Stressed adults can call helpline for a pep talk from schoolkids
A ‘‘kindergarten hotline’’ that began as a community project has proven a hit, with callers from around the world seeking solace from schoolchildren.
Amid the horrors of Ukraine and a pandemic still claiming thousands of lives a day, a small school in California’s wine country found a novel idea for lifting the gloom. Now its helpline, set up to give stressed-out callers calming advice, receives up to 11,000 calls an hour.
PepToc, created by pupils at West Side Elementary School in Healdsburg, was intended to be a small community project but ballooned in popularity after its launch in late February.
Those lucky enough to get through are greeted with options in English and Spanish, cheerfully read out in the soothing voice of a child. ‘‘If you’re feeling mad, frustrated, or nervous, press 1. If you need words of encouragement and life advice, press 2. If you need a pep talk from kindergartners, press 3.’’
Callers receive advice from some of the school’s 141 pupils, aged from 5 to 12, including recommendations to punch a pillow, take deep breaths, and buy shoes or ice cream.
The project is the brainchild of Jessica Martin, a teacher and artist who came up with the idea alongside fellow artist Asherah Weiss. Martin said she wanted to highlight the resilience and empathy of the children, who had endured not only the pandemic but the wildfires that had ravaged northern California in recent years.
‘‘They have experienced so much in their short time on this planet. They’ve had to evacuate every year during fires, they’ve endured the pandemic, remote learning.
‘‘They have incredible advice, astounding resiliency, and through all of that maintain this incredible, deep joy that is such an inspiration. So we wanted to highlight that through this project, through a series of pep talks for the world.’’
Martin said the response had been overwhelming, with users getting in touch from retirement homes and cancer hospitals to thank the school.
Rima Meechan, the school’s superintendent, said she had been delighted to share her pupils’ exuberance with a global audience. ‘‘I receive this joy from the children every day, and it feels good to share it with the world.’’