Way to go Sesame Street!

Sesame Street, the long-running PBS children's program, has added a new character. Meet Rudy, the stepbrother of Abby. Sesame Street's newest monster aims to teach children about siblings, blended families and conflict resolution, according to Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street. Given that Rudy is a monster and Abby is a fairy, the two will have plenty of opportunities to explore their differences while working hard to find what they share in common.

The more that children can learn and understand about the differences in families, the more at ease they will feel in their own stepfamilies and blended families. After all, divorce and remarriage with children are not as unusual as they used to be. "Families come in many forms – including newly-blended families, which can present unique challenges for kids," Sesame Workshop said in a statement.

Now parents will have another tool in their arsenal to help them deal with the challenges their children may be experiencing in a blended family. It's a joy to see Sesame Street getting in on the action!