‘Sesame Street’ Clip On Death Goes Viral [Video]

An old clip from Sesame Street about death has gone viral as the aftermath of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting settles over the country.

According to Blippit, the video finds Big Bird coming to terms with the passing of his friend Mr. Hooper. The residents of Sesame Street are then faced with the challenge of explaining the concept of death to the giant yellow bird.

When Big Bird learns that his friend is never coming back, he is understandably shaken by the news.

“But he’s got to come back. Who’s going to take care of the store? And who’s going to make my birdseed milkshakes?” he wonders aloud.

The adults tell Big Bird that he should be happy to have known Mr. Hooper while he was alive.

“It’ll never be the same around here without him, but you know something, we can all be very happy that we had a chance to be with him and to know him and to love him a lot when he was here,” the adults say.

According to The Huffington Post, the clip is being used by parents to help their children understand what happens when people die. In the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting in Connecticut, the video presents the concept of death in a way that’s easy for children to understand.

The National Institutes of Health encourages parents to discuss what happens when we die with their children should any questions be raised. The Sesame Street clip could be used to get the conversation started.

“By talking to our children about death, we may discover what they know and do not know; if they have misconceptions, fears, or worries. We can then help them by providing information, comfort, and understanding,” the institute explains.

The Sesame Street clip on death has been embedded below. Do you think the video is an appropriate way to teach kids about dying?