Henson Company to Create Slumberkins Series!

The Jim Henson Company announced that it is in the process of developing a new series featuring the Slumberkins, a Vancouver-based toy, in a new educational television series. 

Slumberkins co-founders Callie Christensen and Kelly Oriard will co-produce the show, but as of now  production has not officially begun. The Jim Henson Company is currently looking for a network/distribution outlet as well. 

“We know that parents want to help their kids be prepared for the challenges of the world,” said Halle Stanford, president of television for the company. “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 Co., through video entertainment.”

Slumberkins co-founders Callie Christensen and Kelly Oriard

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.

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 couldn’t think of a better partner,” Oriard said. “They’re so in-line with our thinking. When you have a child’s attention, it’s special and meaningful, and you should do everything you can with their attention, like help them learn.”

Slumberkins caught on quickly enough that it wound up on the prime-time business pitch show “Shark Tank” in November 2017. Christensen and Oriard’s pitch for $175,000 in investment was turned down, but they said they continue to grow. After making more than $550,000 in sales last year, they expect to grow sales “over 250 percent.”

“Our goal is to make Slumberkins a household name and we see ourselves as the modern ‘Sesame Street’ or ‘Mister Rogers’ (Neighborhood),’ and we really see ourselves in the business of education,” Oriard said.

Source: The Columbian