Source: Sesame Workshop

Sesame Street’s ‘Families Stand Together: Feeling Secure in Tough Times” special airs tonight on PBS on September 9, 2009 at 8PM EST (please check local listings – there may be conflicts in some areas due to President Obama to address Congress.).

Like it has for the past 40 years, Sesame Street is not shying away from a tough issue. Instead it faces it head on; helping both children and adults cope in a healthy way. The title of the special Sesame Street’s ‘Families Stand Together: Feeling Secure in Tough Times” says it all.

The one hour prime-time special will be hosted by Al Roker and his wife. It features a series of mini documentary style stories of real families dealing with difficult financial circumstances. You may be surprised that there are no surprise cash or prize giveaways at the end of the stories. That’s not the point of this special.

The brilliance of Sesame Street is presenting reality as it is so it can be discussed. In this special the financial hardships are real. The point is allowing parents to help their children understand the situation and how, as a family, they can pull together and get through it.

The special explores how Elmo’s Mom explains being laid off to him and their plan for getting by, Super Grover looking for a job and a community market on Sesame Street where local families are trying to earn some extra money.

The show emphasizes the differences between needs and wants. Helping children make the important distinction. It also offers strategies to help families talk, come together, and reach out for support.

Sesame Workshop is also offering support beyond the special. They are offering resources online and in print. They are working with PBS stations and community organizations to hold local screenings and deliver educational outreach kits. The kits include English/Spanish DVDs, a printed children’s story, and a parent/caregiver guide on positive strategies to deal with the current economic climate.

For more information please visit http://www.sesameworkshop.org/toughtimes/project and check out the “Tool Box” on the right hand  side.

The Sesame Workshop is a non-profit organization funded through donations and sponsors and through the proceeds of sales of licenced Sesame Street Toys. The

Sesame Workshop re-invests all proceeds from the sales of Sesame Street Toys back into its innovative and exceptional programs and initiatives like this one.

Sesame Workshop has made special note that the ‘Families Stand Together: Feeling Secure in Tough Times” initiative is made possible by generous support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB)

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