Top 10 Times Sesame Street Tackled Serious Issues

The COVID-19 pandemic presented numerous challenges for not just parents, but children too. In three different specials, the residents of Sesame Street teamed up with medical experts and CNN to help children understand what exactly was going on around them. They included information such as why everyone was wearing masks, how to celebrate the holidays safely, and how to cope with your feelings. These were lessons that many adults benefitted from too, and when presented with colorful muppets and music, they were a whole lot easier to digest. Social distancing isn’t that fun, but with Elmo on your side, it’s definitely more bearable.

Gordon and Susan Robinson decided to start a family, and the show took the opportunity to show viewers that there’s more than one way to have a baby. We see them explain the concept of adoption to Big Bird in a thoughtful manner. They’re clear about how he’ll be a permanent addition to their family. And when their new bundle of joy, Miles, joins the family, we see just how much they love him. They even sing about what a happy family they are! The storyline has since been praised for the way the idea of adoption was broken down for preschool kids.

“Sesame Street” has always emphasized the importance of family. In 2019, as part of Sesame Street in Communities, Karli was introduced. She stays with Dalia and Clem, her “for now” parents until she can safely live with her mom again. In one instance, Karli panics when she can’t find her placemat, believing that she doesn’t belong. Her foster parents touchingly reassure her that she’s more than welcome. In later episodes, it’s revealed that her mom has been struggling with substance use disorder. Karli understands that she’s not to blame for the situation, emphasizing that it’s okay to express your emotions, thus helping kids in similar situations.

Childhood houselessness is a far more prevalent issue than many people realize. But “Sesame Street” is working to address this through the character of Lily. While she first appeared in 2011 as being “food insecure”, she went on to become the first houseless muppet in the show’s history. Sesame Street in Communities videos show how Lily’s family had to leave their home and find shelter in various other places. They later found a place to live. She was created for two reasons: to allow children like her to see their experience on TV and to destigmatize houselessness. That’s a valuable lesson for both children and adults alike.

Since its inception, “Sesame Street” has always strived to be inclusive. They continued this mission by introducing Julia, a muppet with autism. In order to explain her behavior, the characters tell Big Bird that she “does things in a Julia kind of way” and that’s totally a-okay. We’re all different and unique, but that’s what makes us special. Of course, not everyone with autism will be exactly like her, as it exists on a spectrum. But her characterization is handled with nuance and without judgment. There’s no doubt that Julia’s arc has sparked numerous important conversations, and she’s since been widely embraced.

The folks at Sesame Street decided that divorce was a topic their audience should see addressed on the show, after divorce rates had been steadily rising. In 1992, an attempt was made to cover the topic on the show, by showing Mr. Snuffleupagus’ parents going through a divorce. However, despite the show’s best efforts and collaborations with developmental psychologists, children in test viewings were left confused about the concept, and ultimately the episode was never aired. It wasn’t until 2012 that the topic was broached again, when Abby Cadabby revealed how she came to accept her parents’ divorce. Ultimately, this storyline not only showed children that it was okay to be sad and that their parents still love them; it also allowed Sesame Street to introduce the idea of the blended family.

Teaching kids that sharing is caring, there have been a few episodes spotlighting why we should be kind to one another. For instance, the muppets teach their friend Pino how taking their ball is not okay by singing him a memorable yet educational tune. In a more serious episode, Big Bird tries to become a part of the "Good Birds Club." But no matter what he does, another member makes fun of him. His friends report the taunting to an adult, and reassure Big Bird that he shouldn’t be afraid to be himself. These are just some examples of how the show has taken a stand against belittling others.

The show’s writers have been breaking boundaries since the early years. In one 1974 episode, Maria lets Luis know that she’s hoping to get a part-time job. He’s stunned when he receives a call from a construction company asking for her, because he didn’t imagine that was somewhere she, as a woman, would work. This leads to Maria telling him that a woman can do anything a man can before heading off to her new job. Naturally, she proves just how capable she is during her first day, emphasizing that women can work in any field they want.

Since day one, Sesame Street has been a multicultural neighborhood, and the show has used this diversity to address racism throughout its history. In 1993, two of the adults, Gina and Savion, faced hate surrounding their interracial friendship when they received a horrifying phone call. Whatever was said to them is never directly stated. Savion is able to summarize the situation succinctly though. (“there are just some really stupid people in the world”). In 2020, “Sesame Street” teamed up with CNN for a special town hall to break down the Black Lives Matter protests. Discrimination was touched on again in 2021, when Rosita and her mother stand up for their fellow Spanish speakers. Needless to say, it’s a crucial topic the show has tackled with great care.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

HIV
Kami Helped Destigmatize the Condition for Both South African & International Audiences

Being Visually Impaired
Audiences Learned About Blindness Through Aristotle

Military Families
Elmo & Rosita Taught Us That Being a Part of a Military Family Can Be Tough

Parents in Prison
Alex Helped Children with Incarcerated Parents Process Their Emotions

When the actor who portrayed Mr. Hooper, Will Lee, passed away, the writers decided to address the concept of death. Rather than make an excuse for his departure, the adults explain to Big Bird that Mr. Hooper has died and will not be coming back. Big Bird demands to know why, to which Gordon says: (“Big Bird, it has to be this way…just because.”) In order to explain death to their young audience, the writers reportedly met with various professionals, including child psychologists. The result was a heart-wrenching but realistic and thoughtful episode that left its mark on an entire generation of Sesame Street watchers.