Meet the Helpers

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Research has shown that introducing children to community helpers in a safe and fun environment can help them react better during times of crisis.

We know it can be a scary time for families as normal routines are disrupted due to the COVID-19 outbreak. This is a great time to talk to children about what is happening, and empower them to be helpers to keep each other healthy.

Meet the Helpers is a public media initiative that offers resources, tools, and videos designed to help adults introduce children to community helpers, health and safety habits, and emergency preparedness strategies. Meet the Helpers was built off of the words of Mister Rogers, "When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping."

Explore the Meet the Helpers video series and learn how you can use it in your home, school or community.

Virtual Family Kits | Meet the Helper Resources  |  More Helper Resources  |  Coronavirus

 Virtual Family Kits
WXXI pulled together two Meet the Helper Family Kits for grownups to use with their young children. The Virtual Helper Kits include videos, printables, articles, and more around (1) what it means to be a helper and (2) how to be prepared for an emergency.

1. Family Kit 1: Who and What are Helpers?
2. Family Kit 2: Being Prepared for an Emergency

How to Use these Resources
Explore the Meet the Helpers hub for videos and resources about community helpers. Share with your students, parents, caregivers, and colleagues so that they can also learn about the importance of community helpers. Here are some additional activities you can do with the Meet the Helpes tools:

1. Practice personal information with young children (including grownup's first and last names)
2. Write down emergency contact information and put it in a safe place
3. Build a first aid kit or emergency supply kit
4. Borrow books about community helpers from your local library
5. Make a list of questions you have about community helpers and look up information about each one
6. Talk about fire safety with children and make a fire escape route

Additional Helper Resources
Use these additional resources to expand your exploration of community helpers.

• PBS LearningMedia Helper Collections: Meet the Helpers, Arthur: All About Community, Career Connections

• Safety Helpers
• Firefighter Training (from Cyberchase)
• Kate Heckaman: Firefighter/Paramedic (from SciGirls)
• Visit a Traffic Safety Station
  
  
• Medical Helpers
• X-Ray Technician
• Nurse Practitioner
• Expert Q&A with Nurse Linda  (from Arthur)
• Nurse Practitioner (from Career Connections)
• Visit a Doctor's Office 
• Medical Technologist (from Career Connections)
• Paramedic (from Career Connections)
• Emergency Medical Helicopter Pilot (from I Can Be What?!)
  
  
• Weather Helpers
• Read Good Books: Weather Forecasting
• Kid Meterologist
• Visit a Weather Station
  
  
• Construction Helpers
• Construction Worker (from Career Connections)
• Construction Manager (from Career Connections)
• Electrician (from I Can Be What?!)

Need Help Talking to Your Kids About Coronavirus?
Meet the Helpers also has a collection of explainer videos that help grownups talk the Covid-19 emergency. WXXI has also pulled together a series of resources that can help you talk about the news, scary things, tragedies, and the coronavirus. 

• Meet the Helpers: How to Talk to Your Kids About Coronavirus
• Parenting Help During Coronavirus
• Talking with Kids About the News, Emergencies & Tragedy: For Home & Classroom 

Meet the Helpers was created and is owned by WUCF, a licensee of the University of Central Florida. Funding and support for WXXI's local work on this project has been provided by WUCF, Meet the Helpers, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

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