
About the Show
Ahlan Simsim follows the adventures of Basma and Jad, two best friends exploring their world. Each episode features familiar Muppet friends, animated characters, and trusted adults who help our characters learn how to identify and manage big feelings—with lots of fun, laughter, and learning along the way!

Meet the Characters
Highlighted Resources
Your care and support can make a huge difference in the life of a young child. Ahlan Simsim offers variety of materials and activity ideas for young children ages 0-8 including videos, storybooks, flashcards, worksheets, and more. To browse our full resource library, please click here. For tools and resources specifically related to Covid-19, please click here.
What's Inside the Box
What's Inside the Box
Topic: Diversity and Inclusion
Detailed Goal: Inclusion
Audience: Children 3-8
This book introduces your child to the concepts of diversity and respect for differences among human beings. It will also assist your child in discovering ways to identify objects using his senses.
• After finishing the story, ask your child: How do you think the characters felt when Ahmed figured out what was in the box? Can you name the five senses? What are the senses Ahmed used to figure out what was inside of the box?
• Ask your child to retell the story to you in his own words.
• Have a conversation with your child about the differences in human capacities and qualities and discuss how these differences make the world a more beautiful place.
• Play a game with your child similar to the one in the story. Put a group of objects in a box or under a cover and ask him to use his senses to identify each item without looking at them.
• After reading the story, ask your child to draw a scene or character from the story and allow him to hang it on the wall of his room.
Spectacular Toy
Spectacular Toy
Topic: Emotions
Detailed Goal: Determination
Audience: Children 8-12
One of Ahlan Simsim’s residents made a cool handmade wagon. When Basma and Jad see it, they feel determined to try to build their own!
Ask your child the following questions before and after viewing:
1) (Before viewing) What do you think this video will be about?
2) (After viewing) Can you tell me what happened in the video?
3) (After viewing) How did this video make you feel?
Letter Flashcards
Letter Flashcards
Topic: Literacy
Detailed Goal: Alphabetic Knowledge
Audience: Children 3-8
These large, visual cards which can be used as a resource for adults to help children learn their letters. Display the letter to teach children about its sound and shape. Then, play “Find the Hidden Letter.” First show him a letter card, then ask him to find that letter on tissue boxes, food boxes, or other items around the house.
Feelings Scale Poster
Feelings Scale Poster
Topic: Emotions
Detailed Goal: Emotion Identification
Audience: Children 3-8
This poster helps your child recognize the names of different feelings. Play with him the game of emulating feelings in front of the mirror and mix this with other fun activities, such as the following:
• Ask him to imitate the pictures one by one as he looks at himself in the mirror.
• Name each of these feelings when your child imitates them and ask them to repeat the name.
• Ask him to remember a time he felt different feelings, and why he felt that way.
• Ask your child in which part of his body he felt the feeling. What did it feel like?
• Reverse the game–imitate the pictures and ask your child to guess the name of the feeling you are imitating.
• Name a feeling and ask your child to imitate it without looking at the picture.
• Ask your child to choose how he feels now, and to what degree he is feeling it.
• If you have more than one child, ask them to play these games together.
• You can take advantage of the poster at different times, for example when your children are experiencing strong feelings and need to express them or when you experience strong feelings and want to tell your children about them.
• You can print this poster and hang it on the fridge so that children can return it whenever they need to.