Children and Television: Lessons from Sesame Street by Gerald S. Lesser

The famed television show Sesame Street is one of the most beloved and enduring shows of all time, and has left an indisputable mark on generations of children. In his book Children and Television: Lessons from Sesame Street, Gerald S. Lesser examines the history and impact of this groundbreaking show, exploring the wisdom of its creators and the incredible impact it has had on young viewers.

Lesser begins his book by anchoring the origin story of Sesame Street in the zeitgeist of the 1960s, when preschool television was pioneered. He then dives into the history and development of the show, exploring how Jim Henson, Joan Ganz Cooney, Jon Stone, and their team of pioneers combined educational goals with entertainment and humour to revolutionize early childhood education.

Lesser emphasizes the team’s mission to create a show that provided children with the variety and quality of educational programming that was missing from television in 1969 - programming that set out to teach and entertain kids in equal measure. He covers the unique structure and approach of Sesame Street, which was deeply ahead of its time: combining educational concepts with the format of a sitcom, using humour to keep the audience engaged, role-modelling positive academic and social behaviour, and using audio and visuals to showcase lessons in a vivid way. This rare combination led to Sesame Street becoming a staple of preschool television.

From there, Lesser goes on to detail the intricacies of the show’s educational curriculum. He critiques the approach, which endeavoured to provide children with essential educational skills that would benefit not only their academic lives, but also their general knowledge and attitudes. While providing a comprehensive look at the show’s pedagogical applications, Lesser also covers the moral necessity of Sesame Street and its impact on bringing together diverse groups of people.

The book goes on to discuss the later evolution of Sesame Street, examining the changes and improvements implemented to ensure the show remained educational and entertaining. There is also a detailed look at the enduring legacy of Sesame Street, which has seen its impact stretch far beyond the initial mission of imparting knowledge.

In Children and Television: Lessons from Sesame Street, Lesser presents a nuanced and comprehensive exploration of Sesame Street’s long-overdue impact and lasting legacy. He covers the show’s entire history, from its initial inception to the present day, and examines the unique combination of entertainment and education that enabled the show to become a groundbreaking lung staple of preschool education and have a profound impact on generations of young viewers.

Lesser’s book provides readers with an insightful look into the history of television and the lessons we can learn from Sesame Street. This is essential reading not only for those interested in the history of television, but also parents, educators, and children, who can benefit from the detailed look at the show’s educational curriculum and its enduring lessons.