GaryMrMets
02-05-2002, 02:34 PM
http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/news/WABC_020402_911sesame.html
Elmo And Sesame Street Teaching Kids About Issues Surrounding 9/11 Attacks
(New York-WABC, February 4, 2002) — Sesame Street is taking on a special challenge: Teaching kids about fear and loss in the wake of September 11th. Over the next few months, the characters will explore the events surrounding the terror attacks. Elmo and his friends will deal with issues such as loss, diversity, and fear. Lori Stokes has the story.
It's silly and fun, perfect "tickle me" entertainment for tots. But Elmo and Sesame Street also have a serious side, so when the Twin Towers fell, show producers knew they had to address issues surrounding the tragedy.
Michael Loman, Executive Producer: "Our advisors thought that the emotional problems that three-year-olds are dealing with now would be a great area where we could help them, and that's what we did."
The show will make no mention, specifically, of the September 11th attacks, in an attempt to avoid upsetting children.
Instead, in Monday's dramatic episode, a fire at Hooper's store serves as a backdrop for dealing with fear. Elmo then meets a real-life firefighter.
Loman: "To a three-year-old it's really pretty scary to see a firefighter standing there with the big helmet and the boots and whatever he or she is wearing, and we explained all of it.
Elmo also gets a lesson on fire safety when he visits Engine 58/Ladder 26 in East Harlem. Firefighter Susan Blake was part of the project. She says it's a great way to reach kids.
Susan Blake, FDNY: "We always have kids come into the firehouse and we deal with groups of kids who come from schools, but by doing it with Elmo and with Sesame Street, they've really enabled us to get the message out to a very large audience of children."
That's because Elmo speaks their language. Elmo dropped by our studio to tell us in his own words how his new heroes calmed his fears.
Elmo, Sesame Street Character: "The most important thing is that they are there for all of us, all the time when there's a fire. And that's a very good thing."
Last Updated: Feb 4, 2002
http://abclocal.go.com/images/wabc/WABC_020402_elmo120.jpg
Elmo And Sesame Street Teaching Kids About Issues Surrounding 9/11 Attacks
(New York-WABC, February 4, 2002) — Sesame Street is taking on a special challenge: Teaching kids about fear and loss in the wake of September 11th. Over the next few months, the characters will explore the events surrounding the terror attacks. Elmo and his friends will deal with issues such as loss, diversity, and fear. Lori Stokes has the story.
It's silly and fun, perfect "tickle me" entertainment for tots. But Elmo and Sesame Street also have a serious side, so when the Twin Towers fell, show producers knew they had to address issues surrounding the tragedy.
Michael Loman, Executive Producer: "Our advisors thought that the emotional problems that three-year-olds are dealing with now would be a great area where we could help them, and that's what we did."
The show will make no mention, specifically, of the September 11th attacks, in an attempt to avoid upsetting children.
Instead, in Monday's dramatic episode, a fire at Hooper's store serves as a backdrop for dealing with fear. Elmo then meets a real-life firefighter.
Loman: "To a three-year-old it's really pretty scary to see a firefighter standing there with the big helmet and the boots and whatever he or she is wearing, and we explained all of it.
Elmo also gets a lesson on fire safety when he visits Engine 58/Ladder 26 in East Harlem. Firefighter Susan Blake was part of the project. She says it's a great way to reach kids.
Susan Blake, FDNY: "We always have kids come into the firehouse and we deal with groups of kids who come from schools, but by doing it with Elmo and with Sesame Street, they've really enabled us to get the message out to a very large audience of children."
That's because Elmo speaks their language. Elmo dropped by our studio to tell us in his own words how his new heroes calmed his fears.
Elmo, Sesame Street Character: "The most important thing is that they are there for all of us, all the time when there's a fire. And that's a very good thing."
Last Updated: Feb 4, 2002
http://abclocal.go.com/images/wabc/WABC_020402_elmo120.jpg