Like most girls her age, Sophia has a princess obsession. I fought it for a long time, but I’m happy she also likes to play with tools too. I know it’s the dressing up that she enjoys most about being a princess. I worry that if she watches too many Disney princess movies, she’ll absorb the unrealistic ideas about her body image as well as the knight in shining armor mentality. I know she’s only four, but she already thinks that Cinderella can only have yellow hair.
At 4 years old, I was sad when she decided Sesame Street wasn’t for her anymore. I remember watching Sesame Street when I was in middle school! Once Abby Cadabby, the fairy in training, had more screen time, she fell back in love with Sesame Street. That Abby was a muppet she could identify with. She has a wand, wings and fun clothes!
I love that Sesame Street shows so much diversity: in the characters’ ethnic background, how they dress, even whether they travel on two feet or a wheelchair or wings (like Abby). And it’s all treated as everyday things instead of making the person who is different stand out.
Imagine my surprise when I saw an episode titled Princess Show. Zoe, Abby, and a penguin all played princess. They had on hats or tiaras and fancy dresses. In the course of play, penguin princess takes a leap into the air and gets stuck on the balcony. Of course the Prince (played by hilarious Paul Rudd) comes in to save the day. He pulls on his previous experience from saving Rapunzel to save her, “Rapunzel let down your long hair!”
Abby and Zoe inform him that she’s really a penguin and doesn’t have hair. Abby then flies up to save the penguin. So the damsel in distress situation occurs twice. Twice the Prince comes to save the day but in the end the girls, ahem, muppets save themselves.
I sat on the couch trying not to jump up and down. Hubby is staring at me like I’m crazy. What an amazing message! These princesses saved themselves and each other! No inept prince needed!
You can see clip of Episode 4212 Princess Show. I can’t figure out to embed it or I would!
Just when I didn’t think I could love Sesame Street more. I
Photo via Muppet Wikia