Small Talks, No. 105

Friday November 8, 2024

Nov 08, 2024

Welcome to the 105th edition of Small Talks. Every Friday, I highlight 6 areas of weekly joys and reflections in early childhood and the whole family. Small Talks leverages my experience at the intersection of education, philanthropy, and impact investing. Enjoy!

Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary - Sesame Workshop

What I’m celebrating -

I had the pleasure of speaking on a panel on refugee early education and visiting with the Sesame Street team a few days ago in New York City, so the theme and inspiration of this week is Sesame Street.

Did you know?
- Originally aimed at low-income, inner-city children who lacked access to early learning resources. This focus on equity and access has remained a core mission since the show’s debut in 1969.
- Sesame Street was initially funded by the U.S. government (as well as Carnegie and Ford Foundation) and became one of the greatest education innovations of our modern times! (note: The show still receives some government funding, but it is now a small portion of their resources- less than 5%).
- Big Bird has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Sesame Street itself has a star as well, added in 1995!
- Oscar the Grouch was originally orange. He later “turned green” to reflect how he had "been to the swamp."
- Count von Count’s love of counting has historical roots, based on old vampire folklore, which claims that vampires have a compulsive need to count objects.
- The show was originally considered experimental. The show’s rapid cuts, animations, and playful style were considered a bold move in children’s programming and ultimately became its signature style.
- The First Show to Address Real-World Issues. Sesame Street has addressed social issues like race, poverty, and disability in a sensitive, age-appropriate way. For example, after 9/11, the show aired a storyline about fire safety and loss, and in 2020, Sesame Street addressed racism and Black Lives Matter to help children process these complex topics.
- Sesame Street is shown in over 150 countries.
- Sesame Street was the first show to use a scientific research model. The show consults experts for every script.
- Bert and Ernie aren’t named after movie characters—It was just a coincidence.
- The show has won more Emmys than any other television program
- Millions of kids have learned English on Sesame Street. This includes my husband when he immigrated to the US as a child.
The research on Sesame Street is simply impressive.
- Improved academic performance. A study by Kearney and Levine (2019) found that children who had access to Sesame Street in its early years were more likely to perform better in school, particularly in literacy and math. They estimated that the show increased school readiness, especially among disadvantaged children, by up to 14%.
- Long-term educational benefits. Research published by the National Bureau of Economic Research indicated that Sesame Street viewers showed improved educational outcomes into adulthood.
- Social and emotional development. Sesame Street has also proven effective in teaching children social and emotional skills. Studies have shown that the program helps children understand and manage their emotions, develop empathy, and engage in cooperative play. Characters like Big Bird and Elmo model behaviors that promote kindness, sharing, and self-regulation, which positively affect children’s social skills.
- Reduced achievement gap. Sesame Street’s educational impact is particularly strong for children from low-income families. Research found that disadvantaged children who watched the show improved their literacy and numeracy skills, helping to narrow the achievement gap before formal schooling.
- Promoting diversity and inclusivity. Studies on the show's inclusivity efforts demonstrate that children who watch are more likely to develop positive attitudes toward people from different cultures, abilities, and family types, fostering tolerance and inclusivity from a young age.
- Global language learning and cultural adaptation. In countries like Afghanistan, South Africa, and India, Sesame Street’s localized versions have shown positive effects on language acquisition and cultural awareness. In particular, the program has helped teach children foundational English in non-English-speaking countries and promoted cultural understanding in diverse settings.
- Support for trauma recovery and emotional resilience. Research from the workshop’s initiatives, including its collaboration with the International Rescue Committee, has shown that stories help children understand and process challenging experiences, promoting emotional resilience.
- Impact of early STEM learning. Research shows that Sesame Street’s focus on math and science in recent years has effectively increased children’s interest and basic understanding of STEM topics. A study by Fisch et al. (2008) highlighted how Sesame Street's STEM content improved young viewers’ attitudes toward science and math, encouraging curiosity and problem-solving.
- [MY FAVORITE] Parental engagement and co-viewing benefits. Studies have shown that the mere fact of when parents watch Sesame Street with their children, the learning impact is significantly enhanced. The co-viewing experience essentially allows for discussion, question-asking, and reinforcement of lessons, leading to better retention and understanding of educational concepts.
- Bilingual education benefits. Sesame Street's bilingual programming has helped support language acquisition for bilingual children, especially those in Spanish-speaking households.
- Proven impact on global health education. Sesame Workshop has developed health-focused content for children in different regions, addressing issues like HIV/AIDS, hygiene, and nutrition. Research indicates that these targeted episodes, especially those in countries with specific health challenges, have successfully increased children’s awareness of health issues and improved health practices.

What I’m listening to -

Goodnight, World! – by Sesame Workshop and Headspace. While technically a sleepcast, this collaboration between Sesame Workshop and Headspace introduces mindfulness and relaxation techniques with favorite Sesame Street characters.

What I’m reading -

The Wisdom of Big Bird. Written by the original puppeteer behind Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch, this memoir gives a personal look into the world of Sesame Street. Caroll Spinney’s reflections on life, creativity, and his time on the show provide touching and humorous insights.

The Wisdom of Big Bird (and the Dark Genius of Oscar the Grouch): Lessons from a Life in Feathers

What I’m watching -

This 50th anniversary highlight reel…

and this great documentary on the history of Sesame Street “Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street.”

What I’m learning more deeply -

This New Yorker piece provides an in-depth look at the origins of Sesame Street, examining the innovative ideas and societal needs that led to its creation in the late 1960s.
This important recent research on the impact of Sesame Street with displaced families.

Two quotes I’m pondering -

And Cookie Monster, of course, has the last word…

“It’s good to be alive.” — Cookie Monster

Feedback is a gift. Which part above is your favorite? What did I miss? What do you want more or less of? Other recommendations? Please kindly let me know. Thank to all of you who are sending me amazing suggestions.

Small Talks