ABSTRACT

The Children's Television Workshop (CTW) recognized that extraordinary promotional efforts would be needed in order to make low-income and minority families aware of the show. Once the popularity of Sesame Street was firmly established, community outreach projects no longer needed to focus exclusively on building viewership. The Sesame Street Preschool Education Program (PEP), projects treat the child-care setting as an entity in its own right and provide materials and training that supports the professional development of providers who work in these settings. Sesame Street centers were established in Federal prisons to provide facilities in which young children could engage in songs, games, and other educational activities while their parents visited relatives who were incarcerated. The use of Sesame Street PEP materials is supported by a training component for providers that offer them opportunities to practice and discuss the key elements of the program with other professionals.