| Category | Information |
| Title | Don't Get Pushy |
| Episode Number | 4633 |
| Season | 46 |
| HBO Air Date | August 20, 2016 |
| PBS Air Date | October 10, 2016 |
| Repeat Status | Repeat of Episode 4402 |
| Primary Curriculum | Self-Regulation and Respect |
| Key Emotional Strategy | Hug Yourself |
| Main Muppet Characters | Rosita, Baby Bear, Telly Monster |
| Human Character | Gordon (Roscoe Orman) |
| Classroom Topic | The letter T |
| Safety Group | The Safety Chickens |
| Safety Lesson | Give a Peck for Safety and Respect |
| Award Type | Gold Stars |
| Cold Open Segment | Happy and Sad Opposites |
| Cold Open Muppet | Cookie Monster |
| Letter of the Day | E |
| Letter Meaning | Emotions |
| Letter Song | Goodbye, Bad Attitude |
| Parody Title | Les Mousserables |
| Parody Lead Muppet | Cookie Monster as Jean Bon-Bon |
| Parody Lesson | Identifying feelings through observation |
| Parody Musical Numbers | One Day S'more |
| Number of the Day | 11 |
| Number Short | Lonely Eleven |
| Animation Artist | Mari Jaye Blanchard |
| Musical Segment | Beach the Musical |
| Musical Lead | Elmo |
| Musical Support | Tiny Shrimp |
| Musical Setting | Happy Crab Beach |
| Outro Segment | The art of cookie eating |
| Outro Participants | Cookie Monster, Rosita, and a girl |
| Director | Ken Diego |
| Writer | Belinda Ward |
| Executive Producer | Carol-Lynn Parente |
| Producer | Benjamin Lehmann |
| Studio | Kaufman Astoria Studios |
| Production Company | Sesame Workshop |
Facts
The Les Misérables Parody
Cookie Monster plays Jean Bon-Bon in a parody of a famous musical. He's on the hunt for snacks in Paris. He sings about his hungry tummy while he wanders through the streets of Paris looking for a cookie in a parody of I Dreamed a Dream. He can tell when his friends are sad or angry just by looking at their faces while they're out for a stroll. You see him watching their bodies. This segment teaches kids to recognize feelings.
Safety Chickens And The Safety Dance
The Safety Chickens show up during the game to perform a song called the Safety Dance. This parody gets the students to respect each other. They're dancing around the set and reminding everyone of the rules with the phrase "Give a Peck for Safety and Respect." Their advice helps Rosita understand her actions. This 1980s pop parody is pretty funny.
Hugging For Self Control
Gordon gives Rosita a physical strategy because she has a hard time controlling her hands when she gets excited about the school game. He even shows her how to give herself a hug. She uses this when she feels pushy. You're watching her use the technique during a counting lesson with your favorite triangle shapes. The song is all about the power of self-hugs. Kids learn to manage their energy.
The Musical Finale Edit
Producers cut down the last musical number of the Les Mousserables segment for this broadcast to fit the new thirty-minute running time. They took out the original movie trailer intro. You hear a shortened version of the song "One Day S'more." This edit lets the show move quickly between segments. It makes sure the episode doesn't go over thirty minutes.
New Audio for Letter E
The Letter of the Day uses old footage of Elmo and his friends dancing in a colorful studio to celebrate the alphabet. Producers added new audio for this airing. Elmo also links the letter E to emotions to match the day's plot. This update makes sure the segment lines up with the script. The workshop repurposes expensive puppet scenes.
The Lonely Eleven Animation
Mari Jaye Blanchard made a special animation with a character named Lonely Eleven living in a world of hand-drawn numbers. The numbers interact with each other in a colorful and strange environment. This visual variety breaks the puppet pace. You'll see your child learn counting skills through this artistic sequence. The art brings new expression styles to the table.
Aquatic Content, Revisited
The episode includes Beach the Musical, which also appeared in the previous broadcast. It provides a fantasy adventure for viewers. This fantasy came up before. Elmo stops by Happy Crab Beach to give a little shrimp a confidence boost. Reusing these segments keeps the high production quality of the educational series. You follow a story you've probably heard before.
Educational Context and Viewer Guide
Primary Lesson: Self-Regulation and Physical Boundaries
Pedagogical goal: identifying physical impulses and using replacement behaviors to manage excitement or frustration.
Parental Note: Rosita is feeling excited during a school game. She pushes Baby Bear to reach the chalkboard. She accidentally hurts her friend. Gordon teaches Rosita a physical strategy called the self hug. This action lets her release energy safely. You can use this method with your child. When kids are excited, they sometimes push or hit each other to be first. Help your child learn to squeeze their own arms when they feel a strong urge. This physical feedback helps calm the body. It keeps your friends safe while you're playing.
Expert Take: This episode is all about impulse control. Rosita has a physiological reaction to her emotions. She can't seem to stop herself from touching people. Gordon provides a sensory replacement. This technique helps a child pause before acting. The Les Mousserables segment promotes emotional literacy. Kids learn to recognize different feelings, like sadness or happiness, by watching the characters. This helps people understand each other better. These skills help kids understand the consequences of their actions. The early numeracy segments use visual counting to reinforce the number 11.
Respecting Personal Space
Rosita shoves Baby Bear out of the way during a school game. She wants to be the first person at the board. This makes her friend feel down. Gordon suggests she hug herself to stop the urge to push. You can use this physical cue with your child. It helps them control their impulses by keeping their hands to themselves in a packed room at school.
Building Child Confidence
A tiny shrimp feels too small. Elmo pays her a visit on the shore to help her out. He shows her size doesn't stop her from being successful. You can use this story to motivate your child when they're having a hard time with physical activities. Let them know what kind of skills they've got. This helps build a positive self-image.
Handling Overwhelming Urges
Telly takes on the role of the teacher. Rosita is pretty excited. She draws letters. She knocks Baby Bear down twice. She wants to move quickly. Gordon suggests a song. This helps her stay calm. She learns to wrap her arms around her own chest when she feels an urge to push others. This physical action creates a pause. You might find this technique helpful for your toddler during busy playdates when a lot of kids are running around in a small space. You can show them how to use their bodies to create a safe boundary for friends. This method lets them take part in group activities without accidentally hurting anyone. Practice this at home. Do this before your guests arrive. It gives your child a concrete tool for self-control. They feel more in control of their movements because they have a plan for their physical energy. You could ask them to show you their own protective hug before they enter a room with other students or family members.
Learning About Emotions
Cookie Monster is feeling good about his snack. He gets sad when the food goes away. Jean Bon-Bon looks at his friends' faces to figure out what they're feeling. You can help your child name their feelings. This practice helps you build social skills. It helps them understand people better by observing facial expressions and body language in others during difficult social situations.
Changing Negative Attitudes
Elmo sings about bad attitudes. This helps them start their day off on the right foot. You could use a song like that when your kid gets frustrated with a task. It helps you shift your mindset to a more positive one. This makes your daily routine easier because your child feels in control of their emotions during stressful moments.
