NEW YORK, May 4, 2026 — Sesame Workshop, the global nonprofit behind Sesame Street, is introducing new emotional well-being resources with funding from MetLife Foundation, to address increasing mental health concerns among young children. The new resources provide families and children with the essential skills for establishing and maintaining caring relationships, helping them build confidence and lay an important foundation for their future success.

Featuring Elmo, Abby Cadabby, and their Sesame Street friends, the curriculum, which includes videos and a volunteer guide, focuses on core messages such as the value of taking others’ perspectives, doing kind things, and cooperating. The videos will be available in English, Spanish, Hindi, Portuguese, and Arabic, with the volunteer guide in English and Spanish. These themes are also woven into select Tales from 123 segments, supported by MetLife Foundation as part of this global partnership, in Sesame Street’s current 56^th season on Netflix and PBS KIDS.

Since 2009, MetLife Foundation has been a long-standing partner of Sesame Workshop, supporting global initiatives that equip children and families with essential life skills and confidence. The partnership has spanned multiple countries and focus areas from early efforts promoting health and well-being to the impactful Dream, Save, Do initiative, which advanced financial empowerment for families worldwide.

“At a moment when so many families are seeking ways to support children’s emotional well-being, we’re focusing on what matters most in early childhood: strong, caring connections,” said Lesley Bourns, Senior Vice President, Impact Programs, Sesame Workshop. “Together with MetLife Foundation, we’re bringing playful, research-based resources to children and the adults who care for them—helping them practice empathy and compassion and build skills they can carry for life.”

Sesame Workshop will collaborate with key community organizations, such as schools, childcare centers, and local nonprofits, to distribute the resources in select regions, including the U.S., Mexico, Brazil, India and the Middle East, with targeted outreach efforts. Additional in-person implementation in Brazil and Mexico will include school- and home-based activities aligned with the content’s themes, extending learning through hands-on experiences.

“At MetLife Foundation, we believe that supporting children’s mental and emotional well-being early in life can build confidence and shape outcomes for years to come,” said Tia Hodges, President and CEO of MetLife Foundation and Head of Corporate Giving and Employee Volunteerism at MetLife. “Through our long-standing collaboration with Sesame Workshop, we’re proud to invest in engaging, research-based resources that reach children and caregivers globally, strengthening social connection, empathy, and resilience through trusted stories and characters.”

To access the resources, visit sesame.org/mentalhealth.