New Poverty Puppet on Sesame Street

[disney1990]

Great idea!

There are still too many people in this country that don't believe that this is a real issue - not to mention a growing one..

Absolutely.

 

[PeterPan09]

I agree with ya, why can't they just say this muppet is hungry 'n her family doesn't have food?

I thought the same thing until I read a facebook post from a friend who said the term has been around at least since her mom was teaching. It refers to people who are uncertain where their next meal is coming from. They may have food today, but they aren't sure about tomorrow or next week.

 

[C.Ann]

It refers to people who are uncertain where their next meal is coming from. They may have food today, but they aren't sure about tomorrow or next week.

 

[Uncle Remus]

I thought the same thing until I read a facebook post from a friend who said the term has been around at least since her mom was teaching. It refers to people who are uncertain where their next meal is coming from. They may have food today, but they aren't sure about tomorrow or next week.

Well, I'm sure this term has a use by professionals, but I'm thinkin' kids need to understand it in their own terms. Course, if some kid tells me another one lives with food insecurity, I wouldn't be surprised.

 

[BrerMom]

I have friends that adopted a malnourished toddler and he will gorge himself if given the chance now and he is in 1st grade. Kids don't always outgrow those insecurities even after becoming well fed and having access to food.

Ditto for my friends, and their son is in high school now.

 

[Muushka]

I hope the network uses the puppet to show children how to overcome poverty and that it can done, what not to do to continue the cycle.

 

[jaminmd]

I hope the network uses the puppet to show children how to overcome poverty and that it can done, what not to do to continue the cycle.

What else would they do, teach them to sign up for welfare and have 10 kids they can't afford?

 

[JessicaR]

Seriously 4 pages and no picture of Poverty - Stricken Hungry Muppet. Her name is Lily.

 

[PeterPan09]

My hope is that Lily is able to teach children to have compassion for those who might not have the advantages they have.

 

[C.Ann]

My hope is that Lily is able to teach children to have compassion for those who might not have the advantages they have.

 

[JessicaR]

My hope is that Lily is able to teach children to have compassion for those who might not have the advantages they have.

I hope so. I also hope she appears in more than one episode.

Sesame Street Workshop unveiled that Lily, a pink Muppet in a blue dress, will appear in PBS's upcoming special that addresses food insecurity, or the lack of a reliable access to food. The special, which will air Sunday, aims to tell the stories of families who are going hungry, and will see Lily, uncomfortable with both her economic situation as well as potential public stigma, go to a community garden and meet Sesame Street mainstays such as Grover and Elmo.

Brad Paisley and Kimberly Williams Paisley will feature in the special, and released a joint statement praising the show on Thursday.

“Food insecurity is a growing and difficult issue for adults to discuss, much less children,” they said. “We are honored that Sesame Street, with its long history of tackling difficult issues with sensitivity, caring and warmth asked us to be a part of this important project.”

Thus far, they only plan to use Lily in the one special

 

[C.Ann]

I hope so. I also hope she appears in more than one episode.

Sesame Street Workshop unveiled that Lily, a pink Muppet in a blue dress, will appear in PBS's upcoming special that addresses food insecurity, or the lack of a reliable access to food. The special, which will air Sunday, aims to tell the stories of families who are going hungry, and will see Lily, uncomfortable with both her economic situation as well as potential public stigma, go to a community garden and meet Sesame Street mainstays such as Grover and Elmo.

Brad Paisley and Kimberly Williams Paisley will feature in the special, and released a joint statement praising the show on Thursday.

“Food insecurity is a growing and difficult issue for adults to discuss, much less children,” they said. “We are honored that Sesame Street, with its long history of tackling difficult issues with sensitivity, caring and warmth asked us to be a part of this important project.”

Thus far, they only plan to use Lily in the one special

Let's hope it's such a hit they continue to use Lily as a regular..

 

[LuvsDragonflies]

I pulled it from the article. I have no idea what words Sesame Street will use.

somehow it makes me feel better that we may not have Big Bird and Elmo using the term "food insecurity"

Sesame street was brought to you today by the letter's "F" and "I".

 

[cornflake]

Food insecurity is the technical term used by scientists who study sociological trends like this and by the government; it's not a new term.

It exists to specify the condition as opposed to the older blanket term hunger, which people tend to think of in starving third-world terms. When the government would put out numbers of people who had problems with hunger in this country, there are some who would dispute the veracity and talk about people not being hungry in the U.S., which, of course, is untrue, people are.

Food insecurity indicates that people are not necessarily always scrounging for food or always with empty cupboards or are malnourished or etc., but that people have, at some points during the week or month, problems obtaining enough food and may be forced to skip meals, not be able to feed the kids dinner, etc. They may have a deficit between paychecks that leaves them without much of anything a few days every couple of weeks, they may be on assistance and it doesn't cover enough and they skip meals or have to hope the food bank has stuff so the kids can eat until the next month, etc. That's food insecurity.

It affects many people with jobs, housing, etc., hence some did not realize the extent of the problem that's often hidden or not discussed. Hence, the muppet.

 

[LuvsDragonflies]

Thank you cornflake.

How many times a day do you think the term "Hence, the muppet." has been used since Jim Henson died?

 

[cornflake]

Thank you cornflake.

How many times a day do you think the term "Hence, the muppet." has been used since Jim Henson died?

I try to use it regularly.

 

[iheartdisney]

Food insecurity sounds like an eating disorder...

 

[CPT Tripss]

Food insecurity? That sounds like a phrase out of a Saturday Night Live skit. For crying out loud, leave the people some dignity. PC jumps the shark again.

Did you even read the OP cite? Sesame Street has a history of doing a good job presenting complex issues in terms that young kids can understand. I don't expect them to use a lot of professional jargon. Your posts demonstrate the need for this kind of educational show and pretty much proves the accuracy of Brad's quote.

"Food insecurity is a growing and difficult issue for adults to discuss, much less children," the Paisleys said in a statement.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Oscar's a green hobo and also seems to have a hoarding issue...he's always able to find almost anything in that trashcan.

agnes!

That's not hoarding, that's luck! You know - 'one man's trash is another man's treasure' and all that Oscar just lives in a trash barrel where people happen to throw away things he ends up happening to need .

 

[kaytieeldr]

I'm not sure...it just brings to mind, "visually challenged" "horizontally challenged" I mean, are overweight people going to be "weight impaired"? bald people "hair deficient"?

It just sounds like a trite label they decided to slap on it. It reminds me of a phobia condition.

People around the world have been starving for years and they just called it "hungry". I'm not feeling the love for the term. If it helps, good. It just sounds too forced to me.

Or an eating disorder.

I'm hungry. I've been awake for a couple of hours. I didn't eat last night, and my growling stomach woke me up.

I don't have food insecurity; I have plenty of food, including oatmeal, fruit, and healthy frozen breakfasts. I just don't feel like eating anything.

Hunger isn't the same as food insecurity. I know where my next meals are coming from (my kitchen).