| Category | Details |
| Episode Number | 0573 |
| Season | Season 5 (1973-1974) |
| Air Date | January 9, 1974 |
| Letters of the Day | C, O, J, S, U |
| Number of the Day | 6 |
| Primary Plots | Oscar's fake cold; David's lost ring; Rope letters |
| Human Cast | Gordon, Susan, Maria, David, Jay |
| Muppet Stars | Oscar, Big Bird, Ernie, Bert, Cookie Monster, Kermit, Grover |
| Concept Focus | Literacy (Word families -ET), Open/Closed, One of These Things |
| Bilingual Element | Tortilla contest film; "Abierto" animation |
| Big Bird's Meal | Four bowls of birdseed (including dessert) |
| Sponsors | C, 6 |
Street Scenes
Gordon finds a thick rope on the banister of 123 Sesame Street. He carries the heavy fibers to the yard. Gordon and the kids bend the rope into the shapes of the letters O, C, J, and S. This hands-on activity connects physical movement to literacy. You can help your child by making letters with household objects. This helps kids build a visual memory of the alphabet.
Oscar the Grouch just wants some alone time. He pretends to have a miserable cold to keep the neighbors away. Oscar uses exaggerated coughing and sneezing to back up his claim. His plan doesn't go as planned when Maria, David, and Susan show they care. They smother the Grouch with blankets and hot chicken soup. Oscar figures out that being sick gets more attention than just being grumpy. He recovers quickly to get away from all the pampering. Oscar joins a neighborhood softball game instead.
David has a panic attack at Hooper's Store. He realizes his prized class ring is missing from the snapped string around his neck. David rushes through the store, looking for something. Maria finds the jewelry in the yard and tries to return it. David is frustrated and won't listen to her. Maria holds the ring right up in front of his face to catch his attention. Once he sees the object, his anger melts away. You use this to talk about how intense emotions can make it hard to communicate.
Big Bird plays a game of One of These Things with four bowls of birdseed. He focuses on the size differences between the containers. Big Bird shocks Susan by announcing his plan to eat every bowl. He says the biggest bowl is his dessert. This activity helps kids learn about volume and categorization. You can also ask your child to compare portions during meals to help build their math skills.
Jay leads the kids through some playful moves in the barrels near the nest. The vibe in the neighborhood stays lively as the day comes to a close. David announces the sponsors while the community gathers to say goodbye. Shared activities create a sense of community for everyone on the street. You encourage your child to play group games to build social bonds.
Parent's Guide
Oscar fakes a cold to get his neighbors to leave him alone. His neighbors pitch in with soup and blankets. They're always there for you. Oscar thinks that this attention makes him more work than it's worth. You can use this method to handle a child's grumpy behavior. Try to avoid a power struggle. Be extra kind in your response. This nudge fosters a positive mood without any back and forth.
Gordon uses a thick rope to make letters. He bends the rope into an O and an S. Kids see letters as abstract lines on paper. Kinesthetic learning creates a physical mental map. You can make letters with your child using spaghetti or play dough. This movement connects their body to the reading process.
David loses his class ring. He's pretty frustrated about it. Maria tries to return the ring to him. David ignores her because he's busy searching. Big feelings can get in the way of logic. This state makes it so you only see things from your own perspective. It's a good idea to teach your child to stop and breathe when they're feeling overwhelmed. This practice is great for clearing your head during a crisis. When you're thinking clearly, you can see the solution.
Ernie brings a bowling ball and an umbrella into the bathtub. Bert's feeling a bit annoyed by these items. Laughter is good for your child's development of logical reasoning skills. Kids love to laugh at silly mistakes. This laughter reinforces their understanding of the world. You should ask your child why an umbrella in a shower is silly. This question makes them think about the connection between cause and effect.
Maria knows Oscar's cough is a lie. She doesn't argue with him. She goes along with his ruse to change his behavior. Maria uses tactical empathy. She sees that he needs to be in control. Don't be fooled by a child's fake symptoms. The main thing is to find a way to get things sorted out quickly.