Elmo asks what kids everywhere want to know about addiction

“Karli’s mommy was away for a while, but now she’s back! But Karli’s mommy looks and acts different than she did before,” Elmo commented in a recent episode of Sesame Workshop. Elmo’s dad explains the intricacies of addiction to Elmo, to get to the heart of how children might experience alcohol or opioid addiction, an issue impacting 4% of children in America. 

The conversation was cushioned between some lighthearted conversation about monster ball, when Elmo abruptly transitions (like kids tend to do) to the tough stuff. “How come Karli’s mommy had to go away?” Elmo asks. His dad replies, “Karli’s mommy had a kind of sickness and had to get some help…Karli’s mommy has a disease called addiction.” He goes on to explain that it makes parents want a “grown-up drink” like alcohol, or other drugs to feel OK. “That can make a person act strange, in ways they can’t control,” Elmo’s dad gently explains. 

While the episode sheds light on talking about addiction with kids, with well-intentioned questions like, “Why doesn’t she just stop?” and, “Will Karli’s mommy get better?” In reality, growing up amidst parental addiction can be incredibly complex and traumatizing. People like Trevis Simon, who shared with NPR in a recent article about growing up with a parent with addiction, have seen a much scarier version of parental addiction and dealt with abuse and neglect. “I knew if my mom had her drugs, that she was fun mommy. And if she didn’t then she was mean mommy,” she told NPR.

This type of capital-T Trauma can stress a child’s healthy development and lead to what experts cause adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), but healing from ACEs and other childhood trauma is possible, writes Wendy L. Hunter, MD, a pediatrician and co-host of the Pediatrician Next Door Podcast in an article for Motherly. Dr. Hunter recommends routine, reassurance and stress-regulating techniques to help kids heal from trauma. 

But Sesame Workshop producers aren’t shying away from these hard-to-understand topics for kids, instead providing resources for additional topics like “What are traumatic experiences” and “Transitioning between parents.” They report 80% of parents feel the program even helps their child prepare for school, and they’ve aimed to prioritize “diversity, equity and inclusion” to help kids grow “smarter, stronger and kinder.” For more episodes and resources, check out Sesame Workshop.