Last November, Sesame Street and the Electric Company unveiled a new collection of interactive resources designed to keep children connected with their parents and siblings deployed all over the world. The programs are bilingual. Children and their families can go to the Military Families Near and Far website to sign up for the on-line program free of charge. Kids can draw pictures, write letters, send photos, sings songs and communicate with a loved one. So if you are a parent, help your child check it out and get started. Just because your mom or dad is far away, you can always talk to them and share how your feel.
The resources will be distributed through multiple channels including the Department of Defense Education Activity Educational Partnership Program, Boys and Girls Clubs of America-affiliated youth centers and other military-support programs.
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How you can be involved: First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden have been actively encouraging all of us to support our Military Families. It can be as easy as clicking on a site listed below and sending a message of thanks to a military spouse. Volunteering to babysit to give a spouse a break. Asking a spouses what might help them the most. If you are near a military base, call the Family Support Center and ask how you might help. The following are sites that may give you some ideas.
Join Forces With the White House: http://www.whitehouse.gov/joiningforces.
United We Serve: http://www.serve.gov/vets.asp
National Military Family Association: http://www.militaryfamily.org/
I love the idea of kids being able to interact easily with a parent who is far away. What a great resource. And the other resources look wonderful too – military spouses and families deserve whatever help we can give them!
Susanna, I was really delighted to learn about this brand new interactive resource for military kids to keep in touch with parents. And, what fun. Actually this resource would be helpful to many childrens separated from parents for a variety of reasons. What difference this could make. And, you only need to sign up!
Thanks for sharing this! The video is cute and helpful. I am really glad you are doing a military theme this month!
Erik
Erik, thank you. Cool program for kids! I loved the video.
This was very interesting. I was unaware that Sesame Street was involved in disclosing resources like these. What a great way for kids to stay connected with their loved ones. Thankyou Pat.
Diane, Yes, I found it interesting. I first saw it on Amazon. Then did further research to find the source and media blitz last November. It’s important to see what so many people and organizations are doing.
Thank you so much for providing ways in which we can do something to support military families. Having a specific call to action means so much. I’ve just sent a note out through the USO and having been the recipient of letters from afar when I was stationed in Korea, I know how much it can mean to get a message from someone like that. Just knowing that people are thinking about you, saying a prayer, and wishing you well, makes it all just a little bit easier to take.
Craig, your messages are always so filled with interestng information. Yes, I think we all need to be called to action and do something for soldiers and their families. This exciting new resource for kids on-line is a fantastic way to keep in touch with parents. I was so excited to find it.
We have such a lovely first lady. What a great message.
Michael, it is a great resource for kids to connect. Thanks!
Very nice, they have made the concept of helping and rendering service so much more accessible to young kids nowadays, and the power of technology in connecting people near and far is simply amazing.
I was so excited to find this new resource and to see corporate support for kids–to help them keep connected.