Contest Lets Kids Create a Special-Needs Friend for Arthur

The PBS TV show Arthur has always been a favorite in our house, one of the rare kiddie shows I can bear to watch myself. I've particularly appreciated the way the show has addressed special needs from time to time, while emphasizing the fact that a kid with a health problem or disability is still just a kid, and a friend. I think of Buster trying to persuade his buddies they can't catch asthma from him, or Marina bristling when Prunella tried to do everything for her because she's blind.

Arthur's going to be getting another friend with special abilities and challenges, and the show is teaming up with CVS Caremark All Kids Can, a program dedicated to making life easier for kids with disabilities, to invite kids ages 6-12 to create the character. The "ARTHUR/All Kids Can Character Search" doesn't officially begin until February 1, but you can get started right now thinking with your child about who should be included in Arthur's gang.

According to a press release on the contest, the character should be

"one who can show that having a unique ability, character trait, or disability might make life a little bit different, but not any less fun. Kids can mail in their entries, with a drawing of their character and a description of what makes them special, starting February 1, 2009. The child with the selected idea, along with their character, will be featured in a live-action segment on the Arthur show. In addition, he or she will receive a visit from Arthur creator and author Marc Brown at the child’s school, local library, or PBS member station. ... The character search is designed to educate children about the importance of inclusion and how children of all abilities can play together. It also encourages parents and children to think about what life is like for someone they know who has a disability."

I'm particularly excited about this contest because I get to help judge it, along with the show's producers and representatives from CVS Caremark All Kids Can, Marc Brown Studios, Boundless Playgrounds, Easter Seals, and Parenting magazine. I can't wait to see what your children come up with.

I'll have more information come February 1 on how you can send your child's suggestions in, but in the meantime, take this opportunity to talk with your child about what kind of character could best represent his experience, and what abilities and challenges that critter would have. It may provide a great opportunity for learning how life looks to your child, and what she sees as her own strengths and weaknesses. Whether or not that character will make it to TV, it can be a useful tool for keeping communication open and self-esteem up.

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