Just in case a kid can’t cope with having a parent in prison, Sesame Street designers have created a kit to help children get through the emotional issues involved with having an incarcerated parent. Apparently, a couple of million kids have at least one parent in prison, and now children between the ages of 3-8 can turn to Elmo for their psychiatric needs.
Photo: USAG-Humphreys
Free Kit for Caretakers
Titled “Little Children, Big Challenges,” the online kit appears to be free to anyone who wants to download it; you can even put it on your e-reader. There are a variety of printable pdfs included in the kit, everything from morning routine charts to tips for parents and caregivers.
Some of the tips in the kit are:
• Building security for a child by letting them know what will happen throughout the day
• Help a child to express his emotions by asking questions
• Answering questions honestly, including the kind involving “Where’s Daddy (or Mommy)?”
Another handy part of the Sesame Street kit are some videos you and your child can watch together. Whether it’s “What is Incarceration?” or “How About Your Feelings?,” watching a video on the topic could be an interesting way to spend time helping a child understand where his parent is—although you might not want to go into details about “why” Daddy or Mommy is in prison.
Should Elmo Be Elevated to Social Worker?
What do you think about letting Sesame Street help explain what jail is and why it’s a consequence for parents who, frankly, make bad decisions and can’t parent their own child? Perhaps it’s true that it does take a village to raise a child. Of course, the village might not have to help out so much if Mommy hadn’t decided to shoot somebody or do drugs.
If you or a loved one has made a legal mistake, we are available to assist you if you need an experienced Utah criminal defense attorney. We won’t take the place of your kid’s psychiatrist, but we will provide you with the best criminal defense possible.
