" Sesame Street " is debuting a new muppet "Lily," whose parents are poor. Lily, the "hungry muppet," doesn't always get enough to eat. In "Growing Hope Against Hunger," a one-hour special, the muppets explore ways to help Lily, her family and the millions of children that Lily represents. The show addresses community food banks and gardening as solutions.
Here's why and how the show can raise awareness and make a difference.
Children identify with the muppets and respond well to them.
Educators have long recognized the therapeutic benefits of using puppetry with children. Puppets have an almost magical effect on children. Withdrawn children will talk to puppets when they won't speak to other children or parents. The APA says puppets help to calm and redirect disruptive behavior. This is especially important for helping children deal with sensitive issues like family poverty and hunger.
"Sesame Street" explores issues without blaming.
Educational pioneers like John Holt have long advocated learn-by-experience. When they can't experience directly, children can learn, vicariously, through the experiences of people they relate with. Puppets provide nonthreatening role play to help children explore complex cultural and family issues, like poverty and hunger.
"Growing Hope" looks at emotional and social implications for children in poverty.
When "Sesame Street" introduces a new character, it has to create a persona, a voice and a demeanor. Lily is shy and downtrodden. She reflects the embarrassment children feel about being poor and also some of the lethargy and depression that lack of good nutrition causes. "Growing Hope" addresses the stigma children feel about poverty.
"Growing Hope" addresses family poverty in a nonshaming way.
Shame is one of the biggest problems for parents dealing with poverty. They feel humiliation that they are unable to provide for their children. Sesame Street takes a non-judgmental, helpful approach.
"Sesame Street" does not sanitize poverty.
While much of our nation struggles with "diseases of affluence," obesity, addiction, heart disease, diabetes, many parents struggle just to feed their families. Poverty is a reality, especially for children who must rely on others to care for them. "Sesame Street" has the courage to take the blinders off and demonstrate that hunger exists in this wealthy country.
"Sesame Street" does not compartmentalize characters.
Lily is diffident and somewhat awkward, but she's also a vibrant individual. Creators have avoided profiling Lily as the stereotypical "poor kid." It's easy for television shows that advocate diversity, to also "tokenize" characters.
"Growing Hope Against Hunger" is proactive.
In dealing with challenging issues, television shows tend to exploit children's sympathies without providing ways to help. Instead of presenting a hungry puppet for everyone to pity, "Sesame Street" takes poverty by the horns. The muppets brainstorm with Lily and her family about ways to combat poverty and hunger.
Marilisa Kinney Sachteleben writes from 23 years parenting four children and 25 years teaching K-8, special needs, home-school and adult education.
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