| Category | Details |
| Title | Having a Ball |
| Season & Episode | Season 47, Episode 4705 |
| Main Muppet Characters | Elmo, Rosita, Saul the Ball, Grover, Abby Cadabby, Cookie Monster, Louie |
| Human Guest(s) | Chris |
| Letter of the Day | B (for Ball and Bouncy) |
| Number of the Day | 3 |
| Theme | Adaptation and playing safely indoors. |
| Lessons & Themes | Respecting household rules, managing disappointment, and using imagination to turn limited situations into adventures. |
| Key Segments | Super Grover 2.0 (Prickly Problem), Elmo's World: Balls, Letter of the Day Song. |
| Air Date | February 4, 2017 (HBO) / September 20, 2017 (PBS) |
Summary
Elmo and Rosita introduce Saul the Ball to Chris. A thunderstorm puts a damper on their outdoor play. The group heads inside to stay safe. Elmo's dad reminds them of a house rule. You don't play ball inside. Saul is pretty bummed out. He thinks the rule is unfair.
Elmo and Rosita use the belly breathe technique to calm Saul. They're messing with his head. The game gets too rowdy. Saul knocks over a lamp. Louie steps in again. Inside games should stay calm to avoid any damage.
The three of them use their imaginations instead of their muscles. They wear capes. They become Super Elmo, Super Rosita, and Super Saul. They soar through the sky, weaving a shared tale. They rescue a football from a basketball hoop. Saul realizes he's a hero in his mind. He doesn't need to go overboard to have fun.
The rain stops. Saul has a lot of fun pretending. He wants to stay inside to continue the story. They play follow the bouncing ball. This version of follow the leader shows that rules provide safety. Rules aren't meant to stop the fun.
Parent's Guide
Chris points out the lightning. He tells Saul and the monsters to go inside right away. Thunder and lightning are serious weather events. You've got to take quick action to stay safe. It's mature and responsible to retreat indoors. It's better to pause and enjoy the moment than to risk getting caught in a storm.
Louie reminds the group that they're not supposed to play ball inside the apartment. Rules are in place to protect people and property from damage. Playing ball inside leads to broken lamps. It's super important to follow the indoor rules when you're living with others. You show respect for others by following these boundaries. Different environments call for different behaviors. Adapting to these changes is a key part of growing up.
It's frustrating when plans change because of things you can't control. Breathing deeply helps to calm the nervous system. This helps you move from crying to problem solving. Saul starts crying because he thinks the rule is unfair. Elmo and Rosita use breathing tips to help him chill out.
The three of them wear capes and act out a superhero story. Saul makes a save in a hoop. They fly and rescue without bouncing Saul around the room. You don't need a lot of space for an adventure. All you need is your mind. Pretending makes a bedroom look like the sky. This play is a great way to get those creative juices flowing. When you're not able to move physically, your mind starts to fill that gap. Making stuff up lets us get away with doing some pretty amazing physical things. Fun is a state of mind.
Being flexible makes you stronger. If you're looking to try something new and enjoy the company of your colleagues in a different way, Hot Potato is a great alternative. Elmo and Rosita teach Saul to act like he's a hot potato. They pass him gently instead of throwing him.
The rain stops. Saul wants to stay inside because he enjoys pretending. He did well adapting to his environment. Transitions between activities are often tricky. When the weather doesn't cooperate and we have to move from rain to indoors, it takes some patience. You can develop emotional intelligence by focusing on the here and now. Life's got a lot of ups and downs. If you're positive, you'll have a better experience.
