“Sesame Street” has another new character–and he’s here to help kids understand divorce and blended families. His name is Rudy and he’s the stepbrother of Abby Cadabby, who is a fairy. Abby’s mom married Rudy’s dad, making it one big happy family.
The storyline serves to portray families that come together in perhaps slightly less conventional ways (at least, when it comes to what’s usually show on TV), like families of divorce, those who choose to adopt, and so forth.
Rudy, who is 3, will first appear on this Saturday’s episode “Hello, Rudy.”
Sesame Street Workshop‘s press release explained how we need to celebrate all families:
“Families come in many forms – including newly-blended families, which can present unique challenges for kids. As part of Sesame Street’s kindness curriculum, kids will watch as Abby and Rudy meet for the first time, get to know each other, and overcome their differences to embrace their new sibling relationship.”
On Friday, the two characters, Rudy and Abby, appeared on “TODAY” to explain how they’re getting along and adjusting, despite their differences (in this case: Rudy is a monster and Abby is a fairy). Abby said, for instance, that differences are just a small part of the picture, “All of us come from different places right? But we all have something in common.”
Watch the video below to find out more about Rudy:
