The coronavirus pandemic has changed our way of life, and adults are not the only ones impacted. Kids have had to deal with remote learning in lieu of in-person instruction at school along with other challenges — like parents who may be out of work, loved ones who may be sick and the inability to socialize with their friends and participate in extracurricular activities.
To help kids cope with these intense changes, the PBS Kids show “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood” is releasing a special aimed at helping them process their feelings amid the pandemic. “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood: Won’t You Sing Along With Me?” premieres on Monday, August 17 on PBS stations nationwide as well as the PBS KIDS 24/7 channel and PBS KIDS digital platforms.
The special will follow Daniel as he adjusts to the cancelation of the annual Neighborhood Carnival amid the pandemic. New songs will help Daniel process his “big feelings and questions,” as PBS says, and give strategies for coping with them.
The show tweeted about the special on July 15:
Won’t you sing along with me? A brand new season of @danieltigertv will kick-off August 17 with a Sing-Along special to help support neighbors in today’s unprecedented times! https://t.co/5V8395SG6f #DanielTigerPBS pic.twitter.com/bFZ5OTflj5
— Daniel Tiger (@danieltigertv) July 15, 2020
“As COVID-19 continues to pose challenges to families across the country, PBS KIDS is uniquely positioned to meet the needs of children, parents and caregivers,” Lesli Rotenberg, chief programming and executive and general manager of children’s media and education at PBS, said in a press release. “Learning lies at the heart of our mission, and we’ve been proud to be able to step in and offer at-home learning solutions, content and resources, like this timely special from ‘Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood,’ that reach kids where they are with age-appropriate lessons — especially in areas where families may have limited or no access to broadband internet across the country.”
Five new episodes of the TV show will air the week of August 17 as well, including a new 22-minute special called “Daniel’s Substitute Teacher.” Generally, each single episode includes two full stories.
These episodes are part of the new fifth season of “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood.” The series will continue to explore issues to help kids, with 20 episodes featuring topics related to the pandemic as well as daily life. These include: changes at school, separation from family members, hospital stays, staying safe, following rules, disappointment, generosity, sibling rivalry and respecting others’ personal space. PBS also says new characters will be added.
New “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood” digital games, activities and resources will be available on PBS KIDS for Parents and PBS Learning Media to continue to support teachers and families during this unprecedented time.