About Helpers of the Day

Where Stories Meet Life Skills

Young children learn through stories, characters, repetition, conversation, and experience.

Helpers of the Day brings those elements together.

Instead of simply telling children to “be kind,” “be patient,” or “make good choices,” the stories allow students to see characters experience the same kinds of feelings, challenges, mistakes, and decisions that children may encounter in their own lives.

Then the learning continues.

Students talk about what happened, participate in interactive Story Actions, reflect on the lesson, practice the skill, complete Helper Missions, and look for opportunities to apply what they have learned.

The result is an experience designed to move children from:

WATCHING → UNDERSTANDING → PRACTICING → APPLYING

Meet Savannah, Jonah & Mac

Savannah

Thoughtful, curious, and caring, Savannah experiences situations that encourage students to think about their feelings, relationships, responsibilities, and choices.

Jonah

Energetic, expressive, and still learning, Jonah sometimes experiences big emotions and difficult moments that give students opportunities to see that making a mistake—or having a difficult feeling—can become an opportunity to grow.

Mac the Toy Soldier

Mac is the magical guide at the heart of Helpers of the Day.

When Savannah and Jonah encounter a challenge, Mac helps them slow down, think about what is happening, and discover the lesson hidden inside the experience.

He doesn't simply give them the answer.

He helps them learn how a Helper thinks.

Together, Savannah, Jonah, and Mac create a world where important life lessons become memorable adventures.

The Story Behind the Characters

Frances McDonald · Founder & Curriculum Developer

Helpers of the Day has a special connection to my own family. Savannah and Jonah are inspired by my grandchildren, whose personalities, experiences, and everyday moments helped bring the heart of these stories to life.

Mac the Toy Soldier was inspired by my husband, a retired member of the U.S. military. His character reflects qualities such as responsibility, service, leadership, courage, and helping others—values that became a natural part of Mac's role as Savannah and Jonah's trusted guide.

Together, these family inspirations helped shape Helpers of the Day into something deeply meaningful to me: a program built around helping children understand that character is developed through the choices we make and the ways we treat others every day.

The Helpers of the Day Approach

Helpers of the Day was created around a simple idea:

Don't just tell children the lesson. Let them experience it.

Each story begins with a situation children can understand.

• A friend succeeds and jealousy appears.
• Something doesn't happen quickly enough and patience is tested.
• Someone isn't listening.
• A disappointment feels unfair.
• A classroom needs everyone to take responsibility.
• A problem requires teamwork.

These moments become opportunities for students to recognize emotions, consider different perspectives, think about their choices, and practice positive responses.

More Than Entertainment

The characters and stories capture students' attention, but the educational experience extends beyond the screen.

Each mission is supported by classroom-ready resources such as:

• Interactive Story Actions
• SEL Wrap-Ups
• Helper's Promises
• Grade-specific Lesson Plans
• Mission Cards
• Student Worksheets
• Vocabulary Cards
• Roleplay Cards
• Anchor Charts
• Teacher Companion resources
• Reinforcement activities
• Assessment and observation tools
• Family Connection Resources

This structure helps build stronger connections both at school and at home.

Created With Teachers in Mind

Teachers already have demanding schedules.

Helpers of the Day is designed so educators don't have to create an entire lesson around each story themselves.

The program provides a structured instructional pathway, ready-to-use resources, and on-demand implementation guidance while still giving teachers flexibility to respond to the needs of their individual classrooms.

The goal is to make meaningful instruction engaging for students, practical for teachers, and consistent for schools.

Extending Learning to Families

Children have opportunities to practice important skills everywhere—not only at school.

Helpers of the Day includes Family Connection resources that help families continue simple conversations and activities at home.

The Season 2 licensed program also includes the Helpers of the Day Family Night experience, designed to bring students, educators, parents, and caregivers together around the idea of helping one another at school, at home, and throughout the community.

Our Mission

The mission of Helpers of the Day is to help young children develop the social-emotional skills they need to understand their feelings, make thoughtful choices, build positive relationships, take responsibility, and become caring contributors to their classrooms, families, and communities.

We believe some of life's most important lessons begin with small moments:

• Listening when someone is speaking.
• Waiting patiently.
• Helping clean up.
• Encouraging a friend.
• Accepting disappointment.
• Choosing kindness even when emotions are difficult.

Those small choices can become lifelong habits.

Every Child Can Be a Helper

Being a Helper doesn't mean always getting everything right.

• It means learning.
• Trying again.
• Thinking about others.
• Taking responsibility.
• Making thoughtful choices.
• And recognizing that even a small act of kindness can make someone's day better.

That's what it means to be a Helper of the Day.