The Arthur Podcast

DW’s Bad Mood

15 min
Mar 30, 2023about 3 years ago
Listen to Episode
Summary

Arthur investigates why his younger sister D.W. has been in a bad mood all week, discovering she feels left out after not being invited to a classmate's birthday party. With help from his friend Francine, Arthur learns that everyone experiences disappointment and exclusion, and that understanding others' feelings is key to resolving conflicts. The episode concludes with D.W. receiving an invitation to Francine's birthday party, restoring her happiness.

Insights
  • Unaddressed emotional needs in children manifest as behavioral problems; direct communication about feelings is essential for conflict resolution
  • Exclusion and social rejection are significant sources of distress for young children and warrant empathetic responses rather than dismissal
  • Peer support and friendship can help children process disappointment and develop emotional resilience through shared experiences
  • Small gestures of inclusion and kindness have outsized positive impact on children's emotional well-being and behavior
  • Adults should validate children's feelings while helping them develop perspective about situations beyond their control
Trends
Emotional intelligence education in children's media focusing on identifying and naming feelingsPeer-to-peer support models where friends help resolve conflicts rather than adult intervention aloneNormalization of childhood disappointment and social exclusion as universal experiences requiring coping strategiesEmphasis on active listening and empathy as problem-solving tools in children's programmingInclusive social practices and awareness of how exclusion impacts child development and behavior
Topics
Childhood emotional regulationSocial exclusion and peer relationshipsSibling conflict resolutionEmpathy and perspective-takingBirthday party etiquette and inclusionBehavioral changes as emotional indicatorsFriendship and peer supportParental communication with childrenCoping with disappointmentUnderstanding others' feelings
Companies
PBS Kids
Produces and distributes the Arthur Podcast as part of its children's educational programming
GBH Kids
Production partner for the Arthur Podcast in partnership with Gen Z Media
Gen Z Media
Co-production partner for the Arthur Podcast alongside GBH Kids
PRX
Distributor of the Arthur Podcast
WGBH
Organization associated with Arthur podcast submissions and listener engagement
Ikea
Sponsor providing home safety messaging about furniture tip-over prevention for parents
People
Arthur
Main character and podcast host investigating his sister D.W.'s behavioral changes
D.W.
Arthur's younger sister whose bad mood and emotional distress drives the episode's narrative
Francine
Arthur's friend who helps investigate D.W.'s problem and ultimately invites her to her birthday party
Quotes
"Everybody gets upset sometimes. Ask your podcast friends."
FrancineMid-episode
"You never include me. You always make me stay home when there's anything fun."
D.W.Early episode
"Everybody can't go to every party. I mean, if you had a party, would you invite Lisa?"
FrancineLate episode
"There'll be lots of other parties you will be invited to. So don't worry about the ones you're not."
FrancineResolution scene
Full Transcript
From your friends at PBS Kids! Music Hey podcast people! It's me, Arthur, with the Arthur Podcast. I wanna go to sleep, but my sister D.W. is... Are these other pajamas better? Here, listen to this. I don't wanna go to bed! You're the one that looks tired! You never listen to what I want! Time for bed, D.W. Let's hope things are better in the morning. They won't be better! They won't! They won't! They won't! No slamming doors, D.W. Good night. It is not a good night! Night, Arthur. Time to turn off your podcast stuff. Okay, Dad. Night podcast people. I'll see you in the morning. And it won't be a good morning either! Not even if you give me pancakes! Which you won't! Sigh Music Oh, hey podcast friends! D.W. was still yelling at breakfast this morning. So I came out here to the playground and... Arthur! Think fast! Sorry, Arthur. I yelled so I thought you'd... I can't think fast, Francine. I didn't get any sleep last night. I was just coming over to invite you to my birthday party. I'm sorry. I can't go. I'm too tired. Arthur, the party's not for two more weeks. You'll have plenty of time to sleep. Hey, Arthur. Francine. Hey, Binky. Wanna play kickball? This ball just bounced right to me out of nowhere. Think fast, Arthur. No! Why? He's too tired to think fast. Why? It's D.W. Lately, she's been like a big, giant movie monster. All mad and yelling and stomping around. Roar! I'm D.W. She stomps in and then yells about anything. What is this chair here? Roar! Where is my dinner? How about my toys? Roar! I'm not going to preschool. And you can't make me. Roar! Whoa! Drama. Did you ask her what was wrong? No. Wait. You ask her. Okay. I will. I'll eat dinner at your house tonight. Watch out, Francine. The monster might eat you. She's not a monster, you guys. I'm not so sure. More pasta, Francine? Yes, please, Mrs. Reed. Ew, D.W. You're slurping your sauce all over. D.W., please use your fork for your spaghetti, not your hands. You're always picking on me. You never pick on anyone else. Only me, me, me. Oh, that's not true, D.W. Everybody has to eat politely, and that includes you. That does not include me. You never include me. You always make me stay home when there's anything fun. D.W., can I ask you a question? What's wrong with you? What's wrong with you? No, I just meant... You don't even live here and you're picking on me. I didn't mean for her to take it that way. It's not your fault, Francine. I'm gonna go talk to her. You should quit while you're behind. Come on, Arthur. Something's clearly bothering her. Fine. But when the monster comes out of her cave to eat you, don't say that I didn't warn you. D.W.? What? I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. Don't ask you anyway. Nobody asked me. But Arthur said you were acting strange, and I thought... Oh, so now I'm acting strange? I'm bugging Arthur? Well, he bugs me. You know what, Francine? What? You can tell me. I can't even think of anything else me to say. Just go away! Well, that went well. She's upset about something. About what? She's only four years old. Arthur, everybody gets upset sometimes. Ask your podcast friends. Okay, let's check my inbox. Podcast people, when do you get upset? I get upset about when my sister takes my toys. I get upset about when my brother doesn't really listen to me because I'm trying to make stuff really fun for him. I get upset when people don't let me play with them. I get upset when I don't get to watch TV. I get upset when people don't listen to me, and it makes me sad. Okay, you're right. We all have stuff that bugs us. And we have to figure out what's bothering DW, starting today. Aw. I'm so tired. Fine. Starting tomorrow. Well, podcast people, Francine talked me into this. We're going to help DW plan, so right now we're spying on her. It's not spying, it's surveillance. Call it what you want, but we're in the backyard bushes. I've got binoculars, and the subject is in view. What's she doing? She's at the picnic table, eating a sandwich. What's she doing now? She's taking a bite. She's chewing. She's making a face. She's spitting the bologna into her hand. She's throwing it onto the ground. Pal is now eating the bologna. Pal, put that down! Arthur, you'll give us away. Sorry, I couldn't help it. Seeing my dog eat that spit-covered bologna? Hey! Hey! Stop spying on me! DW, we're just... I'm the best spy. You should've asked me to play spy, but you never ask me. I hope your binoculars break. I told you it was spying. She won't tell us what's wrong, so how else are we going to find out? We've got to keep watching her. Podcast people, we're hiding in the bushes again. Only this time, we're outside DW's preschool. I still can't believe you talked me into this, Francine. Look, Arthur, there's DW. She's sitting on a bench, watching those other kids. The ones on tricycles? Yeah. Wait, the tricycle kids are riding over here. Duck lower! So, the merry Moog Cal movie starts at 1pm, and then after the movie, we'll go back to my house so you can give me my birthday presents. Any cake! Remember, Saturday in the movie theater at one o'clock. Oh, it's so nice. Francine, DW is looking right at us. No, not us. She's looking at them. Toys away, friends. School is over. Let's all line up. I think I know what's going on here. Hey, Arthur, when your mom comes to pick up DW, let's ride home with them. Okay. We can meet them in the front of the school. Come on. So, how is school, DW? Terrible. Aw, that's too bad. Francine, can I ask you a question? Sure. Anything. Why don't you go back to your own family and stop bothering us? DW, this being rude to everybody, has got to stop. Well, I know something that might make me feel better. I know I'd feel much better if I could see Merry Moog Cal, the movie, this Saturday at one o'clock. You've already seen that, DW. Ah! How about if we take her? Arthur and I would love to go. Arthur would not love to go. That's a baby movie. Well, that's very kind, Francine. I'll give you a ride tomorrow. Podcast people, we're here at the movie theater, waiting for the dumbest baby movie ever to start. How could you make me do this, Francine? You want to know what's wrong with DW, right? Just wait and see. Come on, everyone. Our seats are over here. There she is! Ha, ha, ha, ha! Ha, ha, ha, ha! What are you doing? Having fun! Loads of fun! Ha, ha, ha, ha! Oh! Hi, DW! Hi, Lisa! I didn't know you'd be here! I'm having lots of fun! Ha, ha, ha, ha! Oh, well, enjoy the movie! Come on, everyone! I want to get to our seats and eat my popcorn! I have popcorn too. Lots of it. Oh, previews are starting. I want to go home. DW, we just got here. Wait, wait a minute, what am I saying? Yes, let's go! Pardon me. Excuse us, pardon me. Sorry. Excuse us. Pardon me. Francine. Why are we at the ice cream shop when we just bought all that movie popcorn? Because sometimes people just need a scoop of marshmallow chocolate and a chat with a friend. Right, DW? I like strawberries. Fine. One strawberry on a cone and a hot fudge sundae. Can you get those, Arthur? But why can't you? Oh, and no nuts on my sundae. Thanks, Arthur. Oh, wait, I had to go. So, DW, you shouldn't feel bad just because you didn't get invited to that birthday party. What birthday party? Come on, DW. Those kids at the movie with Lisa? That's what's been bugging you this whole week, right? Yeah, maybe. Francine, could you help me? Of course, DW. How can I help? Here's what I want. I want to rent a balloon and sail over Lisa's birthday party. And just when they're ready to eat cake and all of her presents are around her, I'm going to rain on her parade. Water balloons! A million of them! Stop! Hit that! I'm a wet! That's so fancy now, huh? My party is ruined! Um, that seems kind of mean. She was mean first. She did invite me to her party. Look, I know you feel left out, but maybe there wasn't enough room or her mom could only buy so many tickets. Who's side are you on anyway? Is Lisa someone you play with a lot? No, but she's friends with my friend Emily. And Emily got to go to the party. Everybody can't go to every party. I mean, if you had a party, would you invite Lisa? Hmm, maybe not. Yeah, so maybe you don't need to feel left out. Yeah, maybe. There'll be lots of other parties you will be invited to. So don't worry about the ones you're not. I guess you're right. Here's your ice cream and, um, DW, they're out of strawberries. So I got you raspberry sorbet instead. Oh! That's my second favorite flavor. It's really good. Thanks, Arthur. Uh, yeah, sure. Uh, I mean, you're welcome. Yep, ice cream makes everything better. Morning, Arthur. Sleep well? Yeah, I actually did. Podcast people, there was no door slamming last night, and no screaming. Maybe the old DW is back. Oh, here she comes. Good morning, DW. Morning. Can I have pancakes? Sorry, DW. I don't have time to make those this morning. Cereal good? Yeah, okay. But can we have pancakes this weekend? Sure thing. Oh, and DW, this envelope came for you this morning. Really? It's shiny paper. And gold letters that say DW. Wow, that's fancy. Open it. I'm opening the envelope, and... it exploded! Wow, confetti! And it goes away! Read it, Arthur. Which does it say? Miss DW Read is invited... Yes! I'm invited! I'm invited! To what? To Francine Frensky's birthday party. Wait, what? Yay! I'm invited to a birthday party! What a nice friend Francine is. Is she? This is better than Lisa's party. This is a third grade party. Just wait till I tell them. Just wait! Wait, DW, you don't have to go. You don't want to be with my friends. To her birthday party. Let's go for you. Let's go! You've been listening to the Arthur podcast. Hey, parents! Do you want your kids to answer my next inbox question? First, go to the Arthur website at PBSKids.org to find out what I'll be asking. Then email me a voice recording of your child's response to Arthur at WGBH.org. Your child's answer might even be featured on a future podcast. That's the show podcast, people! If you liked it, ask or grown up to subscribe so you don't miss any new episodes. You can listen to all our podcasts, play games, and more at PBSKids.org. The Arthur podcast is produced for PBS Kids by GBH Kids in partnership with Gen Z Media and distributed by PRX. Thanks for listening and have a wonderful kind of day! And I say, hey, what a wonderful kind of day! If you could learn to work and play and get along with each other. You got to listen to your heart, listen to the beat, listen to the rhythm, rhythm on the street, open up your eyes, open up your ears, get together and listen to the beat. GBA Kids Support for this podcast and the following message for parents comes from Ikea. As a parent, you child-proof everything. Well, almost everything. You may not have thought about one thing, and that's securing your dressers and chests to the wall. It helps avoid dangerous tip-over accidents. Secure it from Ikea. Working to create safer homes together. From PRX. GBA Kids