Big Bird and Friends Comfort Children of Deployed Troops

Big Bird and friends comfort children of deployed troops
Donna Teresa, Homefront Journal

Sesame Street has been an important part of children's programming history since its introduction in 1969. This program, aimed primarily at preschoolers, has been an enduring show that has captured the hearts of young people. Sesame Street has taught the very young their alphabet, word recognition, mathematics, social skills and other basic life skills.

Today, the "Sesame Workshop," formally known as the "Children's Television Workshop," a nonprofit organization, has taken on an endeavor aimed at helping the children of those deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. Not since World War II have we had more than a half-million children waiting for their mother or father to return home from a war…

Sometimes, both parents are deployed at the same time. It is an incredible sacrifice. When I heard about this project, I only wish this could've been done a long time ago for other military families.

This organization has teamed up with Wal-Mart Stores Inc., to produce a special outreach program titled "Talk, Listen, Connect; Helping Families During Military Deployment." A free kit and bilingual CD are available for military families by going to www.sesameworkshop.org.

It provides invaluable information to help parents and their preschool children cope during the time of predeployment, deployment, and other challenges that military families face.

In addition, they have produced a prime-time special hosted by Academy Award-winning actor Cuba Gooding Jr., titled, "When Parents Are Deployed," which shares the moving stories of military families and their sacrifices and advice they give to others in a similar situation. This special also can be viewed on the Web site.

There is no gentle way of preparing a child to say goodbye to a parent for a long period of time. Sesame Street's producers along with their menagerie of puppets and actors have prepared a program for military moms and dads to help their preschoolers understand their feelings and fears about their departure from home.

With the help of familiar Sesame Street characters, children learn that they are not alone and they are part of one big military family. The Department of Defense also offers expert advice. The "Military One Source" program at www.militaryonesource.com provides confidential support to families by calling (800) 342-9647, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

I quite frankly don't know how these families do it. I'm a parent and I have to rethink the small things I complain about. My worries are nothing compared to what these military families go through every day.

Even if you are not a military parent, take some time and go to this Web site and view the program. You will get an appreciation of these noble men and women and their children like you have never experienced.

The whole family experiences the deployment, not just the person leaving for Iraq or Afghanistan. There is a song that Elmo and his dad sing called "Proud" at the end of the program. To our military families all over the world, I am proud of your strength and your courage.

There are none quite like you, and this comes from one proud Sesame Street graduate — me.

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