Sesame Street Debuts Alex Character Whose Dad is in Prison

Sesame Street is no stranger to controversy. 

From divorce to AIDS to Bert and Ernie's sexual ambiguity, the show has famously pushed the limits on what preschoolers should know. Sesame Street's latest hot topic -- incarceration -- debuted this week as an educational kit titled "Little Children, Big Challenges: Incarceration." 

The package, which consists of stories, tips and activities for caregivers and kids, is designed to act as "an educational outreach initiative for families with children (ages 3 -- 8) who are coping with a parent's incarceration," the Sesame Workshop website explains. meandunews·