Military Families Near and Far FAQs
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About Sesame Workshop
Sesame Workshop
What is Sesame Workshop and why does it do what it does?
Sesame Workshop is the nonprofit educational organization that revolutionized children's television programming with the landmark Sesame Street. In addition to local Sesame Street programs, seen in over 150 countries, the Workshop produces The Electric Company and other acclaimed shows, with the goal of helping children reach their highest potential. Beyond television, the Workshop creates content for multiple media platforms including radio, film, home video, the Internet, mobile devices, gaming consoles, books, magazines, and community outreach. Workshop initiatives focus on a wide range of issues, from math skills and literacy to health, diversity, and military deployment. Initiatives meet specific needs to help young children and families develop critical skills, acquire healthy habits, and build emotional strength to prepare them for lifelong learning.
How do I find out more about Sesame Workshop?
For more information about Sesame Workshop, visit http://www.sesameworkshop.org.
You can also sign up for a Sesame Workshop newsletter. The Workshop offers four newsletters: Sesame Workshop News, Sesame Family News, and Sesame Street Magazine, and Sesame Street Digital. You may sign up for these newsletters here.
Sesame Street
What's the story behind Sesame Street?
Sesame Street debuted on November 10, 1969. The series was designed to use television to teach preschoolers, and give them skills that would ensure a successful transition from home to school. The show gave children a head start, and aimed to provide them with the confidence to learn the alphabet, numbers, and social skills.
Since its beginning, Sesame Street has been the most thoroughly researched and tested television show ever produced, and it has received more Emmy Awards than any other program in television history.
Where can I find more Sesame Street content?
For Sesame Street videos, games, playlists, parent articles, and more, visit www.sesamestreet.org. To visit the Sesame Street store, click here.
The Electric Company
What is The Electric Company? Is it the same show I remember from the 1970s?
The Electric Company first aired in 1971 with the goal of addressing increasing reading failure among American schoolchildren. The series, which starred Bill Cosby, Morgan Freeman, and Rita Moreno, among others, continued until 1977.
In 2008 a new version of The Electric Company launched. With a renewed focus on closing the literacy gap among 6–9-year-old emerging readers, The Electric Company connects with children, parents, and educators alike through the use of popular culture, celebrity guest stars, music videos and comedy. This Emmy Award-winning multi-media literacy experience engages and entertains children on TV, online, in the community, and in the classroom through animation, live-action adventure, videos, games, and activities. The Electric Company unlocks a world of learning and imagination as kids follow the adventures of a group of friends with unique "literacy superpowers" while they foil the mischievous efforts of some tricky neighborhood Pranksters and solve the problem of the day.
Where can I find more Electric Company content?
To access Electric Company videos, games, and other content, visit www.pbskids.org/electriccompany.
About Sesame Workshop's Military Families Initiatives
Talk, Listen, Connect
What is Talk, Listen, Connect?
As many as 700,000 children under the age of five have a parent in the military. Recognizing the need for first-rate media-based resources to support military families, in fall 2006, Sesame Workshop launched the bilingual (English/Spanish), multimedia outreach initiative Talk, Listen, Connect: Helping Families During Military Deployment (TLC). This critical outreach tool helped military families and their young children cope with the challenges of deployment and build resilience in times of separation and change. The overwhelming response to this program revealed a need for additional resources and in 2008 and 2010, respectively, Sesame Workshop followed up with Talk, Listen, Connect: Deployments, Homecomings, Changes (TLC 2) and Talk, Listen, Connect: When Families Grieve (TLC 3).
Since its initial launch, Talk, Listen, Connect has expanded to include a free Sesame Street/USO family tour; two PBS primetime specials; Sesame Rooms, bringing toys and furniture to military spaces; and the Military Families Near and Far website.
How do I find out more about Talk, Listen, Connect initiatives?
You can learn more about Talk, Listen, Connect at http://www.sesamestreet.org/parents/topicsandactivities/toolkits/tlc.
Where do I find Talk, Listen, Connect videos and related resources?
Talk, Listen, Connect videos are available in the Resources for Grown-Ups section of the Military Families Near and Far website. These videos and related resources, including extensive tips for parents, downloadable child activities, and links to outside websites, are free and accessible to all site visitors, regardless of whether they have signed up for the site.
Military families can also order free materials online from Military OneSource.
Sesame Street Family Connections
What happened to Sesame Street Family Connections?
In June 2009, Sesame Workshop extended Talk, Listen, Connect into a robust online experience with the launch of the Sesame Street Family Connections (SSFC) website. The website was created to facilitate interaction between deployed or injured soldiers and their loved ones when distance or disability made everyday communication difficult, and was intended primarily to serve the needs of families with preschool children.
In 2010, with support from the Defense Centers of Excellence, Sesame Workshop began a major expansion of the Sesame Street Family Connections that included not only technological updates, but also the enhancement of existing features, and the creation of new tools and resources aimed at school-age children. The result of these efforts is the new site, Military Families Near and Far.
If I had an account on Sesame Street Family Connections, do I need to sign up again to join Military Families Near and Far?
No. Sesame Street Family Connections accounts have been automatically carried over to the new site. You can log in to Military Families Near and Far using the same e-mail address and password that you used before. Unfortunately, your content (art, photos, video, etc.) could not be transferred to the new site. E-mails were sent out prior to the launch of the new site with recommendations for how to save existing content. Unsaved content from Sesame Street Family Connections is now irretrievable.
Military Families Near and Far
What is Military Families Near and Far?
Military Families Near and Far is a free, bilingual (English and Spanish) website where families can create, communicate, and stay connected. Developed for military families, the site provides new ways for preschool and school-aged children to express themselves and communicate within their own family networks.
Families can add characters from Sesame Street and The Electric Company to their networks to get messages from these special friends. New interactive tools for creating art, music, videos, letters, cards, and notebooks help kids explore their emotions and encourage communication. Materials from Sesame Street's ongoing Talk, Listen, Connect initiative and new materials from The Electric Company provide resources for parents and caregivers to help children cope with challenging transitions.
Military Families Near and Far is an extension of Sesame Workshop's ongoing efforts to support our troops and their families.
What kinds of resources for parents of military families are on the Military Families Near and Far website? Where can I find these?
Parents and caregivers can find information and multimedia resources on the topics of military deployments, multiple deployments, homecomings, changes, grief, and self-expression in Resources for Grown-Ups. To learn more about these resources, refer to "What is Talk, Listen, Connect?" above.
What resources has The Electric Company created for military kids and their parents? Where can I find these on the Military Families Near and Far website?
The Electric Company has created several new resources geared toward military children, ages 6–8, and their parents. These include a new song and music video, "Let It Out!"; testimonial videos featuring children talking about the experiences of military families; two posters; a downloadable magazine especially for military kids; and a mobile app where kids can record their moods and learn words to better express their feelings. All of these resources, or links to them, can be found in under "Self-Expression" in the Resources for Grown-Ups section of the site.
Using Military Families Near and Far
Creating an Account
Do I have to join Military Families Near and Far to use site features or access resources?
No. Although the full website is not available to non-registered users, several sections are accessible to all users, regardless of whether or not they are account holders. These are:
- Resources for Grown-Ups, where you can access extensive materials created to support parents of military families.
- How To Use This Site, where you can learn more about the site's features.
- Create Art!, an interactive feature that allows users to choose from a variety of templates and create artwork using a paint tool, stickers, and word banks.
- Make Music!, an interactive feature that allows users to remix songs from The Electric Company.
All of these sections are accessible from the Military Families Near and Far homepage.
I just made some art (or music) on Military Families Near and Far, but I can't save or send it. Why not?
Although the Create Art! and Make Music! features of the site are available to everyone, only account holders can save, post, or send their creations. If you have already registered for an account, but still can't save, post, or send your work, make sure that you are logged in.
Why should I join Military Families Near and Far?
Joining Military Families Near and Far is free and easy. Once you sign up, you will have full access to everything the site offers, including the ability to:
- Set up a family network
- Create customized personal profile pages
- Exchange messages with members of your family network
- Create and share art, music, writing, photos, videos, and sound recordings
- Invite characters from Sesame Street and The Electric Company to participate in your network
- Visit the Sesame Street and Electric Company family networks
For information about various site features and recommendations for how to use the site with specific age groups, visit Tips for Site Users.
To sign up now, click here.
How safe is Military Families Near and Far? Who can see my profile?
We take online child safety very seriously. That's why only an account holder can create profiles and invite family members via email. No one else has access to your family network unless you specifically invite them. Only people in your family network can see your profile and items you create.
Who can join Military Families Near and Far?
While Military Families Near and Far is specifically designed for military families, anyone can join. No military identification is required and you can register using any e-mail address you want.
How do I join Military Families Near and Far?
You can join Military Families Near and Far in three quick and easy steps:
- Click on the "Sign Up" button on the homepage, or, to sign up now, click here.
- Create Your Account. You will be asked to enter your personal e-mail address and password. This is the information you will use to log in to the Military Families Near and Far site. Please write down your login information and keep it in a safe place. You will also be asked to enter a name for your family network and your name as you'd like it to appear within that network.
- Confirm Your Account. After submitting the required information, you will receive a confirmation e-mail. This message will be sent to the e-mail address you used to join the site and will contain a link that you must click in order to confirm your account. When your account is confirmed, you will be able to log in and use your family network.
Why do you need my e-mail address? How will my e-mail address be used?
You will use your e-mail address to log in to the Military Families Near and Far site. Sesame Workshop will not use your e-mail address for any other purposes than to allow you to log in to your family network and to contact you about changes to the site or storage limitations, unless you have given your permission to be contacted for other reasons.
I joined Military Families Near and Far, but I never received a confirmation e-mail. What do I do?
It may take a few minutes for the Military Families Near and Far confirmation e-mail to reach your inbox. If you feel you should have received the message and haven't, please check your Spam folder. Then, check the Create Your Account page to ensure that you entered your e-mail address correctly. You may also click here to have the confirmation e-mail resent. If you have tried all of the above and are still having trouble or haven't received the e-mail, please contact us.
Is there a limit on the number of Military Families Near and Far accounts I can create?
No. There is no limit on the number of accounts you can create. However, keep in mind that you can belong to multiple families through just one account. See "Can I belong to more than one family network?" below.
Logging In
Can I log in to Military Families Near and Far on more than one computer?
Yes. You can log in on more than one computer.
Will this site be blocked by military base firewalls?
Whether the Military Families Near and Far site is blocked by firewalls will vary from base to base. Please check with your base's Internet administrators to find out whether you will have access.
Why can't I log in to Military Families Near and Far?
If it is your first time signing in to your family network, make sure that you have clicked the link in your confirmation e-mail. If you never received a confirmation e-mail, please see "I joined Military Families Near and Far, but I never received a confirmation e-mail. What do I do?" above.
If you have confirmed your account, but see a message stating that your e-mail address and password do not match, check to make sure that you have used the correct e-mail address and that your caps lock is not on. Try typing in your password again. Make sure that everything is spelled correctly. If you are still having trouble accessing your account or to report a problem, contact us.
I forgot my Military Families Near and Far password. What do I do?
If you have forgotten your password, click here and follow the simple instructions. If you haven't logged in to your family network in over 180 days, your account may have expired due to inactivity. If that is the case, you will need to create a new account.
How do I change my Military Families Near and Far login information (e-mail address and/or password)?
To change your e-mail address and/or password, first log in to Military Families Near and Far and go to "Settings" at the top of any page. In the "Account Settings" section, you can change your e-mail address and reset your password. If you change your e-mail address, you will receive a confirmation e-mail. This message will contain a link that you must click on in order to confirm your e-mail address change takes effect.
Family Networks
Can I belong to more than one family network?
Yes. You can belong to multiple family networks on Military Families Near and Far.
If you already have a family network and would like to create another one, log in to your family network and go to "Settings" at the top of any page. You will find instructions for creating a new family network in the "Change/Create Family Network" section.
If you already belong to a family network and have been invited to join another one, click on the link in your invitation e-mail and log in to the site with your existing account information (i.e., e-mail address and password).
Can I access more than one family network at the same time? How do I move back and forth between networks?
No. You can only access one family network at a time. To switch between family networks, go to "Change/Create Family Network" under "Settings."
If you have not set a default login family, you will be asked to choose which family network you want to access each time you log in to the site. If you have set one network as the default login family, you will automatically go to that family when you log in. You can select a default login family or change your default login family at any time in the "Change/Create Family Network" section under "Settings."
How do I add members to my family network?
In order to add members to your family network, you must first be logged in. In the "Family Members" section under "Settings," you will find two different ways to add members:
- Add Your Children: Use this option for children without their own e-mail accounts. This will add your child's profile under your account. To access your child's profile, you can select his or her name from the "Current User" dropdown list at the top of any page.
- Invite a Family Member to Join Your Network: This option is recommended if you would like to add adults with their own e-mail addresses to your family network. If you would like to include a child from another family (e.g. a niece or nephew) in your network, you must invite the child's parent or guardian. The invited adult can set up an account and give the child access to your network.
All family members, whether or not they are account holders, will have their own individual profile pages, be able to post and respond to messages, and have access to the art, music, writing, and multimedia features on the site. A family network's activity and content will be accessible only to members of that network.
How do I switch from my profile to my child's profile?
You can switch from your profile to your child's and back at any time. Just go to "Current User" at the top of any page and select the profile you want from the dropdown list.
Who can invite people to join a family network?
Only the initiator of a family network can invite others to join that network. The initiator is the person who originally created the family network. If you are not the network initiator, you can add your children to the network, but you cannot send invitations to others. Instead, you will have the option of suggesting new members to the network initiator. To make a suggestion, log in to the family network and go to the "Family Members" section under "Settings."
Can I invite friends to join my family network?
On Sesame Street and The Electric Company, we often define "family" as a group of people that love and care for one another. As you can imagine, there are many friends (like your furry Sesame Street friends or fun Electric Company friends) that can fit into this definition! Your family network is designed as a tool to keep connected with the people in your life who support your family through the many transitions you experience. Military Families Near and Far encourages you to invite whomever you feel is important to your family to join your family network.
Can I invite non-military family and friends to join my network?
Yes. While Military Families Near and Far is specifically designed for military families, anyone can join. No military identification is required and new members can register using any e-mail address they want.
How can I add Sesame Street or Electric Company characters to my family network?
Every member of your family network with a profile can invite Sesame Street or Electric Company characters to be their friends on the site. Characters who are selected as friends will post messages and comments on your wall. They may also share content. To add characters as friends, go to your profile page and click on the "Edit My Page" button under your picture. Click on the characters you want to add. Then click "Save."
Can I remove a member from my family network?
Yes. To remove a member from your family network, you must first be logged in. In the "Family Members" section under "Settings," you will find two different ways to remove members:
- Remove a Child: If the member was added as one of your children, you can click on "Remove" to eliminate his or her profile.
- Remove a Family Member from Your Network: If the member was invited to join your network and signed up using his or her own e-mail account, you will need to send a request to Sesame Workshop asking for the removal of that person from your network. This request will be fulfilled within 72 hours of its receipt.
When you choose to remove a family member from your network, you are choosing to permanently delete that person's profile and all site content associated with that profile.
Messages and Other Content
I am seeing references to my "Family Scrapbook" when I log in to the site. What is a Family Scrapbook?
Your Family Scrapbook is the main section of your Family Page. It's where all of the content your family creates or adds is displayed. It's also where messages to your family are posted. Sesame Street and Electric Company characters will pop up here, as well, to say hello or suggest an activity to try on the site.
You can filter your Family Scrapbook by clicking on one of the media categories in the filter bar. You can also view the scrapbook as a slideshow by clicking on a piece of your family's content.
Can I send a message to just one person in my family network?
Yes. You can choose to send artwork, music, writing, or other media to an individual member of your family network. You can also choose to post a message on an individual's profile page rather than to your Family Scrapbook (see "What is a Family Scrapbook?" above). Regardless of where they appear on the site, however, all posted messages and sent content will be viewable by all members of the family network.
Can I delete a message, comment, or piece of content created or added by a member of my family network?
Yes. Go to the "Account Settings" section under "Settings" and turn on "Edit Mode." While in "Edit Mode," you will see a small red "x" next to each post on your family's pages. Clicking the red "x" will delete that specific photo, video, audio, artwork, message, or comment.
If you delete an item that has comments associated with it, you will delete all of those comments as well.
If you delete a specific comment, you will only delete that comment (not the original message or posted content).
Are there any restrictions about what my family can post on their Military Families Near and Far site?
You are responsible for any content you upload or contribute to your family network. For more information, please visit our Terms of Use.
What do I do if a member of my family has posted something inappropriate or offensive?
Sesame Workshop will not interfere with your family network. By accepting our Terms of Use, you have agreed to moderate the content you and your family post to the site. To remove inappropriate or offensive posts from your family's pages, see "Can I delete a message, comment, or piece of content created or added by a member of my family network?" above. You also have the option of removing a family member from your network. See "Can I remove a member from my family network?"
Is there a limit to how many photos I can upload? Is there a limit on the file size for photos?
Sesame Workshop may impose a limit on the amount of User Content that can be uploaded or saved to an account each day, and on the total amount of User Content that can be stored in an account. Sesame Workshop will notify users if such limits are put in place.
Is there a limit to how many videos or audio files I can upload?
Sesame Workshop may impose a limit on the amount of User Content that can be uploaded or saved to an account each day, and on the total amount of User Content that can be stored in an account. Sesame Workshop will notify users if such limits are put in place.
Privacy and Security
Is the Military Families Near and Far site secure?
Whenever you submit personal information to Military Families Near and Far, it travels through Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology to attempt to protect your confidentiality. The information technology staff has put into place technology that is used to maintain web security and integrity. While this is the most up-to-date technology to securely transfer information over the Internet, we cannot guarantee that information transmitted through the Internet or stored on our system will be safe from intrusion by others. For more information about your personal account information on the site, please read our Privacy Policy.
Who can access my Military Families Near and Far family network?
Only invited users (those who you invite to join your family network) will be able to access the messages, comments, artwork, music, writing, photos, videos, and audio that you and your family post to the site. This content will not be available to anyone outside of your family network. For more information about the materials you post, please read our Terms of Use.
Can other people from different families view content posted by members of my family network?
No. Content created by members of a family network is viewable only by other members of the same family network.
Language and Accessibility
Is the Military Families Near and Far site bilingual? How do I change the language setting?
Yes. Military Families Near and Far is available in English and Spanish. You can change the language in which you and your family experience the site by clicking the "en español" button, which can be found at the top of every page, including the homepage.
Is the Military Families Near and Far website accessible to those with disabilities?
Yes. Military Families Near and Far is committed to providing a great experience for all of its users. For specific information about accessibility, please review our Accessibility Statement.
Canceling an Account
How do I cancel my Military Families Near and Far account?
Your Military Families Near and Far account will automatically expire after 180 days of inactivity, so you don't have to do anything to cancel it. If you choose to, you can always create a new account.
Technical Help
Why don't I hear any sound?
If you don't hear any sound:
- Make sure that your computer's sound is not muted and is turned up to an appropriate level.
- Make sure your speakers are turned on.
- Make sure your speakers or headphones are connected to the sound out or headphone socket on your computer.
Do I need to configure my browser in a certain way to view your site?
You will need to make sure that you have session cookies enabled. To enable cookies, please follow the instructions here.
Do I have to use a particular browser with Military Families Near and Far?
This site is designed to work optimally with Firefox 3.0, IE 7 and 8, and Safari 2x, 3x. Using any browser other than the ones listed above may cause users to experience problems.
Do I need Flash installed on my computer in order to enjoy the Military Families Near and Far site? How do I install Flash on my computer?
Your Military Families Near and Far online experience could be richer if you have Adobe/Macromedia Flash Player 9 or above installed on your computer. If you have an older version of Flash installed on your computer, the Military Families Near and Far site will automatically detect whether or not you need to upgrade. To download the most recent version of the Adobe Flash Player for free, Windows users can click here, and Macintosh users can click here.
I cannot view Flash on the Military Families Near and Far site. What should I do?
If you are using Norton Personal Firewall or Norton Internet Security, you may need to adjust your settings at the Norton ad-blocking settings adjustment page.
Why can't I play the online videos?
Several factors can cause videos not to play. Reloading the page will resolve most common issues. Videos may sometimes be slower to load, so please be patient.
You may also need to upgrade or configure your browser to make it compatible with the videos on the Military Families Near and Far site. Use the links below to make any updates:
- Internet Explorer 7.0 or higher: Upgrade your IE browser. Directions for configuring your IE browser.
- Safari 2.0 or 3.0: Download the Safari browser.
- Mozilla Firefox 3.0: Download the Mozilla Firefox browser.
How do I change my video preferences?
The video player allows you to control the volume of the video, view full screen, and rewind. These preferences are located at the bottom of the video player.
How do I switch to full-screen viewing?
When the video starts playing, click on the button located to the right of the volume control button on the video player. To exit full-screen viewing, press the Escape key.
Do I need software to watch videos?
To watch videos, you need the Flash plug-in version 9.0 or newer on your computer. If you have an older version of Flash installed on your computer, the Military Families Near and Far site will automatically detect whether or not you need to upgrade. To download the most recent version of the Adobe Flash Player for free, Windows users can click here, and Macintosh users can click here. Videos will not work if you have a dial-up connection.
Why can't I read or download the printable materials on Military Families Near and Far?
If you have trouble viewing the PDFs from this website, please go to http://get.adobe.com/reader/ and download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader.
How do I adjust my Norton Personal Firewall or Norton Internet Security settings?
Please visit the Norton ad-blocking settings adjustment page.
How do I enable JavaScript?
Detailed instructions on how to enable JavaScript are here.
My Java Applet is not working. What should I do?
In order to correctly run Java Applets, your browser should be Java-enabled and have Java Plug-in Software (J2SE v 1.4.2_06 JRE or higher) installed. If your computer meets these requirements and Java Applets are not functioning, try uninstalling and reinstalling the plug-in. Visit java.sun.com for the latest version of the plug-in.
How do I make sure my webcam is working with the Military Families Near and Far site?
In most cases, the video recorder software within Military Families Near and Far will detect if your computer has a webcam attached. If you have multiple recording devices on your computer, you may be prompted to choose which device you would like to use. Please be sure to plug your webcam into its power source and make sure that it is turned on.
How do I know if I have a microphone?
If you're using a PC and have a microphone, it should be listed in the Windows Device Manager. To access the Device Manager:
- Right click on My Computer
- Click Properties
- Click the Hardware tab
- Click the Device Manager button
If you're using a Mac, most laptops since 2002 have an internal microphone. To check your System Profiler to verify that you have a microphone:
- Click on the Apple menu
- Click on About This Mac
- Click the More Info button
How to Contact Us
I still have questions about Military Families Near and Far. Who do I contact?
If you have additional questions about how to use the site, please check out Tips for Site Users. If your question still has not been answered, or if you are having continued technical difficulties, you can send a message to MilitaryFamilies@sesame.org.