Top 20 Times Sesame Street Tackled Serious Issues

#20: Women’s Rights

One of the many great things about “Sesame Street” is how this venerable children’s show has continually adapted with the times. The program, and those at the creative helm, never stop moving forward with ideas that embrace people of all cultures. Case in point? Zari, the first Afghan muppet to appear on “Sesame Street.” This character debuted on “Baghch-e Simsim,” which serves as Afghanistan's version of “Sesame Street,” with the intention being to highlight female empowerment in that region. Zari has promoted literacy and formal education alongside a wonderfully colorful design, proving that any time is a good time for learning.

#19: Obesity

The Cookie Monster was “Sesame Street’s” resident junk food fan for years, but things changed a little bit back in 2005. This was when the folks behind “Sesame Street” decided to embrace a more balanced diet for “Cookie Monster.” Sweets were now only a “sometimes food” for the voracious muppet, with Cookie now enjoying a spectrum of fruits and vegetables alongside his favorite snacks. This was done to promote positive dietary choices to kids, in the hopes of curbing youth obesity rates within both the United States as well as for fans watching around the world.

#18: The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

“Mahboub” was an Arab-Israeli puppet that was introduced back in 2006 for Israel’s version of “Sesame Street,” titled “Rechov Sumsum.” The character’s bilingual languages of Arabic and Hebrew were intentional, since Mahboub’s presence on the show was designed not only to demonstrate tolerance for other cultures, but also to reference the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. This serves as another great example of how “Sesame Street,” in all of its iterations, can always be counted on to find ways to discuss or reference even the most delicate of world topics to its audience.

#17: Physical Disabilities

Tarah Lynne Schaeffer was a child actress who spent eight seasons with the “Sesame Street” gang, and during that time she proved that everyone belongs, no matter what kind of adversities they’ve had to endure along the way. Schaeffer was the first cast member on the show with a physical disability, yet “Sesame Street” always made sure that Tarah’s wheelchair never affected how she was treated by other characters. Instead, she utilized her opportunities to teach kids about osteogenesis imperfecta, about how her wheelchair worked and about how easy it is to accept those different from you.

#16: Down Syndrome

Emily Kingsley was a writer who worked on “Sesame Street” from 1970 to 2015, and it was during this tenure on the show where her son, Jason, joined the cast. Jason was born with Down Syndrome, but he didn’t let this stop or hinder his acting career. The young man debuted on “Sesame Street” as a baby, but continued to appear on the show for 55 episodes. His presence on “Sesame Street” was similar to that of Tarah Lynne Schaeffer, in that Jason Kingsley’s story served as a great way for the cast to open up about our differences and similarities as people.

#15: 9/11

Older viewers might remember back in the ‘80s when Mr. Rogers spoke to kids frankly about nuclear war and the arms race in the aftermath of films such as the made-for-TV piece, “The Day After.” Both Fred Rogers and “Sesame Street” would continue these serious discussions with kids after 9/11. The former came out of retirement to speak with kids about the issue, while “Sesame Street” devoted an entire four episode arc to the subject. Stories about grief, loss, and acceptance were intercut with stories about everyday heroes, such as firefighters. It certainly can’t have been easy, particularly for those New York City producers who witnessed the attacks firsthand, but the episodes did a great job in the face of some real adversity.

#14: Incarcerated Parents

The telecommunications company Global Tel Link partnered with “Sesame Street” back in 2012, submitting funds for episodes that dealt with the struggles some families face when one or more members are incarcerated. These episodes featured characters like Alex, who feels alone in facing the reality of his father’s incarceration. Some frank, honest discussions with Abby and Rosita allow for Alex to open up a little bit about his situation, while also showing audiences at home that they, too, can talk about even the toughest subjects with their own peers or support groups.

#13: Military Families

Different aspects of what many military families might have to go through have been covered by “Sesame Street” over the years. These have included not only how lonely kids might feel when one or both of their parents is forced to leave on deployment, but also what happens when those same parents come back with an injury. These episodes didn’t sugarcoat what was going on, nor did it place any of the blame on the kids. Instead, genuine feelings of support, love and care went into explaining how challenging this time could be, and what kids could expect throughout the process.

#12: Having Visual Impairments

It all seems very simple, right? Be nice to others and treat them the way you’d want to be treated. That said, it was easy for the “Sesame Street” crew to accept Telly’s friend Aristotle back when he debuted on November 24th, 1981. This new character on “Sesame Street” has a visual impairment, but his laundry list of hobbies helps underline the fact that, even though Aristotle is blind, his life is anything but boring. Instead, he was simply the latest in a long line of friendly monsters to show up on “Sesame Street,” celebrating differences while retaining a personality all his own.

#11: HIV

“Takalani Sesame” is the name of South Africa’s version of “Sesame Street,” and it was also where fans of the show were first introduced to Kami back in 2002. This muppet character (who also appears on Nigeria’s “Sesame Street,” “Sesame Square”) certainly didn’t have it easy, losing her mother to AIDS, while also contracting HIV via a blood transfusion when she was just a baby. Kami’s grief and struggle felt real to both Nigerian and South African viewers, since the AIDS epidemic continues to affect the daily lives of their people to this day. Still, if the lessons taught by Kami help even one child overcome something truly difficult in their life, then wasn’t it all worth the effort?

#10: The COVID-19 Pandemic

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.

#9: Adoption

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.

#8: Foster Care

“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.

#7: Houselessness

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.

#6: Autism

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.

#5: Divorce

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.

#4: Teasing

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.

#3: Gender Roles

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.

#2: Racism & Discrimination

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.

#1: Death & Grief

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.

What lessons did you learn from “Sesame Street?” Let us know your fondest memories in the comments!