Watch and Play: Abby's Magical Beasties

In the Sesame Street episode Abby’s Magical Beasties (available now on Netflix and PBSKIDS), Abby’s fairy garden is home to lots of amazing Magical Beasties, creatures and it’s her job as a fairy to help them and keep them safe.

One beastie, Bubble Bug, goes missing and Abby needs to find it. She remembers Bubble Bug loves bright lights, so with Elmo’s help, they look in a couple of brightly lit places but can’t find it. Abby starts to feel discouraged. Elmo comforts her, telling her that she’s doing a great job and reminding her to be kind to herself. Abby takes a moment to do a wand wiggle and feels better. She continues to search—and soon enough, she finds Bubble Bug!

As caregivers, we often encourage our children to be kind to others—and it’s just as important to help them learn to be kind to themselves.

Self-compassion means showing understanding and gentleness toward yourself, especially when things are tough or don’t go as planned. Kids can sometimes focus on mistakes they’ve made or what went wrong. They might feel frustrated, upset, or say things like, “I can’t do it,” “I’m not good at this,” or “I give up.” Acknowledge their feelings and share a time when you felt the same way. Then, suggest a comforting strategy to do together, like giving yourself a hug, taking a deep belly breath, or doing a calming wand wiggle like Abby. Taking a break can help your child manage their big feelings and think more clearly about possible solutions.

As a parent, you can help your child remember how to treat themselves with kindness, patience, and encouragement. Remind your child that it’s okay if things don’t go the way they hoped—new skills often take time and practice. With your support and encouragement, they can keep trying and eventually succeed.

Check out the resources below to help your child build more self-compassion.