Meet Alex.
Alex is Sesame Street’s newest Muppet. He will not be a regular on Sesame Street, however, his initial appearance encourages children to not be afraid to talk about their feelings with an adult and also introducing many young viewers the meaning of “incarceration.” The episode is titled, “Little Children, Big Challenges: Incarceration”
In the episode, Alex is playing with two other Muppets, Zoe and Rosita,when one of them makes a suggestion that includes their dads. Alex gets really upset and runs off but not without his friends close behind to encourage him to talk about his dad. The Muppet, Alex then reveals that his dad is in jail.
Should kids in this age group be introduced to such a topic? Or is it such a ‘normal’ part of life that it shouldn’t be a big deal? What do you think about Sesame Street’s decision to add this topic to its programming?
If you missed it, watch a clip of Alex’s role on Sesame Street here:
