PBS KIDS and SESAME STREET Collaborate on Their First App Together: Cookie Monster’s Challenge for iPad
Now available on iPad, the new app helps kids build executive function skills, including self-control, focus, memory and more
ARLINGTON, VA, August 28, 2014 –PBS KIDS and Sesame Workshop today announced the launch of Cookie Monster’s Challenge for iPad, a new SESAME STREET app and the first app that the two children’s media organizations have created together. Designed for children ages 3-5, the app builds on SESAME STREET’s 45th anniversary season’s curricular focus: self-regulation and executive function skills that teachers identify as critical for school readiness. Cookie Monster’s Challenge offers a series of games designed to engage children and challenge them to practice self-control, focus, memory, following directions and problem-solving. The app launches just in time for the debut of SESAME STREET’s 45th season, which premieres September 15 on PBS KIDS (check local listings).
“PBS KIDS is committed to using the power of media to help children build the skills they need to succeed in school and in life,” said Sara DeWitt, Vice President, PBS KIDS Digital. “Cookie Monster’s Challenge helps children practice the self-control and problem-solving skills they learn from watching SESAME STREET, while playing and giggling with one of their favorite characters.”
Features of the Cookie Monster’s Challenge App include:
Ten Mini-games – Games present exciting challenges designed to give children the opportunity to practice self-control, focus and memory.
Nine Levels – With each level, the mini games become more challenging, keeping children engaged and motivated.
One Crazy Cookie Making Contraption – As children complete levels, they earn pieces of a giant and hilarious cookie-making machine that they can use to decorate the cookies they’ve earned and deliver them to their hungry friend, Cookie Monster.
Profiles – Children and parents can create up to three separate profiles so that everyone in the family can progress through the game at their own pace.
“With PBS KIDS, we’ve created a series of fun brain-building games designed to challenge and engage young children, and to help Cookie get what he desires the most—a cookie!” said Scott Chambers, Senior Vice President, Worldwide Media Distribution, Sesame Workshop. “As children play, they practice important skills that are essential for school readiness and that will help them grow smarter, stronger and kinder.”
Cookie Monster’s Challenge helps kids develop the school readiness skills that will be highlighted in SESAME STREET’s 45th anniversary season, which will include new installments of the wildly popular “Cookie’s Crumby Pictures,” a five-minute segment featuring Cookie Monster that helps children learn self-regulation skills and strategies. Other highlights for the new season include new letter and number of the day dance breaks; new original songs; new street stories; new “Elmo the Musical” and “Super Grover 2.0” segments; new animations; and, as always, new spoofs and celebrity appearances.
A bonus half-hour SESAME STREET program that will air on weekday afternoons and weekend mornings, complementing the regular weekday one-hour series, also debuts on PBS KIDS in September. Additionally, Abby’s Sandbox Search, a new game that focuses on letters, letter sounds and alliteration, will launch on pbskids.org/sesame this fall.
The new Cookie Monster’s Challenge App is part of PBS KIDS’ ongoing commitment to helping kids learn through educational media. The organization offers more than 30 apps to help build school readiness skills. More information on PBS KIDS apps is available at pbskids.org/apps.
Cookie Monster’s Challenge is available for $2.99 from the App Store on iPad or at www.AppStore.com/PBSKIDS.
Images of Cookie Monster’s Challenge can be found on PBS PressRoom.
About PBS KIDS
PBS KIDS, the number one educational media brand for kids, offers all children the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television, online, mobile and community-based programs. Kidscreen- and Webby-award winning pbskids.org provides engaging interactive content, including the PBS KIDS video player, now offering free streaming video accessible on computer- and mobile-device-based browsers. For more information on specific PBS KIDS content supporting literacy, science, math and more, visit pbs.org/pressroom or follow PBS KIDS on Twitter and Facebook.
About Sesame Workshop
Sesame Workshop is the nonprofit educational organization behind SESAME STREET, which reaches 156 million children across more than 150 countries. The Workshop’s mission is to use the educational power of media to help children everywhere grow smarter, stronger and kinder. Delivered through a variety of platforms, including television programs, digital experiences, books and community engagement, its research-based programs are tailored to the needs of the communities and countries they serve. For more information, visit us at www.sesameworkshop.org.
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