Sesame Workshop x Civic EQ
A behind-the-scenes look at Sesame Workshop's new series of civics-themed music videos
Thanks to my favorite ladies from , I came back from traveling to so many new subscribers!! Welcome to Civic EQ and our growing community of parents re-thinking civics in an emotionally intelligent way. I’m a hopeaholic who believes that together, we can change the narrative about our generation being the least informed and raise the most engaged generation yet.
Last month, my two year old and I took our first solo trip to New York City, a place I thought I knew like the back of my hand until I was navigating it with a toddler in the middle of a heat wave. Los Angeles hasn’t made me soft, but this kid really has. Watching him fight for independence in a big city felt like trying to contain a zombie whose MO was to double down on everything except things like safety and nutrition. But we survived and thrived, and even found our own democratic utopia in the classic NYC sprinkler parks.
Civic EQ Toolbox: Introducing Sesame Workshop’s Civics-Themed Music Videos
Getting to bring parents a behind-the-scenes look at why Sesame Workshop wanted to get into civic education is a dream come true. The Sesame brand has been the gold standard of early childhood development for over five decades, and the decision to bring their magic to civics signals that the mission of getting parents and kids to see civics differently is not only worthwhile, but absolutely doable.
Below, Sesame Workshop’s Akimi Gibson and Dr. Rosemarie Truglio introduce us to Together We Can!, and describe how these thoughtfully researched, “memorably sticky” songs will transform the way all of us think about civics in our daily lives.
Together We Can!
The importance of civic engagement during the early years
“If we take the time to pause and take the time to learn, we may see a different way. Different or the same, our friendship can remain. Listening helps us learn each other’s views.”
These lyrics to the music video, “The Importance of Listening,” sum up the power of engaging children in exploring civic engagement concepts and skills in ways that are meaningful and relevant to them. For example, this song explores the idea that friendships can grow even when we think differently from each other. As children venture further from home, the concept of community broadens quickly. They are learning more about themselves and the world around them, including understanding how our government plays a role in our everyday lives. These experiences help shape children’s values and understandings about themselves as engaged, informed members of their families and communities. At a time when many schools have reduced civics curriculum requirements, Sesame Workshop is creating content that meets the need to reinforce the principles of civic engagement and participation.
As Sesame Workshop enters its 55th year, we continue to celebrate a specific group of our community – children from ages 5-7 years. This is the developmental phase when many in this age group are deepening their sense of independence and building new friendships outside of their families. Our support comes by way of a live-action music video series created just for them (and their grown-ups, of course!). Let’s take you “behind the scenes” to explore the who, how, and what of this new series, Together We Can!, produced in collaboration with PBS KIDS with funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
More about the children. Today’s children, also known as Gen Alpha, are the first generation to be born entirely in the 21st century and are the most diverse population – from cultures and ethnicities to economics, family structures, and more. They are civically minded and see themselves as agents of change. Our democracy is maintained and deepens through participation by informed members, including our children. When children are provided the opportunities and support to explore, challenge, and problem-solve issues that affect them, their participation can result in change. As dedicated and caring grown-ups in children’s lives, we have an important role in supporting and guiding them to develop and apply the knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors needed to become civically literate and to participate in civic life.
How do we define civic education? Academically speaking, an elementary classroom curriculum may define civics education as one of the branches or areas within social studies. In our everyday lives, civics provides us with an understanding of our rights and duties as members of a community, such as understanding the difference between a rule and a law. It also provides us with an understanding of our liberties to use our voices and actions for positive change—as active community members and for many, as citizens. It is children’s civic understandings that help them become engaged, responsible, and informed members of our families, communities, and county.
So, what are the big ideas we need to teach children? This idea behind Together We Can is a simple one: Take big, complex civics concepts and make them bite-sized, memorable, and relatable to children as the world opens around them. Using a range of music styles from rap and pop to doo-wop, rock, and marching band, this knowledge-building curriculum centers on three domains of civics: Participation, Rights and Rules, and Democratic Principles. We build on children’s agency to be the change they seek by welcoming them to learn, listen, and lead. Here is just a sample of how this all comes together. Together we can . . .
Learn: “Our 50 States,”
Listen: “The Importance of Listening,” and
Lead: “Voting.”
How can grown-ups help? We invite parents, families, and educators to join in with their children through active co-viewing. Active co-viewing is when grown-ups and children engage together to prepare for, share, and discuss the viewing experience. These moments can be based on local events such as an election, children’s interests, or included in a classroom curriculum. Here are a few tips to get you started:
Tip 1. Create a “Family Media Use Plan” together. The American Academy of Pediatrics offers an interactive tool to help families make decisions about their screen time use.
Tip 2. Before Viewing: For younger children, preview the video before sharing it to help you prepare for questions your child may have. Jot down an idea or two as you watch. For older children, make a personal connection to the video, for example, perhaps your family is deciding on what to have for dinner.
Tip 3. During Viewing: Sing, dance along, and enjoy! Replay favorite parts to make concepts more memorable.
Tip 4. After Viewing: Follow your child’s lead. Use the moment as a spark for you to take action together. Sharing ideas can happen right after viewing or during everyday moments such as doing chores together.
Finally, Together We Can! comes to life through the young performers themselves. As we all reflect on how to best to support the children in our lives, we pause to give a big shout out to the cast who came together as a kind, respectful, and caring community. Thank you to Alina, Caleb, Elijah, Elliot, Evie, Izzy, Jayden, Jillian, Lincoln, Ritisha, Sid, and Wren! Let’s cheer for this next generation of civically engaged children!
Written by Akimi Gibson, SVP, Multiplatform Education Planning & Integration, and Rosemarie T. Truglio, PhD, SVP, Curriculum and Content, Sesame Workshop