| Category | Details |
| Title | Move It! (Season 46) |
| Air Date | May 14, 2016 (HBO) / January 9, 2017 (PBS) |
| Primary Theme | Physical Health: Exercise & Energy Regulation |
| Movement Types | The Wave and Wiggle, The Jumpin' Dance, Birdie Moves, Gymnastics. |
| Cookie's Conflict | Sedentary Behavior (Video games and "sit and snacking"). |
| Energy Paradox | Movement creates energy, whereas sitting around leads to feeling tired. |
| Guest Star | Ne-Yo (Singing "You've Got a Body, So Move It"). |
| Social Resolution | Nina helps the Two-Headed Monster compromise via a "Hybrid Move." |
| Murray's Escuela | Gymnastics School (Focus on handstands, rolls, and flexibility). |
| Elmo’s World | Jumping (Exploring the physics of vertical movement and gravity). |
| Cultural Reference | Grover shows an Egyptian-style move (referencing the "Walk Like an Egyptian" pose). |
| Key Muppets | Elmo, Abby, Grover, Cookie Monster, Big Bird, Two-Headed Monster, Count. |
| Human Cast | Chris (Starting the day) and Nina (The physical activity mediator). |
| Letter of the Day | M (Move, Movement, Muscle, Muscle-memory, Marathon, Metabolism). |
| Number of the Day | 8 (Count's stomp; "Eight is Great" song; 8 park dancers). |
| Educational Focus | Life Science (Health), Physics (Motion), Literacy (M), Math (8). |
| Sponsors | M, 8 |
Facts
The "Move It Day" Concept
"Move It Day" was created as part of Sesame Street's broader health and wellness initiative, which was designed to combat sedentary behavior in children. Unlike the "scram" movement Oscar the Grouch is known to demand, this episode focuses on active physical play. You'll see that even the Two-Headed Monster joins in—one head wants to dance and the other wants to jump—teaching a subtle lesson in cooperation and compromise through Nina's "Jumpin' Dance."
Ne-Yo's High-Energy Anthem
Grammy-winning artist Ne-Yo visits the street to perform the song "You've Got a Body, So Move It." We filmed this segment with a contemporary R&B beat to make exercise feel like a dance party rather than a chore. The backup dancers are a mix of Muppets and children, showing that movement is for everyone. Ne-Yo's performance was a big highlight of the "supersized fun" theme in Season 46.
The "Sit and Snack" Satire
Cookie Monster adds a humorous twist to the episode's message by inventing his own "exercise": the sit and snack. This character choice was a deliberate way to model the common struggle between choosing screen time (playing games on a phone) and physical activity. It uses "executive function" skills to show Cookie Monster shifting his focus and discovering that moving actually gives him more energy than a nap.
Egyptian Move Origin
Grover brings in a special Egyptian-style move to get the gang in shape. It's a nod to the "Walk Like an Egyptian" dance craze of the 1980s, adapted for a new generation. The puppet's stiff, angular movements were a technical challenge for the puppeteer, requiring precise arm-rod control to keep the "Egyptian" silhouette while the puppet was jumping and wiggling.
The Two-Headed Newsstand
In Season 46, the Two-Headed Monster was given a permanent "job" on the street—managing a newsstand by the subway station. This episode uses their dual personality to show how to deal with internal conflict. Nina (played by Suki Lopez) uses the "Jumpin' Dance" to solve problems, which is a big part of the show's 2016 social-emotional curriculum.
Musical Production Trivia
The song "Move It" was composed by JP Rende and Kathryn Raio-Rende, with lyrics by long-time Sesame writer Molly Boylan. You'll notice the song has a driving pop rhythm that was digitally mixed to sound like a modern radio hit. This professional production quality was a hallmark of the Season 46 "reboot" when the show moved to HBO and shortened its runtime to thirty minutes.
Gymnastics School Reality
The "Murray Has a Little Lamb" segment features a real gymnastics school in New York City. The kids you see doing handstands and rolls are actually students, not pros. This segment was originally produced in 2008 and was digitally remastered for this 2016 broadcast. You'll see that the "Guessing Game" part was taken out to keep the episode moving quickly and focused on movement.
Counting the Beat
Today's number is 8. To go along with the "move it" theme, the live-action film segment shows eight people "breaking it down" (breakdancing) in a public park. This makes the math curriculum fit with the physical activity theme. You might not know that the Count's song "Eight is Great" was originally from Season 41, but it was re-edited with new sound effects to make the "eight-beat" more prominent for dancing along.
Educational Context & Viewer Guide
Primary Lesson: Physical Health and the Benefits of Exercise.
Pedagogical goal: To encourage "active play" by showing that physical movement—like dancing, jumping, and imitating animal motions—boosts energy levels and improves overall well-being.
Note to parents: Today is "Move It Day" on Sesame Street! While everyone else is jumping and dancing, Cookie Monster is trying to "exercise" by sitting and snacking. He quickly realizes that sitting around makes him feel tired, while moving gives him a "power boost" of energy. If your kid's been spending too much time on screens or sedentary toys, this is a great episode for them. You can join the fun by pausing the show and doing the "Birdie Exercises" or the "Jumpin' Dance" together in your living room.
Expert Take: This episode talks about the idea of energy regulation. It's a great way to show that exercise doesn't "use up" all your energy. In fact, it stimulates the body and improves mood. Just look at Cookie Monster! By featuring a gymnastics school in the "Murray Has a Little Lamb" segment, the show introduces gross motor skill development, focusing on balance, coordination, and strength. The Two-Headed Monster's dilemma also teaches conflict resolution through creative "movement integration," which combines two different ideas (jumping and dancing) into one new activity.
Cold Open
Grover starts the day off with a lively demo of different ways to move. He shows off a bunch of poses, including some "Egyptian-like" moves that he later teaches his friends. This segment is a great resource for playtime, as it encourages preschoolers to get up and follow Grover's lead. By showing exercise as a fun and expressive activity, the show helps your child develop a positive relationship with physical health from the start.
The Main Street Story
Elmo, Abby, and Grover try to get Cookie Monster to join "Move It Day." At first, Cookie Monster prefers his own version of exercise, which he calls the "sit and snack." He even tries to swap movement for playing video games on his phone. The gang uses catchy songs and "birdie exercises" with Big Bird to explain that sitting around actually makes you feel more tired. This story is a great example of self-regulation and healthy habits. Eventually, Cookie Monster figures out that moving his body gives him the energy he was missing. Your child will learn that exercise is key to feeling good.
Murray Has a Little Lamb
Ovejita helps Murray find a gymnastics school by leading him there on his hands and knees. This segment is all about gross motor development, as Murray watches real kids practice balance and coordination. By showing a school focused on movement, the show gets students excited about learning. Your child will be inspired to try new physical challenges and learn that mastering moves takes persistence and practice.
The Jumpin' Dance
Nina helps sort out a disagreement between the Two-Headed Monster. One head wants to dance, while the other wants to jump. Nina helps them learn to "jumpin' dance" to get around any creative differences and get the job done. This segment is all about social-emotional intelligence and collaboration. It shows how to find a middle ground through cognitive flexibility. You can teach your child that working together can lead to a new activity that makes everyone happy.
You've Got a Body, So Move It
Ne-Yo joins the Sesame Street residents for a soulful performance. This song really hits the nail on the head when it comes to the episode's main message: celebrating physical health and self-efficacy. It's all about encouraging kids to be proud of what their bodies can do and to keep moving.
Elmo's World: Jumping
Elmo looks at how people and animals use their legs to reach new heights. He compares the jumps of a preschooler to those of a kangaroo or a frog. This segment is all about supporting scientific inquiry and an appreciation for nature. In the outro, Cookie Monster shows some kindness by sharing a cookie with Rosita. These stories give a balanced look at well-being. Taking care of your body through exercise is just as important as taking care of your friends through kindness.
