Instead of focusing on the social and emotional aspects of development, the producers decided to follow the suggestions of the seminar participants and emphasize cognitive skills, a decision they felt was warranted by the demands of school and the wishes of parents.[54] The objectives developed during the seminars were condensed into key categories: symbolic representation, cognitive processes, and the physical and social environment.[55][note 8] The seminars set forth the new show's policy about race and social issues[56] and provided the show's production and creative team with "a crash course" in psychology, child development, and early childhood education.[57] They also marked the beginning of Jim Henson's involvement in Sesame Street. Cooney met Henson at one of the seminars; Stone, who was familiar with Henson's work, felt that if they could not bring him on board, they should "make do without puppets".[26][note 9]