…in 1969 the children’s show Sesame Street appeared on television for the first time.
Created by legendary puppeteer Jim Henson the goal of Sesame Street according to the official Sesame Workshop website was to help educate and prepare disadvantaged children for school, making children in the inner city a priority. (Which is the reason the show broadcasts on PBS; no subscriptions.)
Sesame Street was an instant success with both children and parents alike due to the appearances of celebrity guests, catchy songs and iconic characters that include Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, Bert, Ernie, Elmo, the Cookie Monster, and others.
Sesame Street is still being made today and is currently in its 52nd season and has over 4,300 episodes.
The impact Sesame Street has had on children has been astronomical with students between the ages of 3 and 5. According to Scientific American, children who grew up watching Sesame Street had a larger vocabulary, higher grades in science and English, and higher GPAs.
It’s safe to say that Sesame Street has left a positive and lasting effect on young children and one can hope that it continues to do so for the next generations of youth. Sesame Street can be found on PBS at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. every day and on HBO Max for streaming.
