When you think of children's television, there are few people who won't think of Sesame Street.
The iconic children's show has been on TV for over 50 years. It's been a part of countless children's experiences growing up during that time. From Big Bird to Elmo, the characters have become mainstays not just for kids but in pop culture as a whole.
Sesame Street has been amazing about covering hard issues over the years. The show continues its record of excellence today, finding ways to make its little universe relevant to generation after generation of children.
It's amazing how much the lessons we learned from the show have carried over, even into our adult lives.
November 10 of each year marks Sesame Street Day. It's the anniversary of the show's first airing. This year celebrated 51 years of the iconic show. We're celebrating with some of the best lessons we've learned from where the air is sweet.
Every day is an adventure.
The characters of Sesame Street have fun, eventful lives. Still, they're often using their imagination and engaging in everyday play. It teaches kids that there's adventure in every area of life if you look for it, and it isn't always obvious.
Understanding your feelings is key.
Knowing how you're feeling is one thing, but understanding those feelings can be harder. Sometimes, that means opening up to someone else, which can be scary, too. By understanding feelings, we can know how to handle them.
It's important to put yourself in someone else's shoes.
We can't say enough about the importance of empathy these days. However, feeling empathy for others doesn't come naturally to every child. Sesame Street has taught us that taking the time to understand how other people feel can help change how you see a situation and, sometimes, how you see the world around you.
We should celebrate our differences.
The characters on Sesame Street come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. They interact with people from all walks of life. No matter who is stopping by Sesame Street, they can expect to be treated with love and respect, like any friend would.
Believing in yourself makes a tremendous difference.
Sometimes, believing in yourself can be the difference between thinking you can achieve something and actually doing it. Adulthood teaches us all to lean into self-deprecation, but Sesame Street reminds us of the importance of self-love. Confidence can take you a long way.
It's OK to ask for help.
Many of the problems faced on Sesame Street can be worked through with the help of someone a little older and wiser. It doesn't always feel like there's somewhere you can turn for help when you're an adult, but that's not the case. Asking for help is a lot for some people, but when you do it and find yourself closer to a solution, you'll understand why no person is meant to figure out all of life's issues alone.
Learning is fun.
A lot of children's shows cave to the idea that learning is boring or tedious. Sesame Street never presents learning as anything but fun and exciting. It also instills the idea that we spend all of our lives learning by showing adults learning lessons as well as kids.
You can't always multitask.
We teach our kids to focus on one thing at a time and to devote their attention to it. As we get older, we learn to juggle more, and sometimes that's to the detriment of all the things we want to get done. Sometimes we have to remind ourselves to put down the ducky to play the saxophone.
It's OK to celebrate yourself.
People are sometimes embarrassed to draw attention to themselves and celebrate themselves, but they shouldn't be. You should be happy to celebrate the things that make you unique. Whether it's a physical trait or a personality trait, it all makes you the wonderful person you are.
It's important to be a good member of your community.
A sense of community is really important to instill in kids, and adults even need some reminders. Working together to do things that are good for your community and the people in it is one way of making significant changes. Every member of the Sesame Street community does their part and chips in to help where they can.
