workshop has had to step in 174 00:08:41,916 --> 00:08:44,316 Speaker 1: when kids were facing some kind of crisis. You know, 175 00:08:44,316 --> 00:08:46,276 Speaker 1: give me a sense of the history of this and 176 00:08:46,316 --> 00:08:48,036 Speaker 1: the fact that Sesame has done this a lot in 177 00:08:48,076 --> 00:08:48,956 Speaker 1: the past. 178 00:08:49,676 --> 00:08:53,356 Speaker 5: Yeah, you know, while we have the history of it 179 00:08:53,396 --> 00:08:56,596 Speaker 5: was founded to get kids ready for kindergarten. You have 180 00:08:56,676 --> 00:08:58,556 Speaker 5: your curriculum, and then there's the moments you need to 181 00:08:58,596 --> 00:09:02,076 Speaker 5: meet and it's in our DNA. You know, there was 182 00:09:02,116 --> 00:09:04,756 Speaker 5: a seminal thing that at least those from the US 183 00:09:04,836 --> 00:09:05,596 Speaker 5: may remembers. 184 00:09:05,596 --> 00:09:07,476 Speaker 4: In the early eighties, we had a. 185 00:09:07,476 --> 00:09:11,476 Speaker 5: Character mister Hooper, played by He passed away in real life, 186 00:09:12,236 --> 00:09:15,236 Speaker 5: and you know, as opposed to writing him off, having 187 00:09:15,276 --> 00:09:18,676 Speaker 5: him moved to California or something, one decided that, Okay, 188 00:09:18,716 --> 00:09:23,036 Speaker 5: here was a moment to teach kids and give families 189 00:09:23,156 --> 00:09:27,196 Speaker 5: the tools of something that unfortunately everyone will experience, which 190 00:09:27,236 --> 00:09:29,036 Speaker 5: is a loss of a loved one. So we did 191 00:09:29,076 --> 00:09:32,956 Speaker 5: the research. We created an episode really focusing on the 192 00:09:32,996 --> 00:09:36,436 Speaker 5: fact that Okay, it's Okay, to be sad. Death means 193 00:09:36,436 --> 00:09:38,796 Speaker 5: they're not coming back, but you'll still have the memories. 194 00:09:39,676 --> 00:09:43,156 Speaker 5: And we felt that was important for the kids, and 195 00:09:43,156 --> 00:09:45,436 Speaker 5: we felt that was important for caregivers. You know, more 196 00:09:45,476 --> 00:09:49,276 Speaker 5: recently during COVID and there's also the tragic murder of 197 00:09:49,316 --> 00:09:53,436 Speaker 5: George Floyd. We again pivoted from some things and said, 198 00:09:53,476 --> 00:09:55,756 Speaker 5: let's meet that moment. There are questions that families have, 199 00:09:55,876 --> 00:09:57,636 Speaker 5: there are emotions that kids are going through, there are 200 00:09:57,636 --> 00:10:00,356 Speaker 5: conversations that people don't not to have. We can use 201 00:10:00,356 --> 00:10:03,556 Speaker 5: our relationship, we can use our various partners, and we 202 00:10:03,596 --> 00:10:07,996 Speaker 5: can use our expertise to address it because it was needed. 203 00:10:07,676 --> 00:10:08,356 Speaker 4: In the moment. 204 00:10:09,716 --> 00:10:13,596 Speaker 5: The emotional wellbeing is an ongoing thing, but it's another 205 00:10:13,676 --> 00:10:15,196 Speaker 5: moment that we think we need to meet. 206 00:10:15,996 --> 00:10:17,956 Speaker 1: And so as we've talked more about the kinds of 207 00:10:18,036 --> 00:10:20,436 Speaker 1: ways that we're going to meet this important moment. Okay, 208 00:10:20,516 --> 00:10:23,036 Speaker 1: I know you've brought up that Sesame workshop often takes 209 00:10:23,036 --> 00:10:26,036 Speaker 1: this full spectrum approach to thinking about skills building and 210 00:10:26,036 --> 00:10:28,756 Speaker 1: also thinking about kids' emotional health. So what do you 211 00:10:28,756 --> 00:10:30,276 Speaker 1: mean by this full spectrum approach? 212 00:10:31,076 --> 00:10:34,276 Speaker 6: So when we're thinking about emotional wellbeing and children, we're 213 00:10:34,276 --> 00:10:37,156 Speaker 6: talking about the way they think and feel about themselves 214 00:10:37,636 --> 00:10:40,116 Speaker 6: and the experiences they have as they encounter the world 215 00:10:40,196 --> 00:10:43,036 Speaker 6: around them. And we know that children need to have 216 00:10:43,476 --> 00:10:47,556 Speaker 6: a healthy mental state in order to thrive, in order 217 00:10:47,636 --> 00:10:52,476 Speaker 6: to develop a compassionate mindset, in order to have joyous moments, 218 00:10:52,876 --> 00:10:58,036 Speaker 6: and to develop physically, emotionally, and socially. And so when 219 00:10:58,076 --> 00:11:01,716 Speaker 6: we look at mental wellness and emotional wellbeing, we're looking 220 00:11:01,756 --> 00:11:06,156 Speaker 6: at the complete spectrum of those everyday joyous moments, helping 221 00:11:06,236 --> 00:11:11,556 Speaker 6: children to recognize and explain their emotions, and then also 222 00:11:11,756 --> 00:11:15,516 Speaker 6: helping parents to recognize when there might be some really 223 00:11:15,556 --> 00:11:18,116 Speaker 6: serious emotional challenges that their children are dealing with. 224 00:11:18,396 --> 00:11:19,916 Speaker 1: And so I think as we think about this full 225 00:11:19,956 --> 00:11:22,236 Speaker 1: spectrum approach, there's this question about, Okay, what are the 226 00:11:22,316 --> 00:11:24,876 Speaker 1: specific kinds of things we can build into that, and 227 00:11:24,916 --> 00:11:28,196 Speaker 1: where are the spots where media can can be especially helpful. 228 00:11:28,516 --> 00:11:30,436 Speaker 1: And one of the domains I think where media can 229 00:11:30,476 --> 00:11:34,796 Speaker 1: be really useful is in trying to explain very tricky concepts, right, 230 00:11:34,836 --> 00:11:37,076 Speaker 1: you know, I teach a class at Yale University, like 231 00:11:37,076 --> 00:11:39,956 Speaker 1: an Ivy League school about some of these scientific practices 232 00:11:39,996 --> 00:11:42,436 Speaker 1: that build well being. But there's a question about how 233 00:11:42,436 --> 00:11:45,316 Speaker 1: we can boil down some of these like scientific notions 234 00:11:45,356 --> 00:11:47,836 Speaker 1: in a way that kids can really understand, and just 235 00:11:47,876 --> 00:11:49,716 Speaker 1: to kind of give one concrete example which I think 236 00:11:49,756 --> 00:11:51,516 Speaker 1: will be helpful. One of the things we've talked about 237 00:11:51,556 --> 00:11:54,596 Speaker 1: in our curriculum development is ways to teach kids that 238 00:11:54,636 --> 00:11:58,756 Speaker 1: emotions change, and that negative emotions are normative, right, Like, 239 00:11:58,836 --> 00:12:01,556 Speaker 1: sometimes we're just going to be upset or sad or 240 00:12:01,596 --> 00:12:04,596 Speaker 1: anxious or frustrated or whatever it is, and that kind 241 00:12:04,636 --> 00:12:05,716 Speaker 1: of thing is normal. 242 00:12:05,836 --> 00:12:05,956 Speaker 6: Right. 243 00:12:05,996 --> 00:12:07,916 Speaker 1: This is a hard concept for adults to get, right, 244 00:12:07,916 --> 00:12:10,316 Speaker 1: but it can be especially hard for children. And one 245 00:12:10,316 --> 00:12:12,276 Speaker 1: of the things we've talked about in our curriculum is, like, Okay, 246 00:12:12,276 --> 00:12:14,476 Speaker 1: what's an analogy we can use that kids would get 247 00:12:14,516 --> 00:12:17,356 Speaker 1: about something that's changing doesn't feel good, but you know, 248 00:12:17,396 --> 00:12:19,316 Speaker 1: sometimes you have to put up with it. And we thought, oh, 249 00:12:19,356 --> 00:12:20,956 Speaker 1: you know the weather, you know, sunny days. 250 00:12:21,076 --> 00:12:21,236 Speaker 6: Right. 251 00:12:21,916 --> 00:12:23,516 Speaker 1: The idea is we can teach kids that, you know, 252 00:12:23,556 --> 00:12:26,836 Speaker 1: sometimes your emotional weathers like it is in San Diego, right, 253 00:12:26,956 --> 00:12:29,236 Speaker 1: or it's you know in theory in Theory sunny all 254 00:12:29,276 --> 00:12:31,996 Speaker 1: the time, right, And sometimes your emotional weather is kind 255 00:12:31,996 --> 00:12:33,356 Speaker 1: of like where it is where I grew up in 256 00:12:33,356 --> 00:12:36,596 Speaker 1: the Northeast, where it's snowy, your rainy, and it doesn't 257 00:12:36,636 --> 00:12:39,116 Speaker 1: have to be like that all the time. It will change, 258 00:12:39,476 --> 00:12:41,276 Speaker 1: but it's normal. Like this is just the kind of 259 00:12:41,276 --> 00:12:43,036 Speaker 1: thing that tends to be normal. And I love this 260 00:12:43,116 --> 00:12:46,476 Speaker 1: approach because you know, it cannot be sunny every day 261 00:12:46,476 --> 00:12:48,556 Speaker 1: when it comes to your emotional health, you know, even 262 00:12:48,596 --> 00:12:50,156 Speaker 1: if you live on sesame streets. 263 00:12:52,036 --> 00:13:04,196 Speaker 7: Oh no, sorry to interrupt, but just a sesame street. 264 00:13:03,956 --> 00:13:07,836 Speaker 3: Because that's that's really am our nerves. How much this step? 265 00:13:08,036 --> 00:13:12,196 Speaker 3: How must tell mister Steve, who's our friend? 266 00:13:12,636 --> 00:13:17,236 Speaker 4: Elmo? Hi, this is doctor Lorie Santos. 267 00:13:17,516 --> 00:13:21,676 Speaker 5: No, doctor Lory, and we were just talking about emotions. 268 00:13:21,796 --> 00:13:23,996 Speaker 2: Ah, Elmo, do you know what emotions are? 269 00:13:24,036 --> 00:13:26,876 Speaker 1: They're kind of like feelings And I love talking to 270 00:13:26,876 --> 00:13:28,116 Speaker 1: people about their feelings. 271 00:13:28,356 --> 00:13:32,636 Speaker 7: You do them so so doctor Lloy is kind of 272 00:13:32,996 --> 00:13:34,596 Speaker 7: a doctor as sealings. 273 00:13:35,436 --> 00:13:37,316 Speaker 2: Yeah, I guess so cure. 274 00:13:38,596 --> 00:13:40,276 Speaker 3: Elma knows all the dead feelings. 275 00:13:40,516 --> 00:13:44,316 Speaker 7: You know, sometimes almost feels happy or sometimes I almost feel. 276 00:13:44,196 --> 00:13:48,356 Speaker 3: Sad, and then sometimes Elma does really did feelings. 277 00:13:48,476 --> 00:13:50,716 Speaker 7: Like you know, there was this one time doctor Noy 278 00:13:50,836 --> 00:13:53,276 Speaker 7: when Alma couldn't get his toy air playing the fly. 279 00:13:53,956 --> 00:13:55,716 Speaker 3: You know, no matter what he did, it just kept 280 00:13:55,796 --> 00:13:59,236 Speaker 3: falling on the ground and almost face felt really hot 281 00:13:59,876 --> 00:14:00,676 Speaker 3: and almost. 282 00:14:00,396 --> 00:14:04,596 Speaker 7: Body got me a tight a ges, you know, but 283 00:14:04,636 --> 00:14:09,356 Speaker 7: you know almost Daddy helped him learn something called what 284 00:14:09,476 --> 00:14:09,716 Speaker 7: was it? 285 00:14:09,716 --> 00:14:09,916 Speaker 3: There? 286 00:14:09,956 --> 00:14:10,156 Speaker 1: Boy? 287 00:14:10,156 --> 00:14:14,436 Speaker 3: The way that Elma was feeling. You know what it is? 288 00:14:14,796 --> 00:14:15,396 Speaker 2: No, what was it? 289 00:14:15,396 --> 00:14:15,676 Speaker 1: Elma? 290 00:14:16,156 --> 00:14:16,996 Speaker 3: It's a big name. 291 00:14:17,036 --> 00:14:20,036 Speaker 7: It's called just a minute fresh? 292 00:14:21,716 --> 00:14:24,356 Speaker 3: Frustrating? Is that up rod? 293 00:14:25,036 --> 00:14:25,276 Speaker 2: Yeah? 294 00:14:25,396 --> 00:14:27,716 Speaker 7: Yeah, you know it's kind of frustrating for a three 295 00:14:27,796 --> 00:14:29,916 Speaker 7: year old to pronounce frustrating. 296 00:14:32,436 --> 00:14:34,116 Speaker 2: I love that, Almo. I love that your dad was 297 00:14:34,156 --> 00:14:36,516 Speaker 2: help helpful to teach you a label. 298 00:14:36,196 --> 00:14:38,396 Speaker 1: That you could use for being frustrated, and also that 299 00:14:38,476 --> 00:14:40,956 Speaker 1: he told you that it's normal sometimes to be frustrated. 300 00:14:41,756 --> 00:14:44,356 Speaker 3: Emma know that he wouldn't always feud I'm red. Wait 301 00:14:44,436 --> 00:14:44,756 Speaker 3: you trying. 302 00:14:44,796 --> 00:14:47,796 Speaker 7: Alma tells Daddy that he nott a feelings doctor, he's 303 00:14:47,796 --> 00:14:48,636 Speaker 7: gonna knock up. 304 00:14:48,756 --> 00:14:50,916 Speaker 3: Okay, I'm gonna be right down. Okay, I'm gonna let 305 00:14:50,956 --> 00:14:52,116 Speaker 3: you get back to him. 306 00:14:52,156 --> 00:14:53,556 Speaker 4: Okay, bye bye, Alma. 307 00:14:53,956 --> 00:14:57,476 Speaker 2: Bye. 308 00:14:58,956 --> 00:15:01,116 Speaker 1: But like you've just seen the magic of media, write 309 00:15:01,116 --> 00:15:04,796 Speaker 1: this incredibly difficult concept that negative emotions are normative, that 310 00:15:04,796 --> 00:15:07,196 Speaker 1: they change over time, and we can have a character 311 00:15:07,276 --> 00:15:10,916 Speaker 1: explained this big concept to and so kay, you know, 312 00:15:11,036 --> 00:15:14,276 Speaker 1: talk about how Sesame has gotten good at kind of 313 00:15:14,476 --> 00:15:16,796 Speaker 1: getting these concepts to make sense to little kids and 314 00:15:16,836 --> 00:15:18,636 Speaker 1: some of the best practices that you've used at the 315 00:15:18,676 --> 00:15:19,516 Speaker 1: workshop to do this. 316 00:15:19,596 --> 00:15:20,716 Speaker 2: Well, Okay, So. 317 00:15:21,076 --> 00:15:23,796 Speaker 6: We start with our in house team of experts. We 318 00:15:23,836 --> 00:15:26,876 Speaker 6: have our curriculum development experts, and we have our educators, 319 00:15:27,276 --> 00:15:30,236 Speaker 6: and we have our subject matter expert team, and they 320 00:15:30,276 --> 00:15:34,236 Speaker 6: partner with external subject matter experts like you, Lori, and 321 00:15:34,276 --> 00:15:36,676 Speaker 6: we're working on some projects with you right now. And 322 00:15:36,716 --> 00:15:38,436 Speaker 6: what they do is they start off by developing the 323 00:15:38,436 --> 00:15:41,316 Speaker 6: curriculum and the educational messages that we want to impart 324 00:15:41,676 --> 00:15:44,556 Speaker 6: in our content, and then that material is given to 325 00:15:44,676 --> 00:15:49,276 Speaker 6: our production team, the writers, who organically incorporate the educational 326 00:15:49,276 --> 00:15:52,116 Speaker 6: messages and the curriculum into the stories. 327 00:15:52,556 --> 00:15:53,236 Speaker 2: And then our. 328 00:15:53,156 --> 00:15:57,196 Speaker 6: Research team takes those scripts and works with the production 329 00:15:57,356 --> 00:16:00,276 Speaker 6: team to create these like story mattics, and they take 330 00:16:00,316 --> 00:16:03,436 Speaker 6: them out to do formative testing with children who we 331 00:16:03,556 --> 00:16:05,956 Speaker 6: like to refer to as our little executives because we 332 00:16:05,996 --> 00:16:08,876 Speaker 6: listen to what they say. And what they're doing is 333 00:16:08,876 --> 00:16:14,236 Speaker 6: they're testing these stories for appeal and for comprehension and 334 00:16:14,356 --> 00:16:16,596 Speaker 6: to make sure that the impact that we're trying to 335 00:16:16,636 --> 00:16:20,356 Speaker 6: achieve is going to be achieved, and then we produce 336 00:16:20,436 --> 00:16:24,236 Speaker 6: the show, and sometimes it's very much an iterative process 337 00:16:24,236 --> 00:16:26,516 Speaker 6: because there are times when they go out for the 338 00:16:26,556 --> 00:16:29,156 Speaker 6: research and it comes back where we're not quite landing 339 00:16:29,556 --> 00:16:31,476 Speaker 6: the messaging that we're trying to convey, and so we 340 00:16:31,556 --> 00:16:33,796 Speaker 6: go back and we adjust the scripts and then it 341 00:16:33,836 --> 00:16:36,516 Speaker 6: all comes together. And then on top of that you 342 00:16:36,556 --> 00:16:40,396 Speaker 6: have the magic of our terrific messengers of the Sesame 343 00:16:40,436 --> 00:16:43,356 Speaker 6: Street muppets, and they have such a great way of 344 00:16:43,716 --> 00:16:48,316 Speaker 6: communicating sometimes really tough and challenging information, always with heart, 345 00:16:48,716 --> 00:16:52,036 Speaker 6: always with a lot of love, and communicating it and 346 00:16:52,076 --> 00:16:55,236 Speaker 6: breaking it down kids. But also I want to mention 347 00:16:55,276 --> 00:16:58,396 Speaker 6: that for parents as well, because when we're making this content, 348 00:16:58,716 --> 00:17:01,276 Speaker 6: we're making content not just for kids, but for also 349 00:17:01,356 --> 00:17:05,796 Speaker 6: the parents in their lives, their educators, their teachers, their 350 00:17:05,836 --> 00:17:08,996 Speaker 6: service providers, anyone that's within the circle of care. 351 00:17:09,396 --> 00:17:11,356 Speaker 2: We're providing content for those folks as well. 352 00:17:11,836 --> 00:17:13,836 Speaker 1: That's something that I really love about what the folks 353 00:17:13,836 --> 00:17:17,076 Speaker 1: at Sesame Workshop are doing because the well being concepts 354 00:17:17,076 --> 00:17:19,596 Speaker 1: that we need to teach children are also important for 355 00:17:19,676 --> 00:17:22,476 Speaker 1: adults to learn too, and that means that when parents 356 00:17:22,556 --> 00:17:24,676 Speaker 1: or caregivers sit down with a child to watch a 357 00:17:24,676 --> 00:17:28,676 Speaker 1: Sesame Street episode about frustration or anger or great bursts 358 00:17:28,676 --> 00:17:31,996 Speaker 1: of excitement. They'll be given the strategies in space needed 359 00:17:31,996 --> 00:17:35,236 Speaker 1: to ponder their own emotions. But what are other simple 360 00:17:35,276 --> 00:17:38,116 Speaker 1: strategies like this, ones that can work for anyone, no 361 00:17:38,196 --> 00:17:41,356 Speaker 1: matter their age. We'll discuss some of these happiness hacks 362 00:17:41,476 --> 00:17:44,516 Speaker 1: with a very special Muppet helper when the Happiness Lab 363 00:17:44,516 --> 00:17:56,676 Speaker 1: returns in a moment, whether you're a kid or an adult, 364 00:17:57,036 --> 00:17:59,516 Speaker 1: we can all acquire strategies to use in the moment 365 00:17:59,756 --> 00:18:02,516 Speaker 1: to help us cope with what almost so eloquently described 366 00:18:02,556 --> 00:18:05,636 Speaker 1: as big feelings. The science shows that when we recognize 367 00:18:05,636 --> 00:18:08,436 Speaker 1: a difficult emotion rising within us, there are steps we 368 00:18:08,476 --> 00:18:11,356 Speaker 1: can take to a line and regulate that emotion. And 369 00:18:11,396 --> 00:18:14,116 Speaker 1: the steps you can take are remarkably simple once you 370 00:18:14,236 --> 00:18:17,916 Speaker 1: learn them. So, since I had Sesame workshops Steve Youngwood 371 00:18:17,956 --> 00:18:20,916 Speaker 1: and Kay Wilson Stallings, and a big audience at the 372 00:18:20,916 --> 00:18:25,076 Speaker 1: ASUGSV Summit, I decided to embark on a live demonstration 373 00:18:25,396 --> 00:18:28,636 Speaker 1: of some of my favorite strategies and to engage with 374 00:18:28,676 --> 00:18:31,236 Speaker 1: some of these mindfulness activities. I think it would be 375 00:18:31,276 --> 00:18:32,116 Speaker 1: fun if we all did it. 376 00:18:32,116 --> 00:18:34,996 Speaker 2: Together. But it would also be great if I could. 377 00:18:34,756 --> 00:18:39,596 Speaker 1: Find a volunteer somewhere. 378 00:18:41,636 --> 00:18:42,076 Speaker 2: Let me see. 379 00:18:42,116 --> 00:18:44,676 Speaker 1: I think I'm gonna pick Almo. 380 00:18:44,916 --> 00:18:47,956 Speaker 2: Yes, yes, yes, Almo. Do you want to practice a 381 00:18:47,996 --> 00:18:49,236 Speaker 2: mindfulness activity with me? 382 00:18:49,356 --> 00:18:49,556 Speaker 1: Yes? 383 00:18:49,596 --> 00:18:52,716 Speaker 7: Emma would enough to practice a month onness activity? 384 00:18:53,076 --> 00:18:55,596 Speaker 3: What is a month on us activity? 385 00:18:55,996 --> 00:18:57,316 Speaker 2: Yes, it's a hard concept. 386 00:18:57,316 --> 00:18:58,956 Speaker 1: This is the kind of thing that we can do 387 00:18:59,396 --> 00:19:01,756 Speaker 1: when we're having these big feelings, like when we're feeling 388 00:19:01,916 --> 00:19:04,156 Speaker 1: frustrated and we want to feel a little bit better. 389 00:19:04,196 --> 00:19:04,916 Speaker 3: Does that make sense? 390 00:19:06,236 --> 00:19:08,476 Speaker 7: That kind of sounds like another thing that almost Daddy 391 00:19:08,516 --> 00:19:10,556 Speaker 7: tied them to do when he's having a big thing. 392 00:19:11,476 --> 00:19:14,116 Speaker 3: It's kind jelly breathing belly and I want. 393 00:19:13,956 --> 00:19:17,396 Speaker 7: To show everybody, but everybody's got to do it together. Okay, okay, 394 00:19:17,916 --> 00:19:20,356 Speaker 7: So first we put our hands on our belly like this, 395 00:19:21,156 --> 00:19:22,556 Speaker 7: everybody put your hand on your belly. 396 00:19:23,156 --> 00:19:23,436 Speaker 3: Okay. 397 00:19:23,996 --> 00:19:28,236 Speaker 7: Now let's our take a slow breath in through your 398 00:19:28,316 --> 00:19:36,396 Speaker 7: mouth and now slowly breathe out through your mouth. And 399 00:19:36,516 --> 00:19:37,436 Speaker 7: that's billy breathing. 400 00:19:37,996 --> 00:19:40,796 Speaker 1: That's an excellent Elmo, And that is a wonderful mindfulness 401 00:19:40,836 --> 00:19:43,556 Speaker 1: activity because it's a way that we can whatever we're feeling, 402 00:19:43,596 --> 00:19:45,196 Speaker 1: we can kind of get back in our bodies and 403 00:19:45,236 --> 00:19:46,196 Speaker 1: feel a little bit better. 404 00:19:47,116 --> 00:19:49,956 Speaker 2: But do you want to do a couple more mindfulness activities? 405 00:19:49,996 --> 00:19:51,756 Speaker 3: Oh yeah, what is some more God glory? 406 00:19:51,836 --> 00:19:52,636 Speaker 4: Let's hear okay. 407 00:19:52,716 --> 00:19:55,356 Speaker 1: So one of my favorites is a behavior we can use, 408 00:19:55,396 --> 00:19:56,956 Speaker 1: which is that we can be a little bit more 409 00:19:57,156 --> 00:20:00,196 Speaker 1: other oriented when we're not feeling good. This is ways 410 00:20:00,196 --> 00:20:03,036 Speaker 1: that we do nice things for other people that actually 411 00:20:03,156 --> 00:20:04,196 Speaker 1: make us feel better. 412 00:20:04,476 --> 00:20:06,276 Speaker 3: Oh yeah, I almost done that before. 413 00:20:06,716 --> 00:20:06,836 Speaker 5: You know. 414 00:20:07,076 --> 00:20:09,276 Speaker 7: There's there was a time when Almill helps Joey how 415 00:20:09,316 --> 00:20:12,156 Speaker 7: to learn how to ride a scooter orl at you know. 416 00:20:12,276 --> 00:20:15,836 Speaker 7: Sometimes Elma helps Alan at Hooper's store, and helping makes 417 00:20:15,876 --> 00:20:16,836 Speaker 7: almost feel really good. 418 00:20:17,356 --> 00:20:19,116 Speaker 2: Yeah, and so that's one that we can use. 419 00:20:19,156 --> 00:20:21,156 Speaker 1: But there's another one that I think you'll like, Elmo, 420 00:20:21,316 --> 00:20:23,716 Speaker 1: which is that we can change our mindset. We can 421 00:20:23,836 --> 00:20:27,236 Speaker 1: express and experience gratitude. So this is just kind of 422 00:20:27,516 --> 00:20:29,596 Speaker 1: when we notice things that we're thankful for. And this 423 00:20:29,756 --> 00:20:31,636 Speaker 1: is something I do so at night, right before I 424 00:20:31,716 --> 00:20:34,116 Speaker 1: go to bed, I think about a few things that 425 00:20:34,196 --> 00:20:36,796 Speaker 1: I'm grateful for, and sometimes I even write it down. 426 00:20:37,236 --> 00:20:39,556 Speaker 1: And studies show that this actually makes us feel better. 427 00:20:39,596 --> 00:20:41,516 Speaker 1: It can make our bodies and our minds feel good. 428 00:20:41,796 --> 00:20:45,756 Speaker 7: Really well, almost grateful for a lot of things. Alma's 429 00:20:45,796 --> 00:20:52,316 Speaker 7: mommy and daddy, Almos friends, pizza. But you know, I'm 430 00:20:52,356 --> 00:20:54,716 Speaker 7: almost gonna ask his mommy to help him write all 431 00:20:54,756 --> 00:20:56,036 Speaker 7: that stuff down at bedtime. 432 00:20:56,436 --> 00:20:58,476 Speaker 1: I love that it's gonna make you feel so much better. 433 00:20:58,556 --> 00:21:02,036 Speaker 1: And if we have time for one more mindfulness activity, 434 00:21:02,116 --> 00:21:03,756 Speaker 1: I'm going to share one that I think you'll like 435 00:21:03,836 --> 00:21:05,956 Speaker 1: because I think it's one that you happen to do 436 00:21:06,116 --> 00:21:07,116 Speaker 1: a little bit already. 437 00:21:07,676 --> 00:21:08,796 Speaker 3: Oh does it have to do a thing? 438 00:21:09,236 --> 00:21:13,156 Speaker 1: I'm sure No, it's not that. It is that if 439 00:21:13,196 --> 00:21:15,596 Speaker 1: you want to feel better, you can take time to 440 00:21:15,676 --> 00:21:18,676 Speaker 1: be with pets. And I know that Almo recently adopted 441 00:21:18,676 --> 00:21:21,076 Speaker 1: a dog, right, And so that's a wonderful way to 442 00:21:21,196 --> 00:21:24,316 Speaker 1: do something nice for another creature and to feel good yourself. 443 00:21:24,556 --> 00:21:26,036 Speaker 3: Oh yes, that's a great idea. 444 00:21:26,716 --> 00:21:29,716 Speaker 7: Yeah, I'm gonna love this puppy tanger because Tango makes 445 00:21:29,796 --> 00:21:32,916 Speaker 7: everybody that she needs really happy. I's gonna go cat 446 00:21:32,996 --> 00:21:37,596 Speaker 7: Tango that she's basically a superhero. Oh okay, thank you, 447 00:21:37,676 --> 00:21:40,196 Speaker 7: Doctor Lory, Thanks everybody you later, I. 448 00:21:40,316 --> 00:21:41,636 Speaker 4: Am Yoma Iolmo. 449 00:21:43,876 --> 00:21:46,396 Speaker 1: But again here we are right, Like, these are quick 450 00:21:46,516 --> 00:21:49,756 Speaker 1: skill sets that any of us kids parents can engage 451 00:21:49,796 --> 00:21:52,876 Speaker 1: in whenever we're feeling not so good right, deep belly 452 00:21:52,956 --> 00:21:55,716 Speaker 1: breath behaviors that make us happier than we expect, doing 453 00:21:55,836 --> 00:21:58,476 Speaker 1: nice things for others, and these long term changes to 454 00:21:58,556 --> 00:22:01,196 Speaker 1: our mindsets, things like gratitude and so on. And so 455 00:22:01,276 --> 00:22:03,516 Speaker 1: I love that we can teach kids these things and 456 00:22:03,636 --> 00:22:07,116 Speaker 1: have wonderful models for these activities. But another reason that 457 00:22:07,236 --> 00:22:09,996 Speaker 1: I love Sesame's approach, which we kind of alluded to before, 458 00:22:10,236 --> 00:22:13,156 Speaker 1: is that it's not just about teaching kids these activities. 459 00:22:13,276 --> 00:22:16,676 Speaker 1: It's making these skills available to caregivers too, And so 460 00:22:16,756 --> 00:22:18,756 Speaker 1: Steve talk a little bit about how we can use 461 00:22:18,916 --> 00:22:21,756 Speaker 1: media to reach both of these audiences and the power 462 00:22:21,796 --> 00:22:23,996 Speaker 1: that kind of engaging with caretakers can have when it 463 00:22:24,036 --> 00:22:25,396 Speaker 1: comes to kids' emotional health. 464 00:22:25,836 --> 00:22:28,956 Speaker 5: So, anyone who knows the workshop, it was founded on 465 00:22:29,076 --> 00:22:31,836 Speaker 5: that simple principle that it wasn't about if kids were 466 00:22:31,876 --> 00:22:34,236 Speaker 5: learning from media, it was about what. And at the time, 467 00:22:34,356 --> 00:22:37,516 Speaker 5: in nineteen sixty nine, in the wasteland of children's TV, 468 00:22:37,636 --> 00:22:39,996 Speaker 5: they were learning the words to beer commercials. So is 469 00:22:40,036 --> 00:22:42,356 Speaker 5: that simple thing if you could take that same medium 470 00:22:42,436 --> 00:22:45,196 Speaker 5: but pivot to the abcs and then go from their social, 471 00:22:45,236 --> 00:22:48,676 Speaker 5: emotional and societal issues. You could actually really make a difference. 472 00:22:49,436 --> 00:22:52,076 Speaker 5: And then history has shown that that was true. There 473 00:22:52,116 --> 00:22:54,116 Speaker 5: have been seminal studies that say people who grew up 474 00:22:54,156 --> 00:22:57,316 Speaker 5: on Sesame Street and had higher GPAs and even earned 475 00:22:57,516 --> 00:23:01,756 Speaker 5: more money. Now, the media landscape today is obviously very different, 476 00:23:02,036 --> 00:23:04,756 Speaker 5: and it allows one actually different to us in a 477 00:23:05,356 --> 00:23:07,876 Speaker 5: challenging way because it's more fragmented, but in a good way, 478 00:23:08,156 --> 00:23:11,036 Speaker 5: and that they're more places to meet audiences and they're 479 00:23:11,116 --> 00:23:14,236 Speaker 5: more types of content that you can deliver to them. 480 00:23:14,916 --> 00:23:17,636 Speaker 5: When we started, it was also about kids and parents together. 481 00:23:17,796 --> 00:23:20,436 Speaker 5: There's one screen in the house, but today it's a 482 00:23:20,676 --> 00:23:23,556 Speaker 5: multi screen and it allows us to sometimes reach kids 483 00:23:23,596 --> 00:23:27,916 Speaker 5: and parents together, sometimes kids alone, but also sometimes with partners. 484 00:23:27,556 --> 00:23:30,236 Speaker 4: Like Lori, to actually meet parents and caregivers. 485 00:23:31,196 --> 00:23:35,076 Speaker 5: And what's amazing is that the hypothesis that the power 486 00:23:35,116 --> 00:23:37,196 Speaker 5: that media can have to both teach but also to 487 00:23:37,276 --> 00:23:40,076 Speaker 5: move hearts and minds is still true. We have a 488 00:23:40,156 --> 00:23:44,996 Speaker 5: big project targeting the Syrian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, 489 00:23:45,396 --> 00:23:48,516 Speaker 5: and Syria, and we just came back to the one 490 00:23:48,556 --> 00:23:51,036 Speaker 5: hundred million dollar grant film Tropically funded to bring early 491 00:23:51,116 --> 00:23:54,916 Speaker 5: childhood education there partnering with the IRC because we are 492 00:23:55,116 --> 00:23:58,276 Speaker 5: media makers and they are a direct service organization, and 493 00:23:58,436 --> 00:24:02,676 Speaker 5: we just got two seminal studies back that proved the hypothesis. 494 00:24:02,796 --> 00:24:04,076 Speaker 5: But then all start going to help us in some 495 00:24:04,196 --> 00:24:06,396 Speaker 5: of the work. Here one of us for a mass 496 00:24:06,436 --> 00:24:08,996 Speaker 5: TV show where we focus on a curriculum given the 497 00:24:09,196 --> 00:24:11,116 Speaker 5: trauma that they were going through on we call it 498 00:24:11,196 --> 00:24:15,196 Speaker 5: the emotional ABCS and looking in Jordan, which is where 499 00:24:15,236 --> 00:24:18,516 Speaker 5: we did the study, it came back that the children 500 00:24:18,556 --> 00:24:21,756 Speaker 5: who watched the show were able to more identify their emotions, 501 00:24:21,796 --> 00:24:23,836 Speaker 5: which as Laurie says, is sort of the top of 502 00:24:23,876 --> 00:24:27,716 Speaker 5: the funnel, and then also could adopt certain coping mechanisms 503 00:24:28,076 --> 00:24:31,196 Speaker 5: to deal with them, which is so important because if 504 00:24:31,236 --> 00:24:34,316 Speaker 5: you can't then it becomes a blocker to learning and 505 00:24:34,396 --> 00:24:38,156 Speaker 5: it impacts you long term life. On the other side, 506 00:24:38,276 --> 00:24:42,036 Speaker 5: using the new technologies as media changes, we you know 507 00:24:42,116 --> 00:24:44,276 Speaker 5: as direct services, was a big part of the program. 508 00:24:44,396 --> 00:24:47,396 Speaker 5: But COVID came and we pivoted to remote learning where 509 00:24:47,396 --> 00:24:50,436 Speaker 5: we took our content, we took teachers when we use WhatsApp, 510 00:24:51,076 --> 00:24:53,876 Speaker 5: and we just completed study in Lebanon that eleven weeks 511 00:24:53,916 --> 00:24:56,396 Speaker 5: of the remote learning using our media and teachers and 512 00:24:56,476 --> 00:25:00,036 Speaker 5: technology was equal to one year for the Serian refugee 513 00:25:00,116 --> 00:25:02,036 Speaker 5: children that went through the program. 514 00:25:07,716 --> 00:25:09,916 Speaker 4: You know, so all of this is and that is 515 00:25:09,996 --> 00:25:12,116 Speaker 4: the use of media. That is the use of media 516 00:25:12,156 --> 00:25:13,396 Speaker 4: and the remote learning. 517 00:25:13,476 --> 00:25:16,996 Speaker 5: One also engage the parents because it had the moments 518 00:25:17,036 --> 00:25:19,396 Speaker 5: with the teachers, but then it had the extension that 519 00:25:19,516 --> 00:25:21,276 Speaker 5: the parents were supposed to do and they came back 520 00:25:21,316 --> 00:25:23,356 Speaker 5: as a community. So it was the whole sort of 521 00:25:23,436 --> 00:25:27,716 Speaker 5: picture of parents and students and teachers and media having 522 00:25:27,756 --> 00:25:29,836 Speaker 5: a long term impact in the situation that there was 523 00:25:29,916 --> 00:25:30,476 Speaker 5: no other option. 524 00:25:31,116 --> 00:25:33,436 Speaker 4: So you know, as we look forward, that is the 525 00:25:33,516 --> 00:25:34,836 Speaker 4: hope here. That is the hope. 526 00:25:35,196 --> 00:25:38,756 Speaker 5: In general, we do it by our own outlets, but 527 00:25:38,796 --> 00:25:42,516 Speaker 5: we're partnering with people and you know, it's a hypothesis 528 00:25:42,556 --> 00:25:45,556 Speaker 5: that we've tested and we've proven and it's very, very powerful, 529 00:25:46,316 --> 00:25:47,156 Speaker 5: and so we know. 530 00:25:47,316 --> 00:25:49,396 Speaker 1: How important it is to kind of have this approach 531 00:25:49,436 --> 00:25:52,516 Speaker 1: where we're including caregivers, we're including teachers, we're including everyone 532 00:25:52,596 --> 00:25:53,996 Speaker 1: in the child's culture and orbit. 533 00:25:54,396 --> 00:25:56,196 Speaker 2: But it's still hard to do that and to make 534 00:25:56,316 --> 00:25:57,716 Speaker 2: media that's fun and enjoyable. 535 00:25:57,756 --> 00:25:59,516 Speaker 1: And so KAY talk a little bit about some best 536 00:25:59,556 --> 00:26:03,116 Speaker 1: practices that you use to really engage caregivers given the 537 00:26:03,156 --> 00:26:04,276 Speaker 1: content that you're developing. 538 00:26:05,036 --> 00:26:08,476 Speaker 6: So we know that the educational messages come through even 539 00:26:08,516 --> 00:26:11,796 Speaker 6: stronger when children are engaged with our content with the 540 00:26:11,916 --> 00:26:14,836 Speaker 6: caring adult, because then the learning can continue after the 541 00:26:14,996 --> 00:26:17,476 Speaker 6: television show goes off. And so we're always looking for 542 00:26:17,556 --> 00:26:20,196 Speaker 6: ways to bring adults into the show. And so I 543 00:26:20,236 --> 00:26:22,916 Speaker 6: think everyone that's familiar with Sesame Street knows how funny 544 00:26:22,956 --> 00:26:25,636 Speaker 6: it is. And there's often times humor that we bring 545 00:26:25,716 --> 00:26:28,196 Speaker 6: into the show that's a little subtle, a little cheeky, 546 00:26:28,356 --> 00:26:30,756 Speaker 6: that's just something that's a nod to the parents that 547 00:26:30,876 --> 00:26:33,876 Speaker 6: we know are watching. We also use lots of great music, 548 00:26:33,956 --> 00:26:36,476 Speaker 6: and we partner with an amazing array of singer and 549 00:26:36,556 --> 00:26:40,796 Speaker 6: songwriters and provide all genres of musical tastes, so a 550 00:26:40,836 --> 00:26:42,876 Speaker 6: little bit of something for everyone, from hip hop to 551 00:26:43,356 --> 00:26:45,156 Speaker 6: country to you know, reggae. 552 00:26:45,796 --> 00:26:47,316 Speaker 2: And then what we also like to. 553 00:26:47,356 --> 00:26:49,796 Speaker 6: Do is we look and produce a lot of parodies 554 00:26:49,836 --> 00:26:53,076 Speaker 6: and it's like things that again it's something that adults recognize, 555 00:26:53,116 --> 00:26:55,516 Speaker 6: so it's based on you know, TV shows or pop 556 00:26:55,596 --> 00:26:58,756 Speaker 6: culture and that kind of thing. And then you know, 557 00:26:58,916 --> 00:27:01,636 Speaker 6: it's just always making sure that also we have opportunities 558 00:27:01,676 --> 00:27:06,076 Speaker 6: for our human adult characters as well as our adult 559 00:27:06,236 --> 00:27:09,436 Speaker 6: muppet characters to be role models as well. Soo and 560 00:27:09,476 --> 00:27:12,516 Speaker 6: his Friends are great role models for our children, but 561 00:27:12,676 --> 00:27:15,076 Speaker 6: to have the adults on the show also be role 562 00:27:15,116 --> 00:27:17,996 Speaker 6: models and provide the way to talk to their children, 563 00:27:18,116 --> 00:27:21,756 Speaker 6: to wait, to guide the answers, or guide play activities, 564 00:27:21,796 --> 00:27:23,996 Speaker 6: and so forth, so that it can be also a 565 00:27:24,076 --> 00:27:25,796 Speaker 6: learning opportunity for the adults as well. 566 00:27:26,396 --> 00:27:28,596 Speaker 1: And just in the spirit of having a learning opportunity 567 00:27:28,676 --> 00:27:30,916 Speaker 1: for the adults, I imagine there's some parents in the 568 00:27:31,036 --> 00:27:33,076 Speaker 1: room right now, and so it might be helpful to 569 00:27:33,196 --> 00:27:36,116 Speaker 1: give parents some specific skill sets that they can use. 570 00:27:36,436 --> 00:27:38,676 Speaker 1: And here, since it's just parents, we won't involve Alma. 571 00:27:38,756 --> 00:27:40,396 Speaker 1: We'll just sort of try it ourselves. And so I'll 572 00:27:40,436 --> 00:27:43,076 Speaker 1: leave you with one last sort of strategy that we 573 00:27:43,196 --> 00:27:45,756 Speaker 1: can all use, which is a strategy to engage our 574 00:27:45,836 --> 00:27:48,676 Speaker 1: self compassion. One of the tough things about being an 575 00:27:48,716 --> 00:27:50,476 Speaker 1: adult and a parent is that we often talk to 576 00:27:50,596 --> 00:27:53,956 Speaker 1: ourselves in incredibly mean ways. You know, if hr could 577 00:27:53,996 --> 00:27:55,836 Speaker 1: hear the voices that we used in our head, we 578 00:27:55,876 --> 00:27:58,716 Speaker 1: would all get fired for talking badly to ourselves, right, 579 00:27:59,396 --> 00:28:01,716 Speaker 1: But there are strategies that we can use to counteract that, 580 00:28:01,836 --> 00:28:04,116 Speaker 1: and one of my favorite ones is when you hear 581 00:28:04,276 --> 00:28:07,196 Speaker 1: yourself on that ruminative loop where you're saying, oh, I suck, 582 00:28:07,236 --> 00:28:07,796 Speaker 1: I didn't do that. 583 00:28:07,876 --> 00:28:08,756 Speaker 2: Well, I'm not doing enough. 584 00:28:09,196 --> 00:28:09,356 Speaker 1: Uh. 585 00:28:10,076 --> 00:28:12,876 Speaker 2: That's when you take a moment to label that thought. 586 00:28:13,236 --> 00:28:14,076 Speaker 2: You give it a name. 587 00:28:14,876 --> 00:28:17,516 Speaker 1: My Yale students like to use Karen because I think 588 00:28:17,596 --> 00:28:19,756 Speaker 1: Karen is like a meme, people like, oh, yeah, Karen, Yeah, 589 00:28:19,796 --> 00:28:20,876 Speaker 1: you're just saying I'm bad today. 590 00:28:20,956 --> 00:28:22,996 Speaker 2: I hear you, Karen, thank you for trying to help, right. 591 00:28:23,636 --> 00:28:25,436 Speaker 1: But I think in the spirit of Systemy workshop, we 592 00:28:25,516 --> 00:28:28,476 Speaker 1: can say that's my Oscar voice, like I'm just being 593 00:28:28,556 --> 00:28:31,196 Speaker 1: a grouch to myself today. And so that's just a 594 00:28:31,316 --> 00:28:32,996 Speaker 1: hack that you can all use when you notice that 595 00:28:33,076 --> 00:28:35,556 Speaker 1: rum and into voice, stop it, thank it, you know, 596 00:28:35,636 --> 00:28:38,116 Speaker 1: allow for thank you negative voice, Thank you Oscar for 597 00:28:38,196 --> 00:28:40,356 Speaker 1: trying to help me. But I'm going to stop that 598 00:28:40,556 --> 00:28:42,316 Speaker 1: train of thought and move on to something else. So 599 00:28:42,396 --> 00:28:44,996 Speaker 1: that's another quick hack that parents can use. And so 600 00:28:45,516 --> 00:28:47,556 Speaker 1: so so far today we've talked about ways that we 601 00:28:47,636 --> 00:28:50,876 Speaker 1: can teach really difficult concepts. We can show and model 602 00:28:50,996 --> 00:28:54,036 Speaker 1: skills and practices that kids can engage in when they're 603 00:28:54,076 --> 00:28:56,956 Speaker 1: not feeling good. We can also show and model practices 604 00:28:56,996 --> 00:28:59,436 Speaker 1: that maybe parents can engage in when they're not talking 605 00:28:59,516 --> 00:29:01,036 Speaker 1: to themselves and feeling so good. 606 00:29:01,476 --> 00:29:02,396 Speaker 2: You know, With all these. 607 00:29:02,316 --> 00:29:04,756 Speaker 1: Things together, my last question for both of you is that, 608 00:29:05,196 --> 00:29:08,476 Speaker 1: you know, are you hopeful that we can address this crisis? 609 00:29:08,556 --> 00:29:11,196 Speaker 1: You know is sit on the college side, you know, 610 00:29:11,276 --> 00:29:14,076 Speaker 1: I see the emotional struggles that students come in. I 611 00:29:14,116 --> 00:29:16,916 Speaker 1: see the depression and anxiety. Do we really think we 612 00:29:16,996 --> 00:29:19,676 Speaker 1: can use media to nip that in the bud? Can 613 00:29:19,716 --> 00:29:21,996 Speaker 1: you get me away from my lectures so I can 614 00:29:22,076 --> 00:29:23,716 Speaker 1: go back to doing my research and I don't have 615 00:29:23,796 --> 00:29:26,796 Speaker 1: to keep teaching these classes on emotional health to college students. 616 00:29:27,116 --> 00:29:29,836 Speaker 2: Can we kind of make it there early enough for kids? Yes, 617 00:29:30,076 --> 00:29:30,716 Speaker 2: I think we can. 618 00:29:31,316 --> 00:29:33,556 Speaker 6: You know, as Stevid said, we've you know, handled tough 619 00:29:33,636 --> 00:29:36,516 Speaker 6: topics in the past, and I think that you know, 620 00:29:36,596 --> 00:29:38,716 Speaker 6: with the content that we're going to be creating that's 621 00:29:38,756 --> 00:29:41,636 Speaker 6: engaging and that's for both parents and caregivers and children 622 00:29:42,196 --> 00:29:45,516 Speaker 6: and our research based you know, resources that we'll be providing, 623 00:29:45,876 --> 00:29:48,076 Speaker 6: I think that we will be able to help children 624 00:29:48,196 --> 00:29:51,436 Speaker 6: develop the tools that they need so that they can have, 625 00:29:52,236 --> 00:29:55,476 Speaker 6: you know, a positive and healthy mindset for now and 626 00:29:55,836 --> 00:29:56,436 Speaker 6: in the future. 627 00:29:57,036 --> 00:29:57,316 Speaker 4: Steve. 628 00:29:58,076 --> 00:30:00,516 Speaker 5: I'm hopeful as well, or I wouldn't be here for 629 00:30:00,596 --> 00:30:03,236 Speaker 5: two reasons. One is I think that we have the 630 00:30:03,476 --> 00:30:05,436 Speaker 5: proven techniques, and I think we have a lot of 631 00:30:05,476 --> 00:30:08,036 Speaker 5: partners because we're as good as our partners in terms 632 00:30:08,076 --> 00:30:09,916 Speaker 5: of if we're going to reach the audience is at 633 00:30:09,956 --> 00:30:12,476 Speaker 5: scale that we need to. But the other thing is 634 00:30:12,516 --> 00:30:15,796 Speaker 5: from a societal perspective, it seems like people are acknowledging 635 00:30:15,836 --> 00:30:19,276 Speaker 5: it as they always say, that's acknowledging the problem is 636 00:30:19,596 --> 00:30:22,396 Speaker 5: that the gatekeeper sort of in terms of addressing the problem. 637 00:30:23,036 --> 00:30:26,036 Speaker 5: And as I joke to Lori but not completely joke, 638 00:30:26,156 --> 00:30:28,836 Speaker 5: that you know, success will be measured in fifteen years 639 00:30:29,276 --> 00:30:31,596 Speaker 5: when her class is six hundred is now a seminar 640 00:30:31,676 --> 00:30:35,236 Speaker 5: of ten people, and they're historically looking at d see 641 00:30:35,276 --> 00:30:38,156 Speaker 5: what it used to be like. So it's a history 642 00:30:38,196 --> 00:30:40,796 Speaker 5: class as opposed to a moment in time class. 643 00:30:41,636 --> 00:30:43,396 Speaker 1: And so this is one of the reasons that I'm 644 00:30:43,436 --> 00:30:46,756 Speaker 1: excited not just about this conversation but about future conversations. 645 00:30:46,796 --> 00:30:49,516 Speaker 1: If your interest was piqued by this, I encourage you 646 00:30:49,676 --> 00:30:52,676 Speaker 1: to pay attention to the Happiness Lab podcast feed because 647 00:30:52,676 --> 00:30:55,076 Speaker 1: we're going to be continuing to have lots of conversations 648 00:30:55,116 --> 00:30:57,956 Speaker 1: with the folks at Sesame Workshop about best practices. 649 00:30:57,516 --> 00:31:00,116 Speaker 2: That we can use to engage with this. But with that, 650 00:31:00,276 --> 00:31:01,996 Speaker 2: I want to thank all of you for listening and 651 00:31:02,076 --> 00:31:03,676 Speaker 2: to think my fantastic panel. 652 00:31:03,956 --> 00:31:11,876 Speaker 1: Steve Youngwood, CEO of Sesame Workshop, Kay Wilson Stallings, Chief 653 00:31:11,916 --> 00:31:18,956 Speaker 1: Production and Creative Development Officer, and there's probably somebody else I'm. 654 00:31:18,796 --> 00:31:20,356 Speaker 2: Forgetting to thank. 655 00:31:22,076 --> 00:31:25,156 Speaker 3: Yes, Elma, you forgot to thank you, Alma, But that's okay, 656 00:31:26,756 --> 00:31:27,556 Speaker 3: you know, dark a night. 657 00:31:27,796 --> 00:31:30,116 Speaker 7: Oh, I had a really good time learning all these 658 00:31:30,156 --> 00:31:31,156 Speaker 7: different strategies. 659 00:31:31,716 --> 00:31:33,556 Speaker 1: Well, thank you so much, Elmo. This has been such 660 00:31:33,556 --> 00:31:35,156 Speaker 1: a fun conversation and I hope we can do it 661 00:31:35,196 --> 00:31:35,996 Speaker 1: again sometime soon. 662 00:31:36,156 --> 00:31:36,796 Speaker 3: Yeah, I'm much here. 663 00:31:37,396 --> 00:31:41,676 Speaker 2: Thank you so much for Elmo. Everyone, gog you, hie everybody. 664 00:31:42,396 --> 00:31:42,636 Speaker 3: Bye. 665 00:31:42,676 --> 00:31:47,196 Speaker 1: Everyone. You might be surprised to hear that I kind 666 00:31:47,236 --> 00:31:49,676 Speaker 1: of share Steve's hope that I can retire from teaching 667 00:31:49,836 --> 00:31:53,156 Speaker 1: my college happiness class. My dream is that someday we 668 00:31:53,236 --> 00:31:55,916 Speaker 1: won't need people like me teaching well being strategies to 669 00:31:55,996 --> 00:31:58,836 Speaker 1: young adults, because all those emotional skills will be as 670 00:31:58,916 --> 00:32:01,796 Speaker 1: much a part of early educational development as learning the 671 00:32:01,836 --> 00:32:04,956 Speaker 1: ABC's or how to ride a bike. But We've got 672 00:32:04,956 --> 00:32:06,596 Speaker 1: a lot of work still to be done to get 673 00:32:06,636 --> 00:32:08,756 Speaker 1: to that point, and I hope that the Happiness Labs 674 00:32:08,836 --> 00:32:11,676 Speaker 1: up in collaboration with the Sesame Street Folks, will be 675 00:32:11,716 --> 00:32:14,676 Speaker 1: an important first step in that direction, showing that it's 676 00:32:14,756 --> 00:32:17,436 Speaker 1: never too late and also never too early to pay 677 00:32:17,476 --> 00:32:20,796 Speaker 1: attention to what science has to say about happiness. So 678 00:32:20,916 --> 00:32:23,476 Speaker 1: keep an ear out for that very special season coming 679 00:32:23,556 --> 00:32:26,836 Speaker 1: this fall. And just a reminder that Sesame Workshop is 680 00:32:26,876 --> 00:32:30,836 Speaker 1: a nonprofit organization with a mission to help kids grow smarter, stronger, 681 00:32:30,916 --> 00:32:33,876 Speaker 1: and kinder. The work they do is funded by donations 682 00:32:33,956 --> 00:32:36,236 Speaker 1: big and small, so if you really want to become 683 00:32:36,276 --> 00:32:39,796 Speaker 1: a part of their important mission to improve children's emotional wellbeing, 684 00:32:40,196 --> 00:32:43,876 Speaker 1: then be sure to visit sesameworkshop dot org, forward slash 685 00:32:43,996 --> 00:32:44,596 Speaker 1: support us