Arthur "Helping Our Children Feel Safe"

Credit: PBS, 9 Story Entertainment, and Marc Brown

In light of the tragedy in Connecticut, WXXI presents this Arthur special created to help kids deal with fear after a scary incident, in this case a fire at Lakewood Elementary School. 

April 9th begins like any normal day until a fire destroys the teacher's lounge and forces Lakewood Elementary to close. This unexpected event finds the children dealing with a wide range of emotional reactions: Sue Ellen is devastated when her diary is ruined. Binky sees the frightening flames up close but tries to act cool. Mr. Read escapes a school catering job unhurt -- but now Arthur is constantly worried about his dad's safety. And Buster feels totally left out because he overslept and completely missed the disaster!

As Arthur and his friends struggle with their feelings about the fire, they wonder if life will ever return to normal. But with the support of parents, teachers and community members, they discover that by reaching out and working together, they can help each other through the most difficult of times. This special Arthur airs Saturday, December 29, 2012 at 8 a.m. on WXXI-TV/HD (DT21.1/cable11 and 1011).

When the world seems like a frightening place, how can we help our children feel secure? In addition to this special broadcast, there is a companion guide called “Helping Our Children Feel Safe” available on the Arthur website. Click here to learn more.

Learn More: WXXI's Talking with Kids About News & Tragedy: Ages & Stages Approaches for Home & Classroom