Be a Hero Like Jim Henson
Jim Henson loved to laugh and have fun as a kid. He loved watching movies and birds. He also loved making things and telling stories. Through hard work and creativity, he became a puppeteer. By trying new things and lots of practice, he helped create two of the most beloved programs in television history: “The Muppet Show” and “Sesame Street.” Jim’s Muppets help us laugh,share, imagine, dream, create, learn, and be kind together. Read more about Jim Henson in Brad Meltzer’s “I Am Jim Henson – Ordinary People Change the World.” Afterwards, pick a few of the character building activities to encourage your child to develop their own inner hero.
Listen to the book read by Brad Meltzer:
Talk About Values and Listen to Your Child’s Ideas:
Curiosity Helps Us Grow
- Share a personal interest with your child. How have you explored this interest and gotten better at it over time? Ask your child what ideas and activities most interest them. Discuss ways to explore interests.
- Ask your child, What makes you happy? How can we draw, create, watch, or participate in more of the things that make you happiest?
Kindness Makes a Difference in The World
- Discuss with your child the power of friendship. Who are your good friends? How do friends help you with the things you are interested in?
- One of the ways to show someone we care is to spend time with them and do things they enjoy. Discuss fun ways to spend time with the people you care about.
Courage Helps Us Handle LIfe’s Obstacles
- Tell about a time that something you really wanted to see happen didn’t work out. How did you handle the situation?
- Discuss the power of perseverance. Ask your child to think about something they want to do (such as learning to play guitar, learning to cook, mastering a video game) and help them think about ways they can keep going, get better, have fun as they learn, and not give up.