Happy 40th Birthday Sesame Street! : Hot Topics

Fri Nov 06, 2009 9:36 am

I can't think of a better show for our toddlers to watch! I've seen so many programs come and go over the years and not many can compare...

A close friend of mine has a 2 year old who watches everything BUT Sesame Street and she has no inteest in even giving it a try!

The other morning shows all just look like a colorful mess to me. They seem more focused on making kids laugh instead of making them learn!

For example, Yo Gabba Gabba... Teletubbies... The Backyardigans..etc...

They don't teach letters, numbers... just a bunch of singing and dancing for no reason IMO.

anyone else as big a fan of Sesame Street as I am?? (For those of you who let your kids watch TV.)

Fri Nov 06, 2009 9:51 am

I LOVE Sesame Street! (But then again, I love Yo Gabba Gabba as well. I can honestly say, my 4 year old eats healthier than he did before, and he credits Gabba for that!)

Fri Nov 06, 2009 10:11 am

Alicia adored Sesame Street. I was super strict with the tv with her and that was the only tv she would be able to watch in a day.

The boys never really took to it the way Alicia did.

I have seen so many of the kids shows at this point.

Honestly, Sesame Street is so noisey and flashy. The muppet parts rock but the filler stuff just annoys me to no end. I am glad the boys never cared for it because I can't imagine having to spend the past 5 years with it beeming in everyday.

I do not put any stock into "learning" from tv. If the kids catch a laugh and I can catch a pee-in-peace or a pop-a-load-of-laundry-in-without-someone-following-me-dowstairs, or an actually-get-the-mail-out-of-the-mailbox-before-it-explodes-from-being-overfilled, well, it has served its purpose. I think tv is about entertainment and learning is from parents and from teachers.

Yay for Sesame Street going strong for 40 years! That is such an amazing accomplishment! Good for them for providing a good show for that long for so many families.

Mary

Fri Nov 06, 2009 10:11 am

Sesame Street is awesome and very educational. I loved when I was teaching my son sign language, there was an episode that taught him signs for all the letters.

That said, we don't watch it anymore. Not for any reason other than my kids don't have set programs. They watch whatever is on at whatever time I'm going to let them watch something (if that made any sense.) I don't know what time Sesame Street is on, but I never see it in the guide when I'm looking for a show for them to watch. They only watch kid shows a couple times a week, anyway.

Fri Nov 06, 2009 10:16 am

buddy-love wrote:I think tv is about entertainment and learning is from parents and from teachers.

I agree with this, but I do think it's nice when kids learn something while being entertained. My ds seemed to pick up sign language so much easier from shows (like Sesame Street & a Baby Einstein DVD) than he ever did from me.

ETA: Oh, and he truly had a BLAST while learning. Just like he begs me to put his Letter Factory and Talking Words Factory DVD's in and loves watching Word World and playing on StarFall because he loves learning his letters. (To get on StarFall on the computer, he actually asks "Can I learn my letters?")

Fri Nov 06, 2009 10:21 am

My daughter never got into Seasame Street and I always hoped that she would. You really just can't force it though! The shows she really liked when she was little were Dora, Little Einsteins and Blues Clues. Now that she is 6 she watches Cyber Chase (a fantastic PBS show), Pinky Dinky Doo, Nai Hao Kai Lan, and still the occasional Dora. She also likes Sponge Bob here and there, which she thinks is very funny.

Fri Nov 06, 2009 10:30 am

I loved Sesame Street as a kid, although Mr. Dressup (he was Canadian although I don't know if any Canadians here are old enough to remember him..lol) was my favorite.

I disagree that kids shows don't teach kids anything. Logan would not know one word of Spanish if it werent' for Dora and Diego. Now he can count to around 13, knows his colors and knows a handful of other words that I couldnt' have taught him. He's learned songs I don't know or didnt' remember. He can say a few words and phrases in Chinese from Ni Hao Kai-Lan. He's learned teamwork from The Wonder Pets. Sure, I teach him too and reinforce what's he's learned off the tv, but I'm not nearly as fun and exciting as little cartoon characters who can sing and dance..lol

Fri Nov 06, 2009 10:37 am

DanaNJ wrote:I loved Sesame Street as a kid, although Mr. Dressup (he was Canadian although I don't know if any Canadians here are old enough to remember him..lol) was my favorite.

I disagree that kids shows don't teach kids anything. Logan would not know one word of Spanish if it werent' for Dora and Diego. Now he can count to around 13, knows his colors and knows a handful of other words that I couldnt' have taught him. He's learned songs I don't know or didnt' remember. He can say a few words and phrases in Chinese from Ni Hao Kai-Lan. He's learned teamwork from The Wonder Pets. Sure, I teach him too and reinforce what's he's learned off the tv, but I'm not nearly as fun and exciting as little cartoon characters who can sing and dance..lol

Lady, when Mr. Dressup died, my friends both male and female, cried. I think we were 20 at the time. He came to talk at our high school after the show went off the air and the place was PACKED. He's a secular saint in these parts.

And, when I wanted to name Ben 'Finn' or 'Finnegan', no one would let me because that was the name of the dog on Mr. Dressup. So, don't worry, he's well loved and remembered.

Fri Nov 06, 2009 10:48 am

me&zooey wrote:
I loved Sesame Street as a kid, although Mr. Dressup (he was Canadian although I don't know if any Canadians here are old enough to remember him..lol) was my favorite.

I disagree that kids shows don't teach kids anything. Logan would not know one word of Spanish if it werent' for Dora and Diego. Now he can count to around 13, knows his colors and knows a handful of other words that I couldnt' have taught him. He's learned songs I don't know or didnt' remember. He can say a few words and phrases in Chinese from Ni Hao Kai-Lan. He's learned teamwork from The Wonder Pets. Sure, I teach him too and reinforce what's he's learned off the tv, but I'm not nearly as fun and exciting as little cartoon characters who can sing and dance..lol

Lady, when Mr. Dressup died, my friends both male and female, cried. I think we were 20 at the time. He came to talk at our high school after the show went off the air and the place was PACKED. He's a secular saint in these parts.
And, when I wanted to name Ben 'Finn' or 'Finnegan', no one would let me because that was the name of the dog on Mr. Dressup. So, don't worry, he's well loved and remembered. :-)

LOL I didn't realize he was on for so long (I've been reading up on him since I posted). I remember when he died too and I cried. My parents still have the "tickle truck" the teenage kids who lived across the street from us when I was little, made for me one year for Christmas

Fri Nov 06, 2009 11:04 am

I love Sesame Street but not today's Elmo-centric Sesame Street... I think it's crap. IMHO, ever since the introduction of Elmo the educational content of Sesame Street has gone down the tubes. I prefer old school Sesame Street and have bought DS a DVD set from 1974- 1979 which contains much more educational content. It's how I learned my ABC's, all my numbers, how to count to 10 in both Spanish and French, and various other things while having fun. As far as today's educational programming, I think the new Electric Company show is pretty good, though I still prefer the old school version (my sister bought the DVD set & is burning a copy for me).

And as for Mr. Dress Up, he's gone but not forgotten. This WA State viewer (we lived so close to the border that a good amount of our TV viewing was Canadian channels; Beachcombers, anyone? lol) is still flying the ol' Dress Up flag with her very own tickle trunks and a link to his FB page. However, you can't talk quality Canadian children's programming without a shout-out to The Friendly Giant (loved him!).

HEIDI

Fri Nov 06, 2009 11:08 am

Clue-by-Four wrote:I love Sesame Street but not today's Elmo-centric Sesame Street... I think it's crap. IMHO, ever since the introduction of Elmo the educational content of Sesame Street has gone down the tubes. I prefer old school Sesame Street and have bought DS a DVD set from 1974- 1979 which contains much more educational content. It's how I learned my ABC's, all my numbers, how to count to 10 in both Spanish and French, and various other things while having fun. As far as today's educational programming, I think the new Electric Company show is pretty good, though I still prefer the old school version (my sister bought the DVD set & is burning a copy for me).

And as for Mr. Dress Up, he's gone but not forgotten. This WA State viewer (we lived so close to the border that a good amount of our TV viewing was Canadian channels; Beachcombers, anyone? lol) is still flying the ol' Dress Up flag with her very own tickle trunks and a link to his FB page. However, you can't talk quality Canadian children's programming without a shout-out to The Friendly Giant (loved him!).

HEIDI

OMG Heidi, thank you! The Friendly Giant! I was sitting here thinking, racking my brain about a show about a man, a giraffe and a rooster. I was beginning to think I had dreamt it because no name would come to mind! LOL

And yes, I loved The Beachcombers too!

Fri Nov 06, 2009 11:39 am

My kids aren't interested in Sesame Street, sigh. I've been trying at least to get the interested in Muppet Show DVDs. So far, lukewarm. Why must I sit through Mickey Mouse Clubhouse? Why?

Anyhow, my mother credits Sesame Street with teaching me to read, at two. Certainly she wasn't teaching me, so I credit her.

Fri Nov 06, 2009 11:47 am

My kids ignore Sesame Street. I loved it as a kid.

One thing I miss is the way they used to teach kids to read. With the two faces looking at each other an pronouncing the syllables, then putting them together to make a word. Sigh. Why don't they have that anymore?

Jenny

Fri Nov 06, 2009 11:54 am

I agree, this new Sesame Street just doesn't appeal to me. Give me old-school Sesame Street any day of the week (except for the episode when the Grocer died. Mr. Cooper, was it? and the Christmas episode when Big Bird was alone and shivering on the rooftop. I get teary-eyed just thinking about it.)
I learned how to count to ten in both french and spanish from that show. I love Sesame Street, but back when it wasn't owned by Disney (sorry, mickey, it's too slick now, it doesn't have that indie drive behind it anymore, I think that made it feel more authentic. When I was a kid I sincerely thought Sesame Street was a real street I could visit in NYC.)

Deborah, have you tried Fraggle Rock?

Fri Nov 06, 2009 11:58 am

Dorydorito wrote:My kids ignore Sesame Street. I loved it as a kid.
One thing I miss is the way they used to teach kids to read. With the two faces looking at each other an pronouncing the syllables, then putting them together to make a word. Sigh. Why don't they have that anymore?
Jenny

You're thinking of old school Electric Company (awesome! Morgan Freeman!). The new Electric Company show does the two face thing also. It's on around 5 p.m. in this area... either channel 9 or channel 12.

HEIDI

Fri Nov 06, 2009 12:00 pm

Seasame Street is the only show we watch at our house. I pre-screen shows and so far haven't seen another one that I think is appropriate. DD is allowed to watch it on Saturday and Sunday morning for the one hour it's on.

Fri Nov 06, 2009 12:09 pm

I LOVE Sesame Street! Watched it till I was 10. DH and I tried, but couldn't get DS#1 to watch it. He was anti anything human or human looking (ie cartoon characters of humans) on tv. DS#2 loves The Upsidedown Show, so I guess we need to see if he's interested!

I own the set of 3 dvd's from the 70's. Love it! Snuff is still 'imaginary' as I wish he still was.

Fri Nov 06, 2009 12:26 pm

Oh I definitely have to disagree that tv shows geared towards education can't/don't teach children anything.

Yes, we as parents are responsible for what our children know... but I'm positive without the visual aid of shows like Sesame Street and Dora the Explorer, my children would not be saying, "Hola, habre la puerta por favor..." or whatever... LOL

And I know for sure I learned how to count watching Sesame Street and although I'm the one who taught Eli his letters, any show (like Word World -- forgot about that) which shows letters on the screen and presents them in a fun and repetitive way has got to be a positive tool for learning.

PBS pretty much just rocks! (and I agree that old school Sesame is much better than post-Elmo Sesame Street...)

Fri Nov 06, 2009 1:39 pm

i LOOOOVE Sesame Street!!! My DD loves it too- and now she is really getting at the age where she picks up on things and I have noticed her pointing out letters and numbers when we are shopping or in the car- thought I do work with her on these, I think SS has helped too b/c she loves seeing the characters teaching her about them!

Happy B-day SS!!!

Fri Nov 06, 2009 2:42 pm

me&zooey wrote:
Deborah, have you tried Fraggle Rock?

OMG!!! I LOVE Fraggle Rock! I hear they have the entire series on DVD. I'm going to get that for sure!

Fri Nov 06, 2009 3:01 pm

my.3.sons wrote:

Deborah, have you tried Fraggle Rock?

OMG!!! I LOVE Fraggle Rock! I hear they have the entire series on DVD. I'm going to get that for sure!

They also apparently have episodes on ITunes.

Fri Nov 06, 2009 3:11 pm

my.3.sons wrote:

Deborah, have you tried Fraggle Rock?

OMG!!! I LOVE Fraggle Rock! I hear they have the entire series on DVD. I'm going to get that for sure!

Fraggle Rock was one of my favorite shows when I was a kid. LOVED IT. I wish it was still on.

Fri Nov 06, 2009 4:28 pm

I really never worried overmuch about what my kids watched. I also idn't expect them to get a lot of educational value out of their shows, although they did out of most of the kids shows. Not all focus on reading, but many focus on other positive things, like team work, using imaginative play, logic and reasoning, manners, etc.
At this point in time, Audrey likes old school cartoons like The Flintstones, The Jestsons and The Perils of Penelope Pitstop with a little Mx and Ruby tossed in. Ariel likes TLC shows like J&K+8, The Duggars, Cake Boss and Say Yes to the Dress. Whatever, I'm good with it. They don't really need the educational value, they are far ahead and push themselves constantly in the academic sense. I have no problem with them enjoying some tv for purely entertainment value.

Fri Nov 06, 2009 4:32 pm

DanaNJ wrote:I loved Sesame Street as a kid, although Mr. Dressup (he was Canadian although I don't know if any Canadians here are old enough to remember him..lol) was my favorite.

Mr Dressup was the SHIIIIITE!!...LOVE the "Tickle Trunk"....he came on, then Sesame Street...i also liked Polka Dot Door and Friendly Giant...

i thought Casey and Finnegan were not really great puppets, but i would love to live in that tree house!

Fri Nov 06, 2009 4:36 pm

i <3 SS!! my 3 yr old loves it too...

He knows that when my soap goes off, it's "Elmo Time"...LOL...i think it's pretty cool all the celebrities that come on it..Neil Patrick Harris as a Shoe Fairy...Dr. Phil (and his puppet counterpart, Dr. Feel) Sandra Oh, Steve from Dirty Jobs...

I love how they still have the people on that i knew when i was a kid, Maria, Luis...tho I do like Chris too, who took over Hooper's store...

I am thrilled that my preschooler loves SS...my mom to this day, credits it for me knowing how to read before i began school...

and in canada, it was french (instead of the spanish bits here in the US) so i got a head start on french too!

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Happy 40th Birthday Sesame Street!