Even our pals on Sesame Street know wearing a mask can be bothersome, but they also know masks are essential [1] to protecting us and our loved ones. Sesame Workshop [2], the nonprofit organisation associated with the show, debuted a new set of resources dedicated to children on the autism spectrum [3] and their families in order to help them understand the impact of the pandemic, and we have to give Julia a big virtual hug.
The 4-year-old Muppet, who has autism, stars in the new set of videos. In one, she learns how to feel more comfortable while wearing a mask. Julia's father, Daniel, recommends practicing wearing a mask for a few seconds at a time while at home and even making a miniature version of a mask for a stuffed pal like Julia did with her bunny, Fluffster. If Fluffster can do it, she can try, too!
Additional resources from Sesame Workshop include a virtual playdate between Julia and Elmo [5], tips for online school, and overall help in dealing with all the changes in routines [6].
"We know that children with autism and their families are experiencing unique challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, and that schedules, routines, and guidelines can change with little warning," Dr. Jeanette Betancourt from Sesame Workshop said in a press release. "The new resources are designed to help families manage unexpected circumstances, familiarize children with important new behaviours like wearing masks, and incorporate practical strategies into their day-to-day lives — all with a little help from Julia." Check out the mask video from Julia and Daniel above.