Sesame Street continues to use its platform to address and provide children with education on difficult topics. This time around, the program will talk about the opioid crisis.
What We Know:
- Sesame Street, which aired on November 10, 1969, has been a source of education and entertainment for youth around the globe for years. The program has been known to address sensitive topics and has embraced diversity and inclusion by highlighting and bringing awareness to issues such as bullying, disorders like autism and down syndrome, racism, and more.
- In a new series of segments, Muppet Karli will reveal that she has been living in foster care because her mother is struggling with addiction. Karli, a six-year-old, yellow-haired Muppet introduced in May, lives with her foster parents, Dalia and Clem. She will tell her backstory in online-only segments as part of the “Sesame Street in Communities” initiative, Sesame Workshop announced.
- In the video below, Karli explains to fan favorite, Elmo that her mother has to attend meetings everyday in order to stay healthy and even she goes to meetings with other kids to share her own experience.
- Sherrie Westin, President of Social Impact and Philanthropy at Sesame Workshop says that “Sesame Street has always been a source of comfort to children during the toughest of times, and our new resources are designed to break down the stigma of parental addiction and help families build hope for the future.”
- According to The Associated Press, the upcoming bilingual segments of Sesame Street will also introduce 10-year-old Salia Woodbury, who’s parents have been in recovery for eight years. It is said that these two will also offer viewers ways to cope with their feelings by including art and breathing exercises.
When a child has a parent struggling with addiction, it is important for them to know that they are not alone & that adults can help them talk through their feelings. Learn more: https://t.co/q0Dfjd3fpa #SunnyDaysAhead pic.twitter.com/qW1j0ES8wF
— Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) October 16, 2019
Along with many other social and health issues, addiction can be very hard to discuss. BNA commends Sesame Street for acting as a resource for families who may be experiencing this issue.
