Sesame Street: Beyond 50

Abstract

Sesame Street characters sparked curiosity and the joy of learning in me as a young child as they have helped children around the world for over 50 years. Years later, the large body of research on Sesame Street inspired me to study educational media in graduate school and has continued to guide me as a researcher who grapples with the opportunities and challenges presented by new media technologies for young children’s learning. It is my great privilege to honor and look beyond Sesame Street’s 50 anniversary. This commentary comes at a particularly critical time, as the COVID-19 pandemic has made understanding the role of screen media in children’s education an even more pressing question. I review how the show revolutionized television for young children and became the model for conducting internal research on children’s learning through media. The personal anecdotes incorporated throughout this commentary are from Sesame Workshop “alumni,” chosen because their insights and expertise reflect leadership in varied areas across the organization that produces Sesame Street. Their favorite memories of their time on “the longest street in the world” reinforce that the unique and special contribution Sesame Street has made to young children and to the television landscape also leaves an indelible mark on the people who create the Sesame magic for children around the world. I conclude by looking forward to Sesame Street’s evolution into new media technologies.