Cookie Monster models self-regulation

Through the years, we’ve had many opportunities to connect with our friends at Sesame Street. So when they told us they had a new spokesperson for self-regulation, we were all ears. Our mission is to make self-regulation known far beyond our Tools schools where it’s a part of everything we do.

Check out Cookie Monster doing his very best to exhibit inhibitory control and wait for his beloved cookies. In doing so, he verbalized the thought process that was happening inside of him. While it’s so very silly coming from Cookie Monster, it demonstrates the power of private speech to impact the ability to control one’s own behavior. We get it. It can be hard to wait, especially when delicious cookies are calling our name. 

Hats off to Sesame Street for such a meaningful way to bring awareness of self-regulation development to the masses through Cookie Monster.

Hats off to Sesame Street for such a meaningful way to bring awareness of self-regulation development to the masses through Cookie Monster. We love that this will enable more families and children to learn about this. His spoof of Icona Pop’s hit song “I Love It” doesn’t just catch the viewer’s attention, it helps children learn how to focus and maintain their own attention. Without further ado, we bring you Cookie Monster’s “Me Want It (But Me Wait)." Watch below.

So why was this so important to us? To know Tools is to know that for over 30 years, we’ve built self-regulation development into every activity in our Tools curriculum. We know from neuroscience research that early childhood is a critical time for self-regulation development.  So anytime self-regulation appears in research journals and in books by the latest academic leaders, our ears perk up. For years, Tools Co-founders Dr. Elena Bodrova and Dr. Deborah Leong were among the few who were researching and talking about self-regulation. That’s why we were so excited when Cookie Monster started singing about self-regulation on national television. 

Sesame Street, thank you for creating songs to help children develop inhibitory control in such a fun, age-appropriate way. Now excuse us while we go get some cookies.

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