'Sesame Street' Characters, New Puppet 'Alex' Has Dad in Jail

Sesame Street, the famous children's program, is about to add a new puppet to its cast of characters. His name is Alex and his father is in jail.

The Street has never shied away from broaching tough subject matters before, so it seems only logical that they would tackle an issue as prevalent as incarceration. In the United States, there are more children whose parents are in prison than there are parent's who are deployed.

This is an issue that affects millions of children and OFFBEAT approves their brave and courageous stand...even though they could have gone farther.

Alex, after all, will not be one of the main characters. Instead, he will be part of the "Little Children, Big Challenges: Incarceration" series. This takes place in what the Street is referring to as an online toolkit.

Alex will address such issues as how much he misses his father and how he doesn't want other children to know that his dad is in prison. As much as this character was created to assist children who are experiencing similar situations, Street also hopes to help parents open dialogue with their children.

Sesame Street issued the following statement on their website, concerning the toolkit:

"The incarceration of a loved one can be very overwhelming for both children and caregivers. It can bring about big changes and transitions. In simple everyday ways, you can comfort your child and guide her through these tough moments. With your love and support she can get through anything that comes her way. Here are some tools to help you with the changes your child is going through."