Every year on November 10th, fans around the world celebrate Sesame Street Day; a day dedicated to one of the most beloved and influential children’s shows ever created. Sesame Street was more than a TV show; it was a celebration of joy, learning, and the timeless lessons that shaped generations.

If you can still hum “Can you tell me how to get, how to get to Sesame Street?” without missing a beat, you’re part of a timeline when children were raised on sunshine, alphabet songs, and gentle life lessons disguised as puppet adventures.

In the United States, Sesame Street first aired in 1969 and became much more than a children’s programme. Although it initially started as a fun and educational show, it gradually evolved into a national cultural phenomenon.

Sesame Street was a classroom, a community, and for many of us, a warm corner of childhood where learning felt like play. While Elmo’s giggles and Cookie Monster’s crumbs filled the screen, something far more meaningful was happening in the background. We learned inclusivity, how to ask questions, and how to be curious.

In Bangladesh, that spirit lives on through Sisimpur, whose theme song begins with the unforgettable “Cholche gari, sisimpur e”. Since its launch in 2005, Sisimpur has become a cherished part of childhood for countless young viewers here, teaching letters, numbers, social values, togetherness, and respect for diversity in a culturally relevant Bengali format.

What makes Sesame Street (and Sisimpur) so timeless is that they did not just teach ABCs and 123s. They taught us how to care. They introduced us to characters of different backgrounds, personalities, and abilities, helping make the world slightly more inclusive and friendly. The puppets, the songs, and the sketches were fun and playful, but every episode carried a meaningful lesson.

Fast forward to today, our screens are crowded with high-quality, colour-graded content, yet few shows offer the same genuine warmth as Sesame Street. Maybe, as graduates and young professionals navigating an uncertain and complex world, we could all borrow a page from their script: be as curious as Elmo, as brave as Big Bird, or as loyal as Bert and Ernie. Or, from Sisimpur, be as kind as Tuktuki and as imaginative as Ikri.

So this Sesame Street Day, take a break from your grown-up schedule and revisit the neighbourhood that made learning magical. Watch an old episode, stream one of their heartwarming feature films, or even tune into Sisimpur for a wave of nostalgia. You might just find that the best lessons about kindness, curiosity, and community were already taught to us by a bunch of cheerful puppets years ago.