Since its premier in 1969, the television series Sesame Street has remained on the cutting edge of childrens educational entertainment, combining engaging puppet characters, catchy tunes, and effective instructional methods. For more than 40 years, the series has taught preschoolers their alphabets, numbers, good manners, tolerance, and other values. Now broadcast in about 140 countries around the world, Sesame Street has earned eight Grammy awards and more than 100 Emmys for its excellent programming and its phenomenal success in educating children. The series has generated consumer goods of all kinds, especially toys. Board games, card games, and dexterity games all carry themes and educational elements from the series.