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muppets		 muppets Behind the Scenes Sesame Beginnings Beginning Together Press Kit
Sesame Beginnings Beginning Together Press Kit
Behind the Scenes		 .
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. . Press Releases . .
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Contacts
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. . Beginning Together
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Make Music Together
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Muppet Bios
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. . Image Resources . .
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. . Advisory Board . .
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Production Bios
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Muppeteer Bios
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Sesame Workshop
        Fact Sheet
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About ZERO TO
        THREE
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ZERO TO THREE
        Statement
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watch together play together learn together
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Statement from Zero to Three		 .
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Zero to Three
Statement from ZERO TO THREE on Partnership with Sesame Workshop on Sesame Beginnings DVDs

ZERO TO THREE's (ZTT) work on behalf of babies, toddlers and their families is based on the robust body of research showing that quality early learning experiences are grounded in strong parent-child interactions.

A Kaiser Family Foundation* study revealed that millions of children under age 2 are watching television and videos. This study led ZTT to identify an important need to help parents understand how to make better TV/video viewing choices for young children. ZTT recommends that if parents choose to allow their young children to watch TV/video they should:


make sure the content is developmentally appropriate.


watch with their children in order to make the experience as interactive as possible .


not let young children simply sit in front of the TV alone.

The educational organization, Sesame Workshop, also recognized this trend as a result of both the Kaiser study and findings that Sesame Street videos are frequently viewed by children under age 2. Though Sesame Street is based on a carefully researched educational curriculum, the program and videos are designed for children ages 2-5 years. In response, Sesame Workshop decided to create a DVD series that is developmentally appropriate for children under 2 and promotes learning through parent-child interaction.

Sesame Workshop approached ZTT to collaborate on this new project since the two organizations share similar goals. Sesame Beginnings, a new, research-based line of DVDs, is the result of this shared vision. Sesame Workshop developed Sesame Beginnings in collaboration with a national group of child development and media experts, and ZERO TO THREE. ZTT collaborated with Sesame Workshop to produce DVDs that are developmentally appropriate for young children and create parent education information for the DVDs.

The DVDs are specifically designed to encourage parent-child interaction. Each segment shows a baby Muppet and their caregiver engaged in everyday activities that are both fun and are also learning opportunities. For example, Prairie Dawn's mother turns what could be a power struggle into a game by playing peek-a-boo while getting Prairie dressed.

The DVDs also include several parent education features that:


give parents specific suggestions for creating their own special moments with their child while watching the DVDs together.


provide research-based child development information to help parents understand how to best promote their child's healthy development.

ZTT strongly believes that the most valuable learning experiences for babies and toddlers are through everyday interactions with their loved ones and exploration of the world. For parents who choose to allow their young children to watch TV, we believe it is important that they have access to programs with developmentally appropriate content that promotes the parent-child relationship. Sesame Beginnings offers such content.

*Rideout,V., Vandewater, E., & Wartella, A. (2003) Zero to six: Electronic media in the lives of infants, toddler and preschoolers. Menlo Park, CA: Kaiser Family Foundation
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