What's wrong with Sesame Street?

Question

I was raised on Sesame Street, my mother swore by it so it struck me as odd when a parent recently told me she didn't allow her children to watch the show. Now, i know it's been nearly twenty years since I watched it, but I thought it was educational. Teaches letters, numbers, shapes, colors, matching, some spanish, reading, etc. Has something happened to the show I should be aware of? Other children I care for watch it and I haven't noticed anything out of the ordinary.
Her children are very bright 18mos and 3yrs, I would have thought Sesame Street would be perfect.

Answer 1

Some people don't like Sesame Street, they say it is too liberal, and their are too many ethnics on it.

Answer 2

Sesame Street has changed quite a bit since we were kids, though not all for the worse. I personally don't like it for my kids, but that's because I think some of the music they use isn't the kind I want my kids to listen to. Also, Oscar the Grouch tended to rub off on my kids the few times they did watch it. It certainly is an educational show, but I don't see that as being the only educational venue out there. Some kids do fine, but I have two verrrry energetic boys (one with ADHD and Tourette's), and when they are overly stimulated by some of the energetic stuff on Sesame Street and other shows like it, they're bouncing off the walls. I try to tailor their TV time (what little they get) to calmer shows.
Watch a few episodes for yourself and form your own opinions!

Answer 3

Maybe this mom has some other issues, and Sesame Street hits close to home. Sure, the monsters have gone Politically Correct, but who hasn't? There are Caucasians, Hispanics/Latinos, African Americans, Males, Females, Juveniles, Adults, Senior Adults, Persons with Special Needs, and your ordinary FamousPeople (that's a little bit of everybody for those of us not PC-crazy).
My baby LOVES Elmo & Big Bird, and I have yet to hear a cuss word or slur, and even the less fun characters (Oscar IS a grouch, and sometimes Telly is a hand-wringer) teach kids that there are different kinds of people and different personality types, and that everyone can live on one street (Sesame Street of course). Sesame Street does a better job of representing our society than any other kids programming on today, and kids are drawn to it. It teaches letters, numbers, colors, counting, how to deal with fears, frustration, and lots of other things our kids need to know.

Answer 4

My kids love Sesame Street and I don't have any problem with it. It introduces colors, shapes, numbers, and has great little songs. The segments are short but have been made for children with smaller attention spans.
It's a parent's perogative to monitor what their kids watch or don't watch and I respect that. I think SpongeBob is hilarious but my three year old wouldn't stop calling everything and everyone stupid after watching it a few times so it's not allowed anymore.

I totally don't understand a word Elmo says.

Answer 5

I have a 2 year old, and she really enjoys Sesame Street.

I'm fairly picky about how much TV she watches, and the programs she watches. But, when we both enjoy watching Sesame Street, Blues Clues, and Dora together.

I guess that everyone has a different opinion, and what one mother sees as a good educational program, another mother may see it as something she does not want her children to watch.

Answer 6

I don't know I haven't really watched in years, I don't think my son sat through an episode . . . he got up and left - he'll watch the classic stuff I had on VHS . . . but not the ones on TV.

Probably because . . . they talk to much without truly discussing anything. Most of the key characters in the past is dead, their voices changed, to politically correct, and talk to children like they are idiots.

I remember that they treated kids like grown people. Which is why children learn and why parents and children could watch Sesame Street together, now, I don't know . . . I can't sit through an episode of the Modern Sesame Street and neither could my son.

Answer 7

My daughter loves Sesame Street and it is educational. Recently one of the ladies on the show adopted a baby from another country which is cool because my best friend adopted a little girl recently and she's the same age as my daughter.

However, I have noticed some things I don't like. In some of the Elmo movies, there is a little girl that's voice is heard "helping" Elmo and she yells and is rude. Also, my daughter learned the word "mine" from her favorite movie "Elmo in Grouchland" . I had tried so hard to keep her from saying that and then the frist time she heard it on the movie it stuck. Oh well, just another lesson she needed to learn.

Overall, I think it's great. Better than Thomas the Tank engine. Those movies have sassy and grouchy engines in them.

Answer 8

I don't think there is anything wrong with the show, I also grew up watching it as well as my three boys. Little things have changed, but for the better. It shows a diverse culture, but that is what we live in.

The problem is the stereotypes close minded people put on it. Such as Bert & Ernie being gay, Cookie monster being unhealthy, etc...

It's a childrens educational program, kid's don't think this way. Get over it!! Let kids be kids. I think every kid's show out there has had some sort of label at one point in time, even Mister Roger's.

Answer 9

There is certainly nothing wrong with Sesame Streets. Think about it, it's better for kids to watch Sesame Streets then watching Power Rangers.

Answer 10

I see nothing wrong with Sesame Street. I think you need to make certain that your child watch it in moderation. I read several years ago that they believe the fast movement may cause children to have attention problems as they get older. Also, some say that Bert and Earnie are gay and people don't like that.

Answer 11

Well I think maybe she is afraid to let her kids watch tv if she doesn't let them watch Sesame Street! My son,2, loves elmo, big bird etc...And yes, it is still the same old Sesame Street as it was years ago so I haven't any idea why she doesn't allow it. Have you asked her?