How The Wiggles are responding to coronavirus: Emma Watkins says the band is writing educational songs about hand washing and social distancing during the pandemic
Emma Watkins has explained how the popular children’s group decided to create timely songs during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Wiggles recently released a single about hand washing in collaboration with UNICEF, as well as a song about social distancing.
The 30-year-old Yellow Wiggle revealed that many young children weren’t able to understand the ‘abstract concept’ of social distancing.
Educational fun! The Wiggles’ Emma Watkins (pictured) has explained how the popular children’s group decided to create timely songs during the coronavirus pandemic
‘As adults, we know we need to stand a certain distance away from each other,’ Emma told ET Canada on Thursday.
‘But generally if the children are being kept in isolation with their own family. They’re already at home so that idea doesn’t really apply to their own parents, for example, or their siblings. But social distancing for them really means not being able to see grandmother on the weekend.’
Simply titled Social Distancing, the song and accompanying clip featuring all four members of The Wiggles was released on YouTube in March.
‘I’m so glad we ended up doing it’: The Yellow Wiggle, 30, explained on ET Canada that many young children weren’t able to understand the ‘abstract concept’ of social distancing
In the music video, Emma dressed up as a grandmother while the lyrics explained why children could not visit their grandparents.
The Wiggles demonstrated the distance people should stand away from each other, as well as other ways to communicate with loved ones, such as video chat.
Their hand washing song wasn’t actually created with COVID-19 in mind, but became a timely and important number for them by chance, after UNICEF approached them about revisiting the song earlier this year.
Timely: Their hand washing song wasn’t actually created with COVID-19 in mind, but became a hugely important number for them by chance, after UNICEF approached the group about it earlier this year
Child friendly: In the clip, Yellow Wiggle Emma Watkins (pictured) dressed up as a grandmother while the lyrics explained why children could not visit their grandparents
‘I’m so glad we ended up doing it. And obviously the hand washing song is really important for now, but it’s so important in general for children across the world in so many different countries,’ Emma said.
The Wiggles were forced to cancel their Fun and Games Australian tour due to the pandemic, but the album has recently hit shelves.
The new album has a mix of Wiggles’ classics, as well as nursery rhymes and ‘game’ songs, perfect for bringing the family together.
Pictured: Purple Wiggle Lachlan Gillespie, Blue Wiggle Anthony Field, Yellow Wiggle Emma Watkins and Red Wiggle Simon Pryce