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Sesame Street reveals newest Muppet Karli lives in foster care because her mother is battling an opioid addiction - as Elmo and a 10-year-old girl who parents are recovering in real-life reassure the puppet it's not her fault
PUBLISHED: 19:02 EDT, 9 October 2019 | UPDATED: 17:08 EDT, 10 October 2019
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Sesame Street has introduced the subject matter of addiction, using a bright green puppet named Karli to let young viewers know grown-up problems aren't their fault.
The character was first introduced in April as someone living in foster care and now her story line has expanded to explain why she was placed in a new home.
Clips from the show feature the character - whose mother is battling an opioid addiction - with famous Muppet Elmo as well as a young girl named Salia Woodbury, whose parents are in recovery in real life.
'My mom was having a hard time with addiction and it felt like I was the only on going through it,' the fictional character tells Salia. 'But now I've met so many other kids like us.'
Sesame Street puppet Karli helps kids understand opioid crisis
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Sesame Street viewers hear Karli explain that her mom has 'a grown-up problem' as she meets Salia Woodbury whose parents are in recovery in real-life
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In one scene, Karli opens up to Elmo about family problems using playtime toys Elephant and Baby David, as the blue animal accidentally knocks over building blocks
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Salia Woodbury, 10, with character Karli. Sesame Workshop is addressing the issue of addiction after data shows 5.7 million children under 11 live in households with a parent with substance use disorder
'I’m so glad we’re friends, Salia,' Karli says at the end of their segment.
'Me, too, Karli,' Salia responds.
'Can I have a hug?' Karli asks before they embrace.
According to Sesame Workshop, the non-profit organization behind Sesame Street, the story shares the 'words children need to hear most: You are not alone. You will be taken care of. Addiction is a sickness and, as with any sickness, people need help to get better. And most importantly: It’s not your fault.'
The bilingual resources now available at SesameStreetInCommunities.org provides an opportunity for children to build resilience in an age-appropriate way.
Karli may look familiar, as it's the same puppet that portrayed Karina the Ballerina.
Viewers hear the newest character's backstory before she joined foster parents Clem and Dalia. The six-and-a-half-year-old explains that her mom has 'a grown-up problem' and is battling addiction.
In another chat, demonstrating how play can help children speak about their concerns, Karli and Elmo appear with an elephant toy that accidentally knocks over building blocks.
'It's all my fault,' Karli puppeteers on behalf of the elephant, leaving Elmo to reassure the blue toy, and inadvertently Karli, that it's okay.
In the clip titled It's Not Your Fault, Karli opens up: 'Maybe she feels worried like I used to feel. My mom says that sometimes things happen that little monsters can't control or fix and that those things aren't the'r fault.
'I used to feel like a lot of things were my fault, especially my mom's problem but she told me no, it was a grown-up problem, it wasn't because of anything I did.'
The pair then get back to good spirits and resume cheerful play with Elmo's toy names Baby David.
The green Muppet portrays a six-and-a-half-year-old who feels that her mother's problem is her fault
+10
+10
The newest character's backstory is revealed after she was introduced in April as a Muppet in foster care. Karli's story line helps other children know they aren't the only ones dealing with it
+10
The new bilingual resources provide an opportunity for children to build resilience in an age-appropriate way
The initiative is part of the Sesame Street in Communities resources available online with creators explaining they turned to the issue of addiction since data shows 5.7 million children under age 11 live in households with a parent with substance use disorder.
Since 2015 the Communities sector has approached the subject of homelessness and traumatic experiences.
'There's nothing else out there that addresses substance abuse for young, young kids from their perspective,' said Kama Einhorn, a senior content manager with Sesame Workshop.
'Even a parent at their most vulnerable - at the worst of their struggle - can take one thing away when they watch it with their kids, then that serves the purpose,' Einhorn said.
The online-only segments with pizza-loving Karli and 10-year-old Woodbury, are augmented with ones that feature Elmo's dad, Louie, explaining that addiction is a sickness.
They also show Karli telling Elmo and Chris about her mom's special adult meetings and her own kids' ones.
Karli, voiced and manipulated by puppeteer Haley Jenkins, tells the camera: 'Hi, it's me, Karli. I'm here with my friend Salia. Both of our parents have had the same problem - addiction.'
'My mom and dad told me that addiction is a sickness,' Salia said.
'Yeah, a sickness that makes people feel like they have to take drugs or drink alcohol to feel OK. My mom was having a hard time with addiction and I felt like my family was the only one going through it. But now I've met so many other kids like us. It makes me feel like we're not alone,' the puppet continued.
'Right, we're not alone,' Salia responded. 'And it's OK to open up to people about our feelings.'
+10
Jaana, standing left, and Sam Woodbury, from Irvine, Cali., and their daughters Salia, 10, seated right, and Kya, 6, with 'Sesame Street' puppet Karli and puppeteer Haley Jenkins
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Karli had already been introduced as a puppet in foster care earlier this year but viewers now will understand why her mother had to go away for a while
+10
Puppeteers Haley Jenkins, left, and Leslie Carrara-Rudolph performing with their 'Sesame Street' puppets Karli and Abby Cadabby, respectively, for segments about parental addiction
- Sesame Workshop is exploring the backstory of Karli, six, a friend of Elmo
- Viewers hear her explain to others that her mom has 'a grown-up problem'
- In one scene, the characters open up about family problems using toys Elephant and David, after the blue animal toy accidentally knocks over building blocks
- After Elmo tells Elephant not to feel bad, Karli talks about her mother's addiction problem and Elmo tells her she isn't to blame so shouldn't feel responsible
- Initiative is part of the Sesame Street in Communities resources available online
- 5.7 million children under 11 live with a parent with substance use disorder
- Karli had already been introduced as a puppet in foster care earlier this year but viewers now will understand why her mother had to go away for a while
- Segments feature Salia Woodbury, 10, whose parents are in recovery in real life
PUBLISHED: 19:02 EDT, 9 October 2019 | UPDATED: 17:08 EDT, 10 October 2019
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522
View comments
Sesame Street has introduced the subject matter of addiction, using a bright green puppet named Karli to let young viewers know grown-up problems aren't their fault.
The character was first introduced in April as someone living in foster care and now her story line has expanded to explain why she was placed in a new home.
Clips from the show feature the character - whose mother is battling an opioid addiction - with famous Muppet Elmo as well as a young girl named Salia Woodbury, whose parents are in recovery in real life.
'My mom was having a hard time with addiction and it felt like I was the only on going through it,' the fictional character tells Salia. 'But now I've met so many other kids like us.'
Sesame Street puppet Karli helps kids understand opioid crisis
Loaded: 0%
Progress: 0%
0:00
Previous
Play
Skip
Mute
Current Time0:00
/
Duration Time3:26
Fullscreen
Need Text
+10
Sesame Street viewers hear Karli explain that her mom has 'a grown-up problem' as she meets Salia Woodbury whose parents are in recovery in real-life
+10
In one scene, Karli opens up to Elmo about family problems using playtime toys Elephant and Baby David, as the blue animal accidentally knocks over building blocks
+10
Salia Woodbury, 10, with character Karli. Sesame Workshop is addressing the issue of addiction after data shows 5.7 million children under 11 live in households with a parent with substance use disorder
'I’m so glad we’re friends, Salia,' Karli says at the end of their segment.
'Me, too, Karli,' Salia responds.
'Can I have a hug?' Karli asks before they embrace.
According to Sesame Workshop, the non-profit organization behind Sesame Street, the story shares the 'words children need to hear most: You are not alone. You will be taken care of. Addiction is a sickness and, as with any sickness, people need help to get better. And most importantly: It’s not your fault.'
The bilingual resources now available at SesameStreetInCommunities.org provides an opportunity for children to build resilience in an age-appropriate way.
Karli may look familiar, as it's the same puppet that portrayed Karina the Ballerina.
Viewers hear the newest character's backstory before she joined foster parents Clem and Dalia. The six-and-a-half-year-old explains that her mom has 'a grown-up problem' and is battling addiction.
In another chat, demonstrating how play can help children speak about their concerns, Karli and Elmo appear with an elephant toy that accidentally knocks over building blocks.
'It's all my fault,' Karli puppeteers on behalf of the elephant, leaving Elmo to reassure the blue toy, and inadvertently Karli, that it's okay.
In the clip titled It's Not Your Fault, Karli opens up: 'Maybe she feels worried like I used to feel. My mom says that sometimes things happen that little monsters can't control or fix and that those things aren't the'r fault.
'I used to feel like a lot of things were my fault, especially my mom's problem but she told me no, it was a grown-up problem, it wasn't because of anything I did.'
The pair then get back to good spirits and resume cheerful play with Elmo's toy names Baby David.
The green Muppet portrays a six-and-a-half-year-old who feels that her mother's problem is her fault
+10
+10
The newest character's backstory is revealed after she was introduced in April as a Muppet in foster care. Karli's story line helps other children know they aren't the only ones dealing with it
+10
The new bilingual resources provide an opportunity for children to build resilience in an age-appropriate way
The initiative is part of the Sesame Street in Communities resources available online with creators explaining they turned to the issue of addiction since data shows 5.7 million children under age 11 live in households with a parent with substance use disorder.
Since 2015 the Communities sector has approached the subject of homelessness and traumatic experiences.
'There's nothing else out there that addresses substance abuse for young, young kids from their perspective,' said Kama Einhorn, a senior content manager with Sesame Workshop.
'Even a parent at their most vulnerable - at the worst of their struggle - can take one thing away when they watch it with their kids, then that serves the purpose,' Einhorn said.
The online-only segments with pizza-loving Karli and 10-year-old Woodbury, are augmented with ones that feature Elmo's dad, Louie, explaining that addiction is a sickness.
They also show Karli telling Elmo and Chris about her mom's special adult meetings and her own kids' ones.
Karli, voiced and manipulated by puppeteer Haley Jenkins, tells the camera: 'Hi, it's me, Karli. I'm here with my friend Salia. Both of our parents have had the same problem - addiction.'
'My mom and dad told me that addiction is a sickness,' Salia said.
'Yeah, a sickness that makes people feel like they have to take drugs or drink alcohol to feel OK. My mom was having a hard time with addiction and I felt like my family was the only one going through it. But now I've met so many other kids like us. It makes me feel like we're not alone,' the puppet continued.
'Right, we're not alone,' Salia responded. 'And it's OK to open up to people about our feelings.'
+10
Jaana, standing left, and Sam Woodbury, from Irvine, Cali., and their daughters Salia, 10, seated right, and Kya, 6, with 'Sesame Street' puppet Karli and puppeteer Haley Jenkins
+10
Karli had already been introduced as a puppet in foster care earlier this year but viewers now will understand why her mother had to go away for a while
+10
Puppeteers Haley Jenkins, left, and Leslie Carrara-Rudolph performing with their 'Sesame Street' puppets Karli and Abby Cadabby, respectively, for segments about parental addiction
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