Meet Julia, Elmo and Abby's new neighboor on Sesame Street. Her mission is to explain to all of us what it's like to live with autism. As a mom with a kid on the spectrum, I was moved to tears when I found out about her, but this is not the only reason why I think Sesame Street is by far the best show on television–sorry Empire, Scandal, and The Walking Dead. I love you, but nothing hold a candle to, "Sunny days…"
Read more ¿Qué más?: Sesame Street premieres first-ever show in Spanish + the 11 best Latino guest stars on the show
Image via Sesame Workshop
Julia teaches us about autism
The character is part of the a Sesame Workshop initiative to create awareness about children with autism. She is friends with Elmo and in the online book We are amazing 1,2,3, we can see why kids with autism can me misinterpreted. I wish this existed when my son was little.
Mando is amazing!
In 2014, the show got a new Latino character named Mando (short for Armando). He is a writer, a poet, cute, energetic and funny. That is a true hombre hispano!
The first Latino family
Way before it was "cool" to put Latino characters on TV, María, Luis and their daughter Gabby, were one of the few "real" characters on Sesame Street.
Sesame Street amigos
Sesame Workshop producers and Univision launched their first Spanish language show for U.S. audiences, Sesame Amigos, in August 2015.
There's something for every age
The few words my mom knows in English are thanks to Sesame Street. But there's also a little bit for everyone–while kids watch and learn, parents look forward to some of the new cheeky skits, like Cookie Monster's masterful Crumby Pictures, where the Muppets remake old classics (including the Karate Kid into The Biscotti Kid and–my favorite–The Hungry Games: Catching Fur (instead of Catching Fire, genius!).
It reflects everybody
Have you seen Kami? She is a character in the South African and Nigerian version of the show, who is HIV-positive.
It ties generations together
Many of us grew up watching Sesame Street and have watched it with our children.
And you don't need to have grown up in the U.S.
I used to watch Plaza Sesamo, the version in Spanish produced in México, and have spent too much time arguing about the real or best name for the characters. Ernie is Enrique in Spanish, Kermit is La Rana René. Much better!
It levels the playing field
A recent study confirmed what moms everywhere knew all along: Sesame Streets teaches small children as much as Pre-K or Headstart programs with its trademark singing, dancing and teachings.
It makes Latino families feel included
Seeing Latino super stars like Romeo Santos or Juanes with Elmo, helped my kids value their Latino roots. It made them feel cool and included.
Opened our world to other children
Rosita has made many children want to learn Spanish and has made many Latino kids proud to know the language and be able to explain the culture.
Ernie and Bernie paved the way
Seeing two men living together is normal for our children.
