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The new season of Sesame Street focuses on helping young kids build emotional skills like kindness, cooperation, and listening.
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Episodes are now more interactive and story-driven, making it easier for children to connect with the characters and lessons.
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Families can watch the show on both Netflix and PBS Kids, making it more accessible to a new generation of viewers.
For more than five decades, Sesame Street has been the most beloved show in children’s programming. It’s brought us more memorable characters and important lessons than generations of children can count. Now, with the start of its highly anticipated 56th season, it comes to us freshly reimagined and streaming for the first time on Netflix and at its home on PBS Kids.
There is so much in store this season on 123 Sesame Street, including celebrity guests and original songs. Executive producer Sal Perez says this reimagined Sesame Street invites children into the action through “high-stakes stories, powerful learning moments, and laugh-out-loud surprises” and a curriculum that is “designed to meet children’s most pressing needs.”
Here’s a first look at the trailer for Season 56.
A Fresh Format
Kids will enjoy “interactive, immersive, and visually engaging” stories released in three volumes of 4 episodes each. Each 30-minute episode will feature two 11-minute storylines. This format is two minutes longer than the old one, giving a little more time for storytelling and character expansion. And starting November 10, 2025, the 56th anniversary of the show’s original debut, viewers can take in Sesame Street in more than 30 languages.
The episodes will be released globally on Netflix and on the same day on PBS stations, the PBS KIDS channel, and across PBS KIDS digital platforms. Sesame Workshop and Netflix are highlighting the unique public-private partnership that brings Sesame Street to kids around the world, as well as ensuring communities across the United States will still have free access to the show.
The Same Lovable Gang
The season and platform may be new, but our favorite characters aren’t going anywhere. The recently released trailer gives us glimpses of Bert, Ernie, Abby, and more as they buckle up for the Sesame Street races and navigate relatable challenges together.
The first volume of episodes includes stories centered on some of our most cherished friends:
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Elmo Runs the Race, where Elmo learns some lessons about eating right to achieve strong athletic performance.
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Cookie Monster’s Big Puzzle, where Elmo becomes frustrated and Cookie Monster learns to respect what a friend wants.
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Abby’s Magical Beasties, where one of the beasties goes missing, and Abby must problem-solve.
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Grover’s Suitcase, where Grover learns to cheer up a sad Elmo by asking first how he can help.
Going Beyond the Stoop
The new season also features a fun, new animated segment, “Tales from 123,” inviting viewers inside the brownstone apartment building for the first time. This five-minute window offers a glimpse into life with the neighbors and all the adventures (and mishaps) they have together.
Get ready for the “zany elevator and musical stairs” because you never know what will happen in these action-packed residential adventures. And of course, they’ll include our favorite building super, Oscar the Grouch.
At the Heart of the Season
Although young viewers may not solve big world problems, this new season aims to teach them essential lessons using situations they can understand, such as taking turns and cheering up a sad friend. There’s a focus on emotional well-being through compassion and kindness, qualities we can all use more of in today’s world.
“With skills like perspective-taking, listening, and cooperation, children will see how even tough moments can be turned into opportunities for caring, connection, and fun,” says Rosemarie Truglio, PhD, Senior VP of Global Education for Sesame Workshop.
The season is designed to “meet the moment” for kids and parents, as Sesame Street uniquely can.
Guest Stars at the Brownstone
Netflix
Bubba Wallace guest stars on “Sesame Street”
Every season, it’s fun to see who visits Sesame Street, and this season will feature its share of celebrity guests. NASCAR champion Bubba Wallace is one of the first to visit, and pop star Miley Cyrus also stops by later in the season. These guests will not only bring more fun but also share their own points of view and life experiences with the kids, helping reinforce the lessons of the day.
The Enduring Message of ‘Sesame Street’
With its debut on this new platform, Sesame Street is ready to capture the imagination of a new generation of young viewers. This new season promises to stay true to its roots of giving preschoolers fresh insights and teaching them to be their smartest, strongest, and kindest selves. Get ready to sing, dance, laugh, and learn with your favorite neighbors.
Read the original article on Parents