Sesame Street Back to School Music Playlist

When a new school year begins, it’s normal for children of all ages to feel lots of different emotions like happiness, fear, excitement, anxiety, or a mix of all four! These songs feature Sesame Street friends and offer a balanced blend of learning and fun, providing a gentle transition for your child into the school year ahead. Let little ones know it’s okay for them to have big feelings.  

As you listen to this playlist with your child, you might: 

Play School! To help prepare your child for what their day may be like in the classroom, you can play pretend school. You can pretend to be the teacher and your child can be the student. Together, go through a day of activities such as reading a story as they would in circle time, building with blocks as they would in the Block Center, and painting a picture as they would in the Art Center. You can also demonstrate strategies your child will use at school, like listening with their whole body, raising their hand if they have something to say, and standing in line and waiting their turn. You can also switch roles! Next time you play school, your child can be the teacher and you can be the student. Playing pretend is a great way to prepare your child for their new routine, practice fair ways to play and cooperate with friends, learn self-control, and cope with their feelings.   

Make a Glitter Jar: During times of big feelings, invite your child to shake the jar and watch the glitter swirl around. Fill a clean plastic bottle or jar about ¾ of the way with warm water. Then your child can add colorful glitter and 2-3 drops of clear glue. Close and seal the lid with more glue. Now, your child can shake and watch the glitter swirl all around. You can tell your child that the glitter is like their feelings swirling around inside of them. As they watch the glitter float down, it can help their body feel better. A glitter jar is also something they can pack in their backpacks and use at school too if they have a big feeling.  

Make Bracelets: If your child is feeling nervous or sad about leaving you for the day, tie a loose piece of ribbon around yours and your child’s wrists. Every time your child looks at it, it can remind them that they’ll see you at the end of the school day.    

And… tell your child how proud you are of them for going back to school or starting a new school. When you help your child feel seen, heard, and loved, you’re building a sense of safety, security, and confidence that will last a lifetime.