In the United States it is estimated that more than 2.7 million kids have parents that are serving time in state or federal prisons.

Corrections department officers said this reflects an 80% spike from numbers reported 20 years ago.

This, according to Sesame Street representatives, is why they are creating a production that is geared toward helping these children cope with a new series called "Little Children, Big Challenges".

Research shows that about one out of every 28 kids has a parent that is in jail. Some states say their incarceration rate is so high that nearly 10% of resident children have a loved one who is behind bars.

Sesame Street said they learned that more than half of those in jail or prison have minor children.

The woman who is reportedly in charge of producing the video said she was surprised to learn of the lacking resources for people in this situation.   Sesame Street is hopeful that the use of muppets and other fictional characters will make it easier to absorb information.

The program has previously tackled other difficult family issues, such as deployment, divorce and death of a loved one.

Children can experience a variety of emotions at the time a parent is taken into custody.  They wonder when they will be able to see them again and how long it will be until they can come home.  Very small kids can have a hard time understanding why mom or dad can't be with them during holidays or birthdays.

Older kids are often embarrassed and may try to avoid talking about the subject altogether.  They say it can be hard to feel normal.

Some might even believe it is their fault that their parent has been sentenced to serve time.  Feelings of anger, guilt, shame and helplessness are all very common. The visitation process can often be intimating.

Kids can be overwhelmed when they walk into a detention center and have to walk through metal detector.  It can be frustrating to only be able to speak with a parent by phone as they see them sitting on the other side of a bulletproof glass window.

Sesame Street officials are hopeful they will be able to help answer some of the tough questions that children with incarcerated parents might have.