Not just another cute red head...

Or: Everything I ever needed to know, I learned from Sesame Street.

The idea for this blog started off from reading a clip in Newsweek -- May 12, 2008 issue -- about a newer series and free set of videos via Sesame Street's Elmo (hence the red head comment above). "Talk, Listen, Connect: Deployments, Homecoming, Changes" has Elmo, along with his Hispanic friend Rosita, discussing the unfortunate issues facing the modern military family. Cool, huh? Way to go SS!

After I read this, I started thinking about what I had learned from watching Sesame Street and how this non-profit has aided in child education over the 39 years it has been on the air. In other words, how it has evolved.

Here are just some of the things I learned when I was a kid (back in the day). I'm sure some of you will remember these...

*The ABC's from Big Bird - (truth be told I still sing that song in the back of my head when I'm filing).
*Counting from Count von Count (or "The Count") - and how to do a fake scary laugh - ah, ah, aaahhhh.
*Depth Perception from Grover - "near...far...", and slapstick which still comes in handy at times.
*How to effectively sneak cookies and reluctantly share from Cookie Monster - and love for the perfect chocolate chip cookie.
*How to get along with an anal-retentive roommate from Ernie - really, I would have smothered Bert in his sleep :)
*Unwavering friendship and true belief in the make believe from Aloysius Snuffleupagus (yes, that is his first name)
*And, the ultimate anticipation of not being able to wait to know how the story ends, again from Grover - "The Monster at the End of This Book" is brilliant.

Now let's take a look at the new world of Sesame Street. First of all, they have an interactive website (http://www.sesameworkshop.org) that incorporates character-driven activities and highlights issues of our time. Many new characters have been introduced including the afore-mentioned Rosita who teaches Spanish words; Zoe, a 3-year-old orange monster that always wears a tutu and is obsessed with ballet; Kami, a 5-year-old South African yellow monster that is HIV-positive and has been orphaned by AIDS; and the newest (I think) Abby Cadabby, a 3-year-old muppet fairy with pink and purple pigtails and a wand. Yes, Sesame Steet has gone global.

The characters have interactive web pages that teach new things: Letter of the Day, Word of the Day, Spanish word of the Day, Number of the Day, Dance Moves, and one even features a dancing, globe-trotting Grover wearing authentic cultural garb. Adding to the collection of classic songs like "C is for Cookie" are the new conscious tunes "A Cookie is a Sometime Food", "I Eat the Colors of the Rainbow" and "Mango Tango".

Seriously, if you're just a big kid like me or have kids of your own, check out the new and evolved Sesame Street website. Better yet, watch it on tv (old school) and never forget that "the most potent muse of all is our own inner child"**.


**quote by Stephen Nachmanovitch