A beloved show turns 50 this year. I know that I am not alone when I say that Sesame Street created many fond childhood memories for me. Who could forget Big Bird, Bert and Ernie, Cookie Monster, and Oscar the Grouch?
When Sesame Street started in 1969, it was the epitome of out-of-the-box thinking for television. The nonprofit educational organization behind this revolution in children’s programming, the Sesame Workshop, believed it could use television to help prepare children for school who come from less advantaged backgrounds. To achieve this, they utilized teachers, actors, researchers, and television producers to create a very forward-thinking children’s show that has outlasted any shows that have come before it and many that have come after.
Sesame Street is constantly evolving in order to stay relevant. It has broadened its scope to 150 counties and is translated into over 70 languages. The longest running children’s show has fostered a love of learning, coupled with lessons of tolerance and respect for others that hasn’t been matched with any other children’s programming.
To commemorate its golden anniversary, the Sesame Workshop has announced a yearlong worldwide celebration that includes:
- A nationwide road trip in ten cities across the country hosted by some of our beloved Sesame Street characters.
- Enlarging the Sesame Street in Communities initiative, which addresses many social issues that families face. The initiative has many learning tools and resources to help parents with young children.
- A new version of Sesame Street created for Syrian refugee families in Middle Eastern countries such as Jordan and Iraq.
- Social media campaigns by fans and celebrities alike that focus on favorite Sesame Street memories
- The celebration culminates in November with a prime-time television special guaranteed to bring on the nostalgia, especially when some of our favorite characters appear.
Other events are planned as well, and information will be released throughout the year. You can keep up with the latest news and information at sesameworkshop.org. In the meantime, why don’t we all head on down to Sesame Street and congratulate Big Bird and friends on 50 years of promoting learning and making memories for children around the world!