My Life as a Furry Red Monster - Kevin Clash [56]
Once the theme is in place, we work age-appropriate school-readiness skills into the show. Reading fundamentals are always a primary consideration—letter recognition and letter sound. Along with verbal literacy, we emphasize numerical literacy (sometimes called numeracy) so that kids will be ready for school with the ABCs and their 123s mastered. Basic (and now classic) elements of the show—such as the letter of the day and the Count’s number of the day—are all designed to reinforce these skills.
Sesame Street wouldn’t be Sesame Street if we concentrated only on “school” learning. Any parent or teacher will tell you that social skills and emotional intelligence are equally important components of a child’s education, so we work hard to deliver positive messages in those areas, as well. As a father, I know that the tried and true lessons of sharing and getting along well with others (“playing nice,” as many of us parents simply say) are critical in a child’s development.
Because virtually everything you see on Sesame Street and on “Elmo’s World” is carefully orchestrated to teach, it’s often difficult to isolate a single “message” within many of the scenes, since so many things are going on at once. One series of overlapping lessons involved Big Bird and his seagull pen pal Gulliver, who comes to Sesame Street for a visit. Big Bird can’t wait to introduce Gulliver to all his wonderful friends, including monsters like Rosita and Baby Bear, humans like Gordon and Maria, and the full range of diverse residents who live on the street.
But Gulliver is puzzled. Looking at Rosita and Baby Bear, he says, “They’re not birds! Are they your friends?” When Big Bird wants to play basketball with Gabi and Miles, Gulliver won’t join in. “People?!!” he exclaims. “I like playing at home…on my bird team.” Gulliver is used to hanging around with birds only, and the variety of monsters and humans is making him uncomfortable. When Big Bird announces that Gulliver is about to meet his best pal in the world, the gull is certain that he’s going to be introduced to a fellow feathered friend.
And that’s when Gulliver meets Snuffy—and shows his true colors.
“Snuffy isn’t a bird!” he says, shocked.
“Uh, no, not today,” Snuffy chuckles.
“Bu-bu-but he’s your best friend…he’s not a bird and I don’t want to play with him. In my neighborhood birds only play with birds.”
Big Bird is appalled at Gulliver’s reaction and then stands up to him. “Listen, Gulliver, if you don’t want to play with my best friend, then I don’t want to play with you!”
The lessons of tolerance and inclusion are subtly conveyed. If you won’t play nice with others, if you’re not going to treat them with respect, if you can’t be open to diversity, then you’re not welcome in my world. Eventually Big Bird, Snuffy, and Gulliver do make their peace, and Gulliver learns to make friends with all the nonbirds who live on Sesame Street. “Wow, wait till I tell all the birds back home about this!” he exclaims.
FROM THE BEGINNING, “Elmo’s World” was designed to immerse viewers in the imaginative mind of a fun-loving and hyperinquisitive three-and-a-half-year-old little monster. Other than the children who join him in the Mr. Noodle segments, Elmo is the only regular character on the show who speaks. He is our guide in his world, and that sends an empowering message to children and is a valuable lesson for parents.
It’s often tempting to be the source of all information for our kids. They ask so many questions, and we have to resist the urge to just answer them all. The show is designed to demonstrate to kids that knowledge is power. I personally love the Mr. Noodle segments not only because of the physical comedy of Bill Irwin, but because it’s the kids who are offering encouragement and instruction to an adult.
Elmo and all kids take great pleasure in being as smart as an adult. You’ve probably witnessed the abundant joy kids take in saying “Nooooooo!