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CNN Live Event/Special
Characters from "Sesame Street" Ask Questions about Dealing with COVID-19 During Holiday Season; Dr. Anthony Fauci Answers Questions about COVID-19 Vaccine and Children; Many Families in Need During Holiday Season Due to Economic Slowdown Related to Coronavirus Spread; Experts Answer Questions from Families about Coping with Isolation During COVID-19 Pandemic. Aired 10-11a ET
Aired December 19, 2020 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:00:24]
ELMO: Now, let's see, where should this ornament go?
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Happy holidays!
BIG BIRD: Happy holidays!
ERICA HILL, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, happy holidays.
ELMO: Happy holidays, Big Bird, Miss Erica, and Dr. Sanjay.
HILL: It's so good to see everyone. Elmo, what are you doing over there?
ELMO: Elmo is decorating a Christmas tree in front of a community center, since everybody's been spending a lot of time outside.
GUPTA: That's a great idea, Elmo, seeing friends and family outside, keep a little distance, wear your mask. It's a great way to still celebrate the holidays.
ELMO: Yes. And it's a new holiday tradition.
HILL: Oh, it's a great one, Elmo. This year because of COVID-19 we're all doing things a little differently, creating some new traditions so we can have parties right now. So this year my kids and I are going to meet up with some of my family outside so we can have hot cocoa and air hugs and still have a little Christmas celebration.
BIG BIRD: Whoa, that sounds like fun, Erica. Every year I make birdseed fruit cake with my granny bird but this year we won't be together. That way we can all stay healthy.
GUPTA: I'm sorry, Big Bird. I'm sure that's disappointing.
BIG BIRD: Yes, it sure is. But we're still going to make it together. We're going to make that birdseed fruitcake. My granny bird is going to teach me and Alan how to bake it over video chat. GUPTA: OK, great. You're going to have to share that recipe with us.
BIG BIRD: OK.
GUPTA: My family is making care packages for our neighbors. And what we do is we put gifts and treats inside, put it on the porch, right the doorbell, and then watch them open from a safe distance. It's a lot of fun.
ELMO: Elmo wants to do that for his neighbors, too.
HILL: Let's hear some more new ways the friends on "Sesame Street" are celebrating the holidays.
OSCAR THE GROUCH: This holiday I'm going to stay home in my can and avoid people.
BIG BIRD: Oh, Oscar, you do that every year.
OSCAR THE GROUCH: Oh, yes. Well, I guess you can still keep some traditions. I better get started. Get lost and have a rotten holiday!
(LAUGHTER)
GUPTA: OK.
(LAUGHTER)
GUPTA: Maybe we should see what another friend is doing.
ELMO: Yes. This is probably a good idea.
HILL: How about we check in with Zoe to see what she is up to this holiday? Hi Zoe.
ZOE: Hi. Hi, everyone. So this year I'm making gifts for the heroes in my neighborhood. See, look at this. I painted this rock, and I'm bringing it to the fire station to say thank you for keeping everyone safe.
HILL: That is so kind and thoughtful of you, Zoe. It's so wonderful to think of all the essential worker who are helping everyone this holiday season.
ZOE: Yes. Oh, I just got a great idea. I'm going to make paper snowflakes for our sanitation workers next. I better go so I can get on that. I'll see you later. Bye!
GUPTA: Bye. Have fun, Zoe.
BIG BIRD: Bye.
GUPTA: Let's see how Cookie Monster is ringing in the holidays. Hey, Cookie.
COOKIE MONSTER: Hello. Hi. Well, this year me have new tradition of learning how me friends celebrate the holidays.
HILL: Oh. What a great idea, Cookie Monster. It is really fun to learn about other traditions.
COOKIE MONSTER: Yes, yes, yes. Me learning all about their holiday food. Nummy, nummy.
HILL: Should have known.
(LAUGHTER)
COOKIE MONSTER: Yes. Here, look what me got. Me got this Rosita's three kings cake. That look delicious. Me got, that Ellen's sugar plum pie. Yummy, yummy. And me got little Elmo's Christmas cookies.
GUPTA: Those do look pretty good, Cookie Monster, I've got to admit.
COOKIE MONSTER: Yes. You know what, me bet they taste good too! Happy holidays.
GUPTA: We'll see you later, Cookie Monster. But first, today we're going to answer some of your questions and share the best ways to have a fun and healthy holiday season.
HILL: So let's kick things off with one of my favorite new traditions, our CNN "Sesame Street" holiday town hall.
ELMO: Yes!
BIG BIRD: A holiday town hall.
HILL: Welcome to "The ABCs of COVID-19, A CNN and Sesame Street Special," all about staying healthy during this unique holiday season. Joining me as always is Dr. Sanjay Gupta and our good friend from "Sesame Street," Big Bird.
[10:05:11]
GUPTA: Hey, Erica. Hey, Big Bird.
BIG BIRD: Hi there. Thanks for having me, Dr. Sanjay and Erica. I just love the holidays!
GUPTA: I do, too, Big Bird. Normally this is a time of year for celebrations and for gatherings, but the coronavirus has made celebrating pretty difficult this year and a little different, as well.
GUPTA: Yes, but that's no reason to be a grouch. There's still lots of ways to celebrate and spread joy.
HILL: That's right, Big Bird. The holidays may be a little different this year, but we can still stay connected, spread holiday cheer, and most importantly, stay healthy during the winter months ahead.
GUPTA: So today we're going to be talking to experts, and we're going to answer your questions from children and from families all over the country.
BIG BIRD: Oh! I have a question.
HILL: Great, Big Bird. What's your question?
BIG BIRD: It sure is cold here in my nest. Does the snow and cold weather spread or stop the coronavirus?
GUPTA: I'll take that one. It's a really important question. First of all, you can't get a cold from being in the cold, just to be clear. You should always dress warmly and everything when you go outside, but the reason the virus tends to spread more in the colder weather is more because people are typically inside, clustering inside, and the virus spreads easily because we're closer together indoors as opposed to outdoors. So that's why the winter months are usually associated with these sorts of respiratory viruses.
HILL: Thank you for clearing that one up.
Dr. Sanjay, we have gotten so many wonderful questions from around the country, and we have a lot to get to. Here to help us answer some of them is one of the world's top coronavirus experts, Dr. Anthony Fauci.
GUPTA: Dr. Fauci, you all know him. He's the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. He's also a very proud father, and I want to thank you, Dr. Fauci, for being with us today. Before we get to the viewer questions, and there's a lot of them for you, I just wondered if you had a message for kids and families in particular this holiday season.
DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES: Yes. It's important to point out that you can enjoy the family and the warmth of the holiday season and still stay safe and prevent yourself from getting infected by just doing some of the common things that we talk about, appropriate wearing of masks, trying to keep some physical distance. If you can, try and do things outdoors a little bit more than indoors.
And importantly you don't want to hang out in crowds with a lot of people around. I think your family and your friends together, you can still have a warm and enjoyable Christmas and holiday season right now and enjoy it to the fullest. So, although we are in a serious time right now, we need to take care of ourselves, we can still have fun and enjoy the holiday season.
HILL: We absolutely can. Wi know a lot of times, you just touched on this a bit, the holidays for many people are all about gathering and getting together. A lot of kids at home asked about being able to see their relatives this year. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SASHA, SIX YEARS OLD, PITTSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS: Can I see my cousins over the holidays?
CHARLIE, EIGHT YEARS OLD, PENNSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA: When will we be able to hug our families again?
FREDDIE, FOUR YEARS OLD, OTTAWA, CANADA: We haven't been able to give our grandmas hugs since COVID started. Can we go and see them at Christmas and give them 100 hugs?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HILL: Oh, that little boy wants to give his grandma 100 hugs, Dr. Fauci. That's tough for a lot of families right now. What's your advice?
FAUCI: It really depends. I think if you are in the immediate household and is part of the household and is not someone who's maybe coming in and traveling, when you're in the household with your mother, your father, and even your grandparents, yes, you can give them hugs.
We're concerned about close contact, particularly without masks, when you have people who are not within the immediate household. That's the reason why we say over the holidays you can see friends and family, but you've got to be careful, particularly with the wearing of masks. You don't want people to feel they can't hug the ones they love. If you are with that person in the house every day, all the time, there's really not a problem. We're concerned about traveling. When people come from a far distance, they're in an airport or in the train station, and then you come into the house, you want to be careful about that. I know it's tough. You want to hug the ones you love, but you have to be careful.
GUPTA: Dr. Fauci, there's a lot of hope out there because Americans have started getting the coronavirus vaccine, and we have an important question from some curious kids about that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CAMERAN, NINE YEARS OLD, ZIONSVILLE, INDIANA: Will the vaccine be safe and available for kids?
[10:10:00]
LEWIS, EIGHT YEARS OLD, MISSOURI CITY, TEXAS: When do you think a kid my age will be able to take the vaccine?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GUPTA: What about that, Dr. Fauci, kids and the vaccine?
FAUCI: Well, it's been an important tradition to preserve the safety of children. We're very concerned that we want to make sure we emphasize the safety of vaccines. So when you get a new vaccine, you generally want to show the safety and the efficacy in an adult population. Once you do, then you start doing trials, maybe a couple months later, in the children so that you can quickly as possible get them the vaccine.
So the reason why you're not hearing about our vaccinating children right now is because we want to wait a month or two. We're looking at January, we're going to start some trials in children. We'll start with children who are a bit older and work our way down so that hopefully within a few months we'll be able to tell children what I know we'll be able to say, the vaccine is safe and effective in you, and we're anxious to get you vaccinated. So just hang in there a couple of more months, and we'll be in good shape.
HILL: That is good to hear. Elmo also has something to say, Dr. Fauci. Let's check in with him.
ELMO: Hi, Dr. Fauci. Can you answer Elmo's friend's question?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAYDEN AND GRACE-MARIE, TEN AND SEVEN YEARS OLD, BALDWIN, NEW YORK: Will the COVID-19 vaccine make COVID disappear?
SANCHEZ, SEVEN YEARS OLD, COLLINGDALE, PENNSYLVANIA: Will the new shots help the world get better? I miss seeing my friends at school.
CAMERON, ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA: Is the shot a big needle or a little needle? And is it in your arm or will it hurt?
SKYLAR, ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA: And we also want to know, will the shot help everything go back to normal so we can play with our friends again?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(LAUGHTER)
HILL: There is a lot to unpack there.
GUPTA: Those are great questions.
FAUCI: A lot of good questions, kids. OK, so first of all, let me start with the one that seems to bother children the most. The vaccine shot is in the arm. It's a pinch, but the pinch lasts really a short time, literally in seconds. And I'll bet you that after you get vaccinated, when vaccines become available for children, you're going to say, you know, it wasn't that bad at all. I'll guarantee.
Now, your question, what the ultimate goal of the vaccine is, to do just what one of you had asked. It's to get rid of COVID-19 completely. And that's the reason why we want to get as many people as possible to get vaccinated because once you get the overwhelming majority of the people vaccinated, the level of the virus is going to go down and down and down, and then it's going to turn out to be no problem.
So you're going to be able to do all the things you have been asking me about. You're going to be able to hug, you're going to be able to kiss, you're going to be able to have fun with your family. But the only way we get there is if we get a broad acceptance of the vaccine. We hope that that's going to take place, maybe over the next several months, because as vaccine starts to be given, as we get into the late spring and into the summer, we hope that if we can get back and chat with you, let's say maybe in the fall, in Halloween, and say, you know what, we're looking around. There's no more COVID-19, so we succeeded.
HILL: I look forward to that day.
GUPTA: Me, too.
HILL: As you said, the shot probably won't hurt. Sanjay, you actually got the first of the two vaccines. It is a two-dose vaccine. Is that an Elmo band-aid that you're wearing?
GUPTA: Yes, it is.
HILL: I love it!
GUPTA: Yes, it's an Elmo band-aid, and I have my little Elmo doll even, because sometimes you need just a little bit of help to get through these things. But it's just as Dr. Fauci said, honestly speaking, it really didn't hurt a bit. In fact, when I was getting the shot I didn't actually even realize the shot was already completed. I was waiting for it, and then they said you're already done. Just being honest here. So if you're worried about the pinch at all that Dr. Fauci is talking about, it's really pretty minor.
HILL: That is great news.
I know there are some kids who are wondering, does it have to be a shot or maybe could it be something else? I know sometimes when my kids were little they would get the flu vaccine, there was a mist in their nose. Dr. Fauci, is there a chance that there could be a different way to eventually get the vaccine?
FAUCI: Ultimately that could be the case, but right now all of the vaccine candidates that are being tested and the ones that have been approved are all with the needle. But in the future when we look at a couple of years when we want to make sure we get people to be able to have vaccine, hopefully a couple of years from now it won't even be a problem. But in case we do, almost certainly there will be different versions of the vaccine that will be developed, likely some of the ones that are the flu mist type that we do with influenza. But right now those types of vaccines are not available.
[10:15:13]
GUPTA: This winter and the next if months are going to be challenging, but I'm pretty hopeful with the vaccines on the way that we are going to get through this.
HILL: Yes, there really is help on the way.
GROVER: I am here! Help is here!
GUPTA: Super Grover?
GROVER: Yes. It is I, your helpful, healthy hero Super Grover! Sorry I am late, Dr. Sanjay and Miss Erica. I was all wrapped up saving Christmas again.
(LAUGHTER)
HILL: That's OK, Super Grover. We were just telling everybody that a vaccine is being made that will help protect us all from the spread of coronavirus.
GROVER: Ah, yes, of course, a vaccine, which is a fancy name for a vacuum cleaner.
GUPTA: No, not quite, Super Grover. A vaccine is actually a weakened form of the virus, or part of the virus that can help our body build up its defenses by teaching you body's germ fighters, known as antibodies, how to defeat the virus.
HILL: Our bodies are actually great at protecting us, but sometimes they need a little extra help, and that's why we take vaccines.
GROVER: Yes, exactly what I was going to say. A vaccine is a little super hero boost to your body.
HILL: There you go. We have had so many questions about the vaccine, so let's jump right in with this question from seven-year-old Dalas in Maryland.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DALAS, SEVEN YEARS OLD, BOWIE, MARYLAND: How do they make the COVID-19 vaccine? And how does it protect people from getting the virus?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GROVER: I will take this one. Do not worry, Dalas. I, Super Grover, am personally making the vaccine. Now, where do I put my hammer and tool belt?
GUPTA: Super Grover, that is not how you make a vaccine.
(LAUGHTER)
GROVER: It is not?
GUPTA: No. There are teams of scientists all over the world right now that have been working around the clock to create these vaccines. It's just amazing work. And vaccines are usually these liquids that you take like a medicine, sometimes like a shot. But unlike a medicine you actually take the vaccine to keep yourself from getting sick in the first place.
There are many different kinds of vaccines to fight germs, and scientists have been working really hard to find the perfect combination of ingredients specifically to fight this coronavirus. Once they make that best recipe, they create millions and millions of doses for people to take. Then when you get a vaccine, it sends a message to the body. It tells your body to look out, because there's a new bad guy in town, and this time the germ is wearing a crown. Looks something like this. So when your body sees this, it's going to be ready to fight those bad guys off.
GROVER: Exactly what I was going to say, Dr. Sanjay. And people are probably wondering how they will be getting the vaccine. Well, we will be using cute little carrier pigeons to ship the vaccine to all of the people around --
HILL: Super Grover, I don't think that's actually how it is going to work.
GUPTA: Not quite, Grover, not quite.
(LAUGHTER)
GUPTA: Vaccines usually have to be kept in the fridge like milk or eggs. This is the way you keep them fresh. Some of these new coronavirus vaccines have to be kept at temperatures colder than the south pole.
GROVER: You will want to wear your ugly holiday sweater when handling these vaccines.
GUPTA: I am really proud of all the hard work the scientists and health care professionals have put into developing this vaccine. It really does give me hope for a healthier 2021.
GROVER: Me, too, Dr. Sanjay. They are all heroes. Now, if you will excuse me. I need to hang the stockings with care, shovel some driveways, and do a little last-minute online holiday shopping. Up, up and away!
HILL: Are you OK, Super Grover?
GROVER: Yes, but I think I will hitch a ride with a reindeer. Rudolph? Blitzen?
(LAUGHTER)
HILL: We love our Super Grover. Dr. Fauci, we received so many questions about the vaccine. Here's another one from Kaitlyn in Hong Kong.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KAITLYN, SIX YEARS OLD, HONG KONG: After my grandparents get the vaccine, but I have not, can I still go visit them without wearing a mask?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HILL: Such a good question, Dr. Fauci. If a grandparent gets it -- yes.
FAUCI: Well, if your grandparent gets it, you still need to be careful and wear a mask because until we get this blanket of protection over everyone, you can't be absolutely certain that there isn't virus there. [10:20:01]
So vaccines are extremely important to ending this outbreak, but until we get the full component of almost everyone vaccinated, we can't abandon the common public health measures of wearing a mask. So yes, you still should be wearing a mask.
HILL: We also want to check in now with our "Sesame Street" pal Rosita. Hi, Rosita.
ROSITA: Hola, Dr. Fauci. Can you please help answer this important question?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MYRA, SIX YEARS OLD, CHICAGO: Do I have to take the COVID-19 shot every year, or just once?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FAUCI: That's a really good question. And the answer is, in all honesty, we don't know right now because we don't know how long the protection lasts. We're anticipating right now that you won't have to take it every year, but what we're going to do is we're going to follow the people that have been vaccinated very, very carefully to see if that protection that the vaccine gives you lasts and how long it lasts. So hopefully we're going to be able to answer your question pretty soon and tell you whether or not it's going to be required. I don't think it is, but we want to make sure we give you the right answer. So let's just wait and see.
GUPTA: Dr. Fauci, the COVID vaccine has given us such great hope in the fight to end this pandemic, but it's also clear we have a long winter ahead and we're all going to have to do our part to stop the spread of coronavirus. Charlie from Pennsylvania has a question about that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHARLIE, THREE YEARS OLD, NEW HOPE, PENNSYLVANIA: What does my mask have to go over my nose?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HILL: Not just the mouth but over the nose, as well, why does it to have to go over the nose?
(LAUGHTER)
FAUCI: Good question. The reason is that the virus when it infects you can infect you either through the nose or through the mouth. And that's the reason why when we say wash your hands and don't touch your nose or touch your mouth, so you want protect completely both your nose and your mouth. So when you see people with the mask down, when their mouth, with their nose in there, that's when you should say, oops, you are wearing it incorrectly. Put it back up over your nose the way you should wear it.
HILL: Love that.
We also want to check in with Abby Cadabby with a question for you, Dr. Fauci.
ABBY CADABBY: I have a question, Dr. Fauci. When I go outside to play in the snow, will my mittens spread the coronavirus?
FAUCI: Almost certainly not. So there is a feeling maybe some time ago that when there's a lot of virus around it could be on objects. But if you're there and you wash your hands frequently and you're out and you have your gloves on, I wouldn't worry about spreading the coronavirus with your gloves.
HILL: Such a smart question. I hadn't thought of that. Good one, Abby. And Elmo is back for something else that I think is on a lot of kids' minds.
ELMO: Elmo's friend has a question about Santa Claus.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LUCY, EIGHT YEARS OLD, SAN RAFAEL, CALIFORNIA: How did Santa get the vaccine? And is it safe for him to go in the house?
CONNOR, NINE YEARS OLD, MOUNT HOLLY, NEW JERSEY: How can Santa Claus safely give out presents with COVID-19 spreading everywhere? How can he do it?
PAXTON, SIX YEARS OLD, GENEVA, ILLINOIS: Will Santa still be able to visit me in coronavirus season? What if he can't go to anyone's house or near his reindeer?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FAUCI: Well, I have to say I took care of that for you because I was worried that you'd all be upset. So what I did a little while ago, I took a trip up there to the North Pole, I went there and I vaccinated Santa Claus myself. I measured his level of immunity, and he is good to go. He can come down the chimney. He can leave the presents. He can leave and you have nothing to worry about. Santa Claus is good to go.
GUPTA: Dr. Fauci, you have made so many kids around the world so happy just now. Dr. Fauci, look, thank you so much for being with us today. I think we speak for everybody probably in the world, thanking you for all of your hard work, all of your diligence in helping us fight this coronavirus. We wish you a happy, healthy holiday, and I might add, a happy 80th birthday on Christmas Eve, as well, sir. Thank you so much.
FAUCI: Thank you very much, Sanjay. Thank you, Erica. It's great to be with you. Thank you for having me.
HILL: Thank you.
GUPTA: Thank you. BIG BIRD: Coming up, we'll learn how to lend a hand, or a wing, and help people in need in this holiday season. We can all be holiday helpers.
[10:25:00]
But first, my friend Abby Cadabby has a special message.
ABBY CADABBY: Hi, everyone! Well, I know the holidays are going to be a little bit tough this year, but they could still be magical, because, well, we can still see our family and friends virtually. Yes, and we can send them beautiful cards and gifts, and drive around the neighborhood and see all the beautiful twinkling lights. And you know what else? There's one thing that we could all do together no matter where we are. We can give each other a great big virtual hug. So come on! Come in here, give me that hug. Oh, that's so good! I just want to wish everybody a happy holiday and go out there and you spread joy and kindness wherever you are. Right now, I'm going to put my mask on and I'm going to go play outside with my brother Rudy, and then mommy is going to take us to see all the lights on Sesame Street. OK, I'm coming, Rudy, I'm coming! Bye.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GUPTA: Welcome back to our holiday edition of "The ABCs of COVID-19."
HILL: We've talked a lot about health concerns around COVID-19, but we know it's also impacted people in a number of different ways.
GUPTA: Yes, with everyone physically distancing and staying home due to the virus, some stores have had to close and some people have lost their jobs, making the holidays and the winter months even more challenging.
HILL: There are a lot of people who need a little extra help this year. Joining us now is Elmo's dad Louie who is doing his part to help others and to spread some holiday cheer as well this year.
[10:30:00]
LOUIE: Oh, Hi, Erica. Hi, Dr. Sanjay. I'm collecting food for our neighborhood food drive.
ELMO: Daddy, food can't drive. That's silly.
(LAUGHTER)
LOUIE: No, Elmo, a food drive, it's when people collect food to give to families who need it.
ELMO: Why do families need food, daddy? Can't they go into their kitchen and get food?
LOUIE: Unfortunately, no, Elmo. The virus has been very hard on some families. People are out of work and don't have money to buy the food and warm clothes they need. ELMO: Daddy, everybody needs food and clothes.
LOUIE: Yes, they do, son. That's why it's important to remember that the holidays are about giving and helping others.
ELMO: Well, Elmo will help, daddy. And Elmo will ask his friends to help, too. Miss Erica, Dr. Sanjay?
HILL: Hi, Elmo. What is it?
ELMO: Hi. There are families that need our help this holiday.
GUPTA: Yes, that's true, Elmo. There are. They need help now and they're going to need help in the coming months, as well.
HILL: Fortunately, there are lots of things that we can all do to help. We can start by collecting coats to donate to a coat drive to make sure people aren't cold this winter.
GUPTA: People can donate extra food like you and your dad are doing right now. You can volunteer or help at pantries and soup kitchens.
HILL: You could also make something to send to someone else, like maybe an ornament or maybe draw a picture, Elmo, to let people know that you're thinking of them.
LOUIE: And you know what, Elmo? We can go to the store and pick out some toys to donate to the community center toy drive, spread some joy to kids who don't have a lot this holiday.
ELMO: Yes. Elmo can get them a book or a truck, or a Galactic Stan action figure. Come on, daddy, it's time to help.
LOUIE: All right, hold on, son. Wait for me. Bye.
(LAUGHTER)
HILL: Oh, now more than ever it's so important that we take care of each other and help our friends and neighbors get through this challenging holiday and the long winter ahead.
So here to talk about some ways that we can all pitch in is the CEO of Feeding America, Claire Babineaux-Fontenot. Great to have you with us, Claire. Before we get to some questions from our friends, and we have so many great ones, do you have any words of encouragement? There are so many families out there that we know are struggling right now.
CLAIRE BABINEAUX-FONTENOT, CEO FEEDING AMERICA: Yes. I'm excited to share that I'm very optimistic about where we're going. I've got to tell you, I think of it in terms of almost like sunrise. I'm not the weather lady, so I don't know exactly when the sun's going to rise, but I know it's going to happen. And I think what we're dealing with now and what a lot of people have been dealing with for a long time, I think we're going to get past that, too. It might be different. And it's OK that we're going to sometimes feel scared and sometimes upset. But I think we're going to get through it together because I get to see so many people around the country and around the world who are out there trying to help their neighbors. We're going to get through this because we're going to do it together.
GUPTA: Claire, thank you very much. It's important for people to hear that. And Big Bird also has something for us. Let's see what it is.
BIG BIRD: A little birdie told me we have another question.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARGARET STRIDICK, SALISBURY, NORTH CAROLINA: How can we help children be grateful for whatever they receive or have if Christmas is very lean this year?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GUPTA: Many parents are struggling, right, Claire, with this issue. How should, do you think, parents handle this? And for many families it's not just the holidays. That struggle may continue even into the new year.
BABINEAUX-FONTENOT: Yes. One of the things that really helped me out as a kid, in fact, I discovered it around Christmastime when I was a kid. It was this song that I thought had a powerful, powerful little trick inside of it. It's called "My Favorite Things." And what it got me to do was to write a list of all of the things that I already have that I really value. It could be people. It could be like, for me it was the color purple, it could be a favorite doll at the time, Mrs. Beasley (ph). And then what we can do with that is, for instance, we could have a purple scavenger hunt right about now, and go all around wherever it is that we live. We can get our grown-ups to help, our friends to do it, too. There are lots of ways that we can stop and reflect on the things that we do have as we try to think about what's going to come next.
HILL: I love that. It's such a great idea and such a good reminder any time of the year really. We also have another great question from a mom. Here we go.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LACEY RAMSEY, STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT: Holiday celebrations at school bring joy to our children, my own kids and my students at school. What are some COVID safe ways we can celebrate and show gratitude towards each other that don't involve exchanging anything or gathering in large groups?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[10:35:09]
HILL: What are some good ideas? We've all had to find ways to become a little bit more creative, whether it's drive-by birthday celebration, now dealing with the holidays. What are some great ways that we can maybe give to others and celebrate that holiday feeling? BABINEAUX-FONTENOT: The great news is that they've already heard lots
of great ideas on this very show. Maybe I'll just add just a couple to the list that you guys have already gotten together. And I like lists. Maybe that's obvious from the earlier answer. But one of the things you can do is make a list of all of the people that you are really, really grateful for in your life. And then you can write notes to each one of them and tell them why it is that you're so grateful.
You can do things like some of what we've already heard. You can write a note to your neighbors and put it in the mailbox or their stoop and knock on the door and run away. There's great ways that we can do that. I think neighbors helping neighbors is what is going to get us through all of this, and it's what's going to make this a really, really merry Christmas, happy new year, and happy holidays for all of us.
GUPTA: I can tell you from personal experience, that really works. Practicing that sort of gratitude makes the giver feel pretty good, as well as the recipient. Claire, thank you for that, and thank you so much for joining us today, as well. Happy holidays.
BABINEAUX-FONTENOT: Thanks for having me. Happy holidays.
HILL: Happy holidays.
We want to tell you now about a very special child who is proving you are never too young to help your community. Cavanaugh Bell was just seven years old when he started a food pantry earlier this year. He used his own savings, he had about $600 saved up, to buy and deliver groceries and essential supplies for thousands of people, especially elderly people, in his community who weren't able to go out shopping because of coronavirus. And we're really excited that Cavanaugh is joining us now. He is one of CNN Heroes Young Wonders for 2020. Cavanaugh, you have done so much great, inspiring work in your community this year. Why was it so important to you to help your community?
CAVANAUGH BELL, EIGHT YEARS OLD: I know we're going through some hard times right now, and it was a point for me to do my part to help people. I know I'm just a kid. It's been so awesome seeing people smile because they know someone cares even if I don't know them.
GUPTA: I couldn't agree more, Cavanaugh. I mean, people have been really rising up to this occasion and helping neighbors out, and I find those acts of kindness to be so touching. We have an important question from another friend, Cavanaugh, that we'd like to ask you.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KATE, SIX YEARS OLD, DARIEN, CONNECTICUT: What's the best way to help kids during coronavirus?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GUPTA: So what is your advice to kids like you, Cavanaugh? BELL: I'd say go for it. You can help by doing something small, even
if it's saying hi to someone or checking in on your neighbors. I always say anyone can have an impact no matter their age. And even if you're a kid, you can do a lot to help others.
HILL: Cavanaugh, that is so great. Do you have a special holiday message, too? So many people, we talk a lot about giving, and sometimes we talk about getting. And you have done a great job of giving back, I think.
BELL: Well, I'd say stay positive, and try and find the good things that are happening right now, like being able to spend time with your family. Finding ways to help your community is also fun and can give kids a way to feel powerful and feel like they matter right now.
HILL: Cavanaugh, thank you again for being here, and you're proof that age is no reason to hold anybody back.
One way that you at home can help, if you'd like, is by donating to Sesame Workshop's Caring for Each Other Initiative. It helps children in need grow smarter, stronger, and kinder. Just visit SesameWorkshop.org/CNN for more information.
GUPTA: Coming up, we're going to talk about staying positive during this very special --
BIG BIRD: I'm calm.
(LAUGHTER)
GUPTA: Yes, and calm during this very special and unique holiday season.
BIG BIRD: Are you both staying calm?
GUPTA: I am.
BIG BIRD: Erica? Dr. Sanjay?
GUPTA: I feel good.
HILL: I think that works, Big Bird.
GUPTA: A few deep breaths really helps you stay calm.
HILL: While we all work on staying calm, here's some tips from Grover on staying healthy.
GROVER: Hello, everybody. It is your old pal Grover with some health tips. Always wash your hands before you eat, after you play, and after going to the bathroom. Wash them for 20 seconds with soap and water. Whoa, whoa, whoa! Oh, well.
[10:40:10]
Another way for everyone to stay healthy is by practicing physical distance and staying six feet away from people in public. That is right, six cute little feet like these. Whoa, whoa, whoa! Here is another tip to stay healthy -- wear a mask in public to protect yourself and others. Make sure to wear it properly like this. This is not correct. Like this? This? This. This? This. Where did everybody go? Like this. Ta-da, I did it! You should wear a mask securely on your face, covering your mouth and nose.
Everyone can do their part to stay healthy and -- whoa! So that is where the soap went.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GUPTA: Welcome back to the holiday edition of our "ABCs of COVID-19" town hall. And joining us now from "Sesame Street" is Rosita. Hey, Rosita.
HILL: Hi, Rosita.
ROSITA: Hola, Miss Erica. Hola, Dr. Sanjay.
[10:45:02]
GUPTA: Hey, Rosita. So Rosita, the holidays are almost here, and I wondered, how are you feeling?
ROSITA: Well, how am I feeling? I'm feeling a lot of feelings. I'm a little angry, a am frustrated, and I am sad, all at the same time. It's so hard. I cannot see my friends. I cannot have a big fiesta with my family, or celebrate at school, Dr. Sanjay.
HILL: Yes, I know, Rosita. It is all those things. It's frustrating and it's sad. I have a lot of those same feelings, too. There's so many things I wish I could do my friends and with my family.
GUPTA: It's a really challenging time this year, but you know it's also important to remember why we are doing this differently and why we're undertaking all these extra steps.
ROSITA: So our families and friends can all be healthy.
GUPTA: That's right. That's exactly right.
ROSITA: Yes. And I want everyone to be healthy. But if they don't make me, I'm sad.
HILL: Yes. I'm sure it does. I think we all feel that, and that's OK. There are things, though, that we can all do, all of us, kids and adults, to help us with the big feelings.
ROSITA: There are?
GUPTA: Yes, yes. You can just start by taking big belly breaths, help you calm down. You can go outside for a walk to take a break, get some fresh air. You can even see your friends, just do it from a distance.
HILL: You know what else is nice? If you have a snow globe, maybe you shake the snow globe and just watch the snowflakes fall and count them. That can really calm you down. Maybe listen to some holiday music, Rosita?
ROSITA: I love listening to holiday music. Hey, that makes me think about a new tradition, a holiday tradition.
GUPTA: Oh yes? What's that, Rosita?
ROSITA: A virtual holiday dance party! Come on, Dr. Sanjay, show me those moves.
GUPTA: People get emotional when I dance. I wouldn't want to ruin anyone's holiday with my dancing.
HILL: Come on, Sanjay!
ROSITA: Come on, Erica.
GUPTA: Come on, Erica.
The important thing to remember, though, is that it won't always be like this. We've just got to continue physical distancing, wear our masks, take the vaccine when it becomes available to us, and I hope that we're all able to celebrate next year, maybe we can be together next year in person.
ROSITA: I can't wait! And I feel so much better. Oh, thank you so much for listening, Miss Erica and Dr. Sanjay. Thank you. Now, I have to go invite my friends to the holiday virtual dancing party! Adios amigos. Papi, can you help me with this?
HILL: Thanks, Rosita. Sanjay, I can't believe you wouldn't dance.
GUPTA: Off camera maybe.
(LAUGHTER)
HILL: There you go.
We're going to bring in a couple of experts now to help us all talk about our big feelings and answer some more of the questions that you send into us. Joining us now, Dr. Rosemarie Truglio, from the Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit behind "Sesame Street," and Talia Filippelli, she's a social worker and founder of Starr Therapy. It's so good to have you both with us. There's so much for kids and parents here, so let's get straight to a question from a parent in New York City.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VANESSA BERTONE, NEW YORK: For the holidays this year we won't be able to spend time with family and friends. Are kids are five and three and have been really struggling with the changes this year. How can we keep them excited for this new way of celebrating while helping them understand the importance of social distancing, and keeping everyone safe?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HILL: Dr. Rosemarie, What do you suggest there?
ROSEMARIE TRUGLIO, PH.D., SENIOR V.P., CURRICULUM AND CONTENT AT SESAME WORKSHOP: Change is hard for all of us, and it's understandable that we're looking forward to these familiar traditional holiday activities. And my advice is to try to keep some of those as long as you could do them in a safe and healthy way. But this new for now normal is also a wonderful opportunity for us to help children learn that change can be positive. And we've been talking about how we could create new traditions or put a twist on the old traditions. What's most important is that we're spending quality time together and we're making new holiday memories, and to have fun during this time, but safely.
HILL: I think I hear some chomping. Cookie, is that you?
COOKIE MONSTER: Ho, ho, ho. Me know what Santa Cookie Monster bringing everyone this year. Another question.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OLIVIA, FOUR YEARS OLD, STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT: My grandma is sad because I can't celebrate the holidays with them. How can I help?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[10:50:03]
HILL: Oh, we've heard a lot about this, grandparents feeling sad because they can't celebrate together. And Talia, it isn't just the kids feeling sad or lonely because they're not gathering for the holidays. So what's your advice, especially for the grown-up kids?
TALIA FILIPPELLI, LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER AND FOUNDER, STARR THERAPY: Absolutely. And Olivia, you are so sweet. If there's one thing that I know about grandparents is that they are obsessed with their grandchildren. So any way that you can connect with your grandparents this season I'm sure is going to put a smile on their face.
But there are two things that can be adapted to a virtual setting fairly easily. One of them is holiday concerts, right. Lots of kids are used to participating in some kind of concert this time of year, and parents and grandparents are used to attending. So why not adapt that and record yourself singing holiday songs with your family? Send that off to grandpa and grandma. I'm sure they would love it.
The second thing is baking. So many families love to bake traditional recipes together this time of year. Why not prop grandma up on the countertop, put her on video chat, and bake together even though you're in separate kitchens?
GUPTA: I think we have another dispatch now from our friendly "Sesame Street" superhero. Take a listen.
GROVER: Let us hear from a family that has a super important question.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KELLY BERG, SAN RAFAEL, CALIFORNIA: We have been a lot more emotional lately, and our normal coping techniques don't seem to be working. What do you suggest?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GUPTA: Emotions, I will say, have been running high, I think, all year, understandably. But I'm wondering, Rosemarie, what tips do you have for that?
TRUGLIO: Well, it's important to keep in mind that children need a whole toolbox of strategies. There's no one strategy that fits all. We talked about belly breathing, and Erica brought up a snow globe. My favorite is the glitter jar. So as we are taking those deep belly breaths, we're focusing on the glitter falling down to the bottom of the jar. So it gives children something to focus on while they're breathing.
And the time to then reflect about their feelings, but more importantly, once they can see clearly through the jar, to think about what they could do differently to feel better. Other strategies is to move your body. Dance it out, and put on that holiday music and dance along. You could also draw lots of pictures. You could do some yoga moves. So we have to get children used to a range of strategies so that they know that there isn't just one that will always work.
HILL: Such great advise. We do have time for one more parent question. Let's take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JENNIFER MUNDORF, PLAIN CITY, OHIO: How can we help our kids have play dates with their friends during the colder winter months? They're missing them so much.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HILL: Talia, it's so important for kids to stay in touch with their friends. What is the best way to do that?
FILIPPELLI: So one thing that I always focus on is being grateful for what we do have. So this winter season, even though it's going to be cold, it doesn't mean that we can't go outside. So why not do a socially distanced snowball fight, build a snowman? I'm even a fan of getting out there for family walks, get bundled up, grab your favorite thermos with tea or hot chocolate and get out there and get some fresh air you're your friends and family.
Indoor activities can be movie night, even though your friend might be at his own house, you can still watch the same movie. And creative activities. Families might have some extra arts and crafts supplies laying around from earlier in the pandemic where they can make homemade gifts or homemade greeting cards as a way to stay connected to everyone that they love.
GUPTA: I have to say that we have done a few of these town halls with "Sesame Street." We've been using these tips in our own household, and they really do work. Talia Filippelli, Dr. Rosemarie Truglio, thanks so much for everything. Thanks for answering all the questions this morning. Happy holidays and hope to see you soon.
TRUGLIO: Thank you.
FILIPPELLI: Thank you. You, too.
HILL: This year has definitely had a lot challenges due to the coronavirus.
BIG BIRD: Yes, but there's still a lot to be thankful for this year.
GUPTA: Yes. Before our town hall ends, I think it's important for all of us to take a moment and reflect on what we're grateful for. I'm grateful for the frontline health care workers who have been working every single day since the pandemic began. They have been these amazing providers of health, but also providers of help during this challenging time.
HILL: They certainly have.
I'm grateful for a lot, and today I'm especially grateful for my friends on "Sesame Street" like you, Big Bird, and my dear friend, Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
GUPTA: Me, too.
BIG BIRD: Me, too, Erica. I'm thankful that we get to sing songs and laugh together.
(LAUGHTER)
ABBY CADABBY: I'm grateful to my parents who have kept my brother Rudy and I really safe, and they helped us learn from home.
COOKIE MONSTER: Me happy that me learn how to bake lots and lots of yummy treats while at home.
ZOE: I'm thankful for the doctors, nurses, teachers, store workers, and everyone helping care for others.
GROVER: I am grateful for soap operas. Oh, and that the vaccine on the way. Yes, that, too.
ROSITA: I am so thankful for video chats with my friends.
OSCAR THE GROUCH: I'm happy that this year is almost over. 2020 can scram.
(LAUGHTER)
LOUIE: I'm thankful for getting to spend more time with Elmo. ELMO: And Elmo is thankful for new traditions, like decorating our
Christmas tree outside.
(MUSIC)
ZOE: Wow. That looks so beautiful, Elmo.
BIG BIRD: Oh, wow.
HILL: that looks great. I love all the colors, Elmo.
BIG BIRD: Yes. From all of your friends on "Sesame Street" --
HILL: And at CNN.
BIG BIRD: We wish all of you a happy --
GUPTA: -- and a healthy holiday. Happy holidays!
HILL: Happy holidays!
ELMO: Happy holidays! Elmo loves you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
