The Jim Henson Company, an established leader in family entertainment for over 60 years, is developing a new live-action puppet preschool series based on Slumberkins, a leading educational children’s brand working to teach positive social-emotional life skills to both parents and children. The announcement was made recently by Halle Stanford, President of Television, The Jim Henson Company.
Co-founded in 2016 by Callie Christensen and Kelly Oriard, an educator and a family therapist respectively, Slumberkins strives to empower children and parents through the use of their characters to help navigate life in a balanced way.
Through the interactive board books and storylines that incorporate therapeutic techniques that accompany each creature, parents are able to create a deeper, more meaningful bond with their children and turn to the brand through all developmental milestones that children experience.
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Each Slumberkin has a specific social-emotional life skill it promotes, such as self-esteem, relaxation, transition/coping with change, mindfulness, conflict resolution, growth mindset, and authenticity. Associated creatures include Bigfoot, Sloth, Fox, Yeti, Hammerhead, Narwhal, and Unicorn, with more creatures on the way!
“The Slumberkins are the new 100 Acre Woods for an anxious time,” says Stanford. “Callie and Kelly have created a successful franchise by tapping into what the modern family wants for their children: empathy, self-expression, and emotional regulation.
What we love about fashioning the Slumberkins into a puppet series for preschoolers is that we will introduce a whole new line of creature friends who will encourage kids to take action against the problems that affect them, whether that’s change, self-confidence, bullying, or uncertainty in a mixed-up world. Puppets are the best medium to realize these gorgeous designs because not only will they establish an immediate intimacy with our viewers, but they are also the best medium when working with children on expressing their feelings.”
‘We know that parents want to help their kids be prepared for the challenges of the world. There is a lack of tools to help teach children how to handle their ‘big feelings’ in a healthy way. Slumberkins provides support to kids and families through books, plush and soon, with the help of the Jim Henson Company, through video entertainment. We are honored to be working with the great people at The Jim Henson Company that value creating intentional and inspiring programming for young children,’ explains CEO/Co-Founder Kelly Oriard.
Lisa Henson, CEO and President of The Jim Henson Company and Stanford will serve as executive producers.
SOURCE The Jim Henson Company
