Should Kids Learn About Loss From 'Sesame Street'?

by SodaHead Celebs Posted 2012/12/19 16:00:00

Related Topics: Sesame Street, Connecticut, Newtown

762 votes
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	Yes	436 votes	57%
	No	326 votes	43%

Since the indescribably horrific mass shooting in Newtown, Conn. last week, experts have been advising parents to tell their children the truth about what happened in a way they can understand -- and shows like “Sesame Street” have proven effective at dealing with tough topics like loss.

Emanuel Maidenberg, an associate clinical professor of psychiatry at UCLA, recently told TIME that parents should tell them happened “in their language,” adding “let them know that this is something that doesn’t happen very often and they are safe.”

As TIME points out, “Sesame Street”’s “tempered, easy-to-understand dialogue” makes it a great at explaining “touchy subjects.” In particular the episode “Farewell, Mr. Hooper” is highlighted as a perfect example.

The episode, originally aired in 1983, sees Big Bird learning of the passing of shopkeeper Mr. Hooper and failing to understand, but coming to accept it, thanks to his friends’ explanations that he’s not coming back, but they should enjoy their memories of him. Do you think kids should learn about grief through “Sesame Street?”

+18

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Airwool 2012/12/19 18:36:16

No

+13
Okay, you may want to write this down. Teach your own kids about life and loss. Turn off the TV and send them outside for some fresh air. Don't depend on others to raise them for you or you may end up with... lazy kids who expect handouts.
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Mj PINKYFINGERDOWN 2013/01/02 20:02:09
Patrick Henry 2012/12/31 03:56:46

No

Like so much else, that is something that the parents need to teach. Then they incorporate what ever religious preferences they have.

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JCD aka "biz" 2012/12/27 16:23:05

Yes

My six year old grandson asked me to read a children's book about death with him when his father (my son) died in August.

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GothicaVende††aSquiggles\(#... 2012/12/27 15:25:02

No

$GothicaVende††aSquiggles\(#_#)/$

What the hell? Sesame Street has gotten depressing since I was a kid...

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MK 2012/12/27 15:19:51

No

It's stupid. Having a child hearing all these things about loss from a show with puppets. Parents who want their children to know about loss can teach them on their own, in a personal manner. Many parents might not want this to happen, so why would they show a child programming that informs on this topic? Truly, teaching about loss=less viewers on Sesame Street, which I would hate to see happen since I used to love that show.

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Somkey the Hores 2012/12/27 13:58:46

No

No. Sesame Street has turned into a puss socialist indoctrination show. Teaching children how to be nice little global idiots.

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the fuze 2012/12/27 12:45:35

No

+1
And yes... Sesame Street should not be the sole source of information on this subject, but could be used to help explain.

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Jack's Pearl 2012/12/27 01:10:28

Yes

+1
Why not? anyway they can is a good thing ultimately.

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TasselLady 2012/12/26 22:42:38

Yes

I think in this case it could help. If it's handled right I think it could go a long way to help kids cope.

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Somkey ... to TasselLady 2012/12/27 13:59:24

But it won't be handled right.

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TasselLady to Somkey ... 2012/12/27 22:12:24

+1
Unfortunately not all parents will handle it right either. Some of them won't talk at all to their kids about what happened.

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C. C. Rider 2012/12/26 14:09:14

No

+1
I feel Sesame Street can be used as a helping tool in this matter. BUT it should not under any circumstances be the only source of information on such a tender subject.

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Luna Wren 2012/12/26 13:54:43

No

+1
It's a parents job. Besides, America is a little too sensitive when it comes to death

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readmylips 2012/12/26 12:47:38

No

+1
What does Sesame Street know about my child? Nothing. I think this should be done by a devoted family member, if possible. If not possible, get professional help, if needed. For goodness sakes....Sesame Street????

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Jim to readmylips 2012/12/27 02:35:34

+1
Too many parents are ill-equipped to help their children get through such trauma. Both parents and children are warped by an entrenched anomie in the social fabric. More often than not, today's parents inherited the same cheap and empty American culture that shaped their parents.

For such families, Sesame Street is as good an aid as any to explain difficult things.

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TasselLady to Jim 2012/12/27 22:13:12

EXACTLY. That's what I said above too. Not all parents will talk to their kids. This could be a tool for such a situation.

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Dan 2012/12/26 09:55:07

No

+1
The TV should not be used for teaching. That is the responsibility of the Parent.

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Smitty 2012/12/26 07:50:37

No

+1
no,that's the trouble these days,parent want someone to do their job for them.I do not want some guy on tv trying to tell my kid about loss.You d not know what kind of person he is.He could be an IDIOT for all i know!!

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~HopelessRomanticM17~ 2012/12/26 05:23:37

No

+1
No...they should learn about those kinds of things from their parents. That's what parents are for.

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teigan 2012/12/26 02:47:43

No

+2
Parents should be parents and do their job. Using a the boob tube is just lazy and pathetic. If you are a good parent and know your child, nobody can replace you.

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Doc 2012/12/26 00:45:24

No

+3
They should learn from their parents.

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Jack Sprat 2012/12/26 00:20:36

No

+3
Hell they need to be kept away from the pedophiles nothing to learn there.

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ssmithix 2012/12/25 09:31:58

No

+3
Stick to literacy. Why everyone feels they have to fill the role of parent is beyond me

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mama sew,gung ho 2012/12/25 06:28:19

Yes

+1
It's a nice place to learn about a lot of things! In my day it was Mister Rogers Neighbor hood! LOL

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Mike 2012/12/25 02:03:46

Yes

+1
but what about profit ?

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jack_kazim 2012/12/24 12:55:38

No

+2
Parents should do it.

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Moon 2012/12/24 05:42:51

No

+2
That should be a parents job...

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Julian 2012/12/24 03:18:06

Yes

+2

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Lone Wolf 2012/12/23 14:34:55

Yes

+1
I remember that Epesode the passing of Mr. Hooper on Sesame Street. But before that when I was a bit more younger I had to learn that my Ant died of Canser when I was 3yr and I still remember it. I have been deployed 3 time to Iraq and have seen enugh pain. But to teach kids about loss before something happens would be good for them.

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Christo... to Lone Wolf 2012/12/27 13:17:35

It occurs to me that Mr. Hooper's passing happened quite a while ago; why is it just becoming an issue now?

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Lone Wolf to Christo... 2012/12/29 02:00:04

Because of the mass shooting they will have to come up with something simular to Mr. Hooper's passing for this generation.

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Gwendolyn Harper 2012/12/23 06:29:33

No

+1
but they already have. they lost Mr. Hooper

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twocrows 2012/12/23 05:11:59

Yes

+3
it's a topic that most of the grown-ups in their lives either find difficult to talk about or don't know how to translate into language they will understand - or both. so Sesame Street offers a way to at least explain it.

better yet, parents can use it to open a dialog.

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Mopheadmusic2000 2012/12/23 01:52:40

No

+4
I haven't seen Sesame Street in years so I'm not sure that they are adept at teaching anything beyond politically correct mantras, but regardless, FAMILY is where a person should be taught about loss and death. That is the parents'/guardians' job. i don't want the liberals teaching my kids about God; they sure can't teach them about life and death.

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mae 2012/12/23 00:11:05

Yes

+1
Sesame Street handles these emotion subjects very well. Mr. Rogers Neighborhood frequently dealt with the subject of serious illness of a loved one, and loss/death of a loved one. Not a new concept for television, and generally drafted by pediatric Psychologists. We could do a whole lot worse than Sesame Street.

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Chi~Cat 2012/12/22 23:07:01

No

+11
Yeah, great parenting, put your kids in front of the liberal idiot box.

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Mel Mar... to Chi~Cat 2012/12/25 15:09:45

+1
You don't HAVE to just put them in front of it or completely remove them from it. Use the media as an avenue of, as someone else on here said, opening dialogue. Discuss what happened on the screen, sit WITH the child while they watch a program that teaches them about reality like that.

It's not much different from sitting with them on a park bench and have them experience the world around them while they ask you questions.

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Chi~Cat to Mel Mar... 2012/12/25 22:32:46

+5
My child is an young adult now with two majors in three years, and YES, we sat on park benches and discussed issues and had open dialogue; at the same time, we were outside getting exercise and not sitting in front of the idiot box living sedentary lives and relying on a 'show' to base our 'dialogue' upon. pfftttt. lol...you make me laugh. Not for nothing, you try explaining some major things going on in NYC when Mommy could not get home right away because of tragedies, or a jumper hits the rails and delays your train for five hours. Don't even preach to me.

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Jack Sprat to Chi~Cat 2012/12/26 01:51:25

+1
Obviously, parenting is something new to her, down under, we well the non-liberals take it for granted.

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teigan to Chi~Cat 2012/12/26 02:44:18

+1
Lazy parents always turn their parenting job over to anyone willing to take it. Pathetic.

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