Sesame Street is adding a new puppet to the family, Alex, an orange puppet whose father is in prison.
According to Headlines & Global News, the purpose of Alex’s addition to the famous Street is to show children that it is okay to be sad, mad or confused about having a loved one in jail. During one episode Alex confesses, "I just miss him so much. Sometimes I just feel like I want to pound on a pillow and scream as loud as I can."
The Sesame Street Workshop realized the importance of adding another diverse character to the program after it was reported that one in every 28 children has a loved one in jail. The Workshop is hopeful that this will help children understand the importance of opening up and discussing their feelings on sensitive topics such as this.
Christian Science Monitor reports that of all the inmates currently in prison in the US, 54% are parents with a child under the age of 17. The creators of this hit PBS learning program hope that Alex’s addition to Sesame Street will help children understand their anger and learn how to channel it and discuss it proactively as 23% of children who have a parent in jail received a suspension or expulsion from school.
“Coming from a Muppet, it's almost another child telling their story to the children," Jeanette Betancourt, vice president of educational practices for Sesame Workshop, tells NBC News of Alex.
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