Sesame Workshop

Hello! We are Sesame Workshop. You might know us as the creators of the television show Sesame Street. We are a special kind of company called a non-profit organization. That means our main goal is to help people. Our mission is to help children all around the world grow smarter, stronger, and kinder. We do this by making fun shows, books, and games that teach important lessons. We were started a long time ago, back in 1968. When we first began, we had a different name. We were called the Children's Television Workshop.

Our organization was started by two people named Joan Ganz Cooney and Lloyd Morrisett. They had a very big and important idea. In the 1960s, they noticed that almost every family had a television and that children were watching it a lot. They started to wonder if television could be used for something more than just entertainment. What if it could be used to teach? They wanted to create a television show that would help young children get ready for school. Their goal was to help all kids, but especially those who did not have the chance to go to preschool. They believed a TV show could teach children their letters and numbers in a way that was exciting and easy to understand.

After a lot of planning and hard work, our first show, Sesame Street, was ready. It went on the air for the first time on November 10th, 1969. To make sure the show was both fun and a great way to learn, we worked closely with teachers and experts. They helped us understand how children learn best. One of the most special things about Sesame Street was how we mixed human actors with amazing puppets called Muppets. These colorful and friendly puppets were created by a very talented artist named Jim Henson. Characters like the tall and curious Big Bird, the funny Cookie Monster who loves snacks, and the cheerful red monster named Elmo became famous around the world. They helped us teach children the alphabet, how to count, and important lessons about being a good friend.

While Sesame Street started in the United States, our work soon spread to help children all over the world. We learned that children in different countries have different lives and cultures. So, instead of just showing the same program everywhere, we create special versions of Sesame Street that are just right for different places. We now have shows in more than 150 countries! These shows often feature their own unique, local Muppets and teach lessons that are important in their communities. Beyond our television shows, we also have special programs to help children who are going through very difficult times. For example, we create stories and resources for military families. We also have programs to support children and families who have been affected by major disasters, helping them feel safe and hopeful.

Today, so many years after we started, we are still working hard to help children learn and grow. We continue to make brand new episodes of Sesame Street for new generations of children to enjoy. But we also know that children learn in many different ways now. That's why we also create educational apps for phones and tablets, fun digital games to play online, and colorful books to read. Even though the technology we use has changed over the years, our main goal has always stayed the same. We want to use media—whether it’s on a TV, a computer, or in a book—to help every single child learn, grow, and reach their full potential.