As a kid I loved Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. I have fond memories of watching the opening scenes where Mr. Rogers would come into his "house," strip off his outdoor shoes, slip on his indoor shoes and change into one of his iconic sweaters. There was something wholesome and soothing about Fred Rogers’ persona. But it really wasn’t an act; it was truly who he was. He cared deeply about kids, and his legacy remains strong 50 years on.
Mr. Rogers was an advocate and friend for all kids. He helped them make sense of the world by dealing with their feelings through pretend play. I owe much of my childhood imagination to Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. Wouldn’t be nice if everyone had a neighbor like Mr. Rogers? For more, explore these resources with the kids in your life:
Songs From the Neighborhood: Relive some your favorite songs from the neighborhood, and introduce them to your kids, in this retrospective compilation.
Mister Rogers' Play Time: Mr. Rogers provides games and activities to engage families in pretend and creative play.
Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood: Mr. Rogers’ legacy lives on in this show and book series featuring the children of the famous puppet characters who appeared on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.
Be My Neighbor: This beautiful photo essay explores community through the insights of the late great Mr. Rogers.
Going to the Hospital: This is part of Mr. Rogers' First Experiences series, which gently helps kids and families navigate sometimes scary, yet common experiences. He also wrote the Let's Talk About It series for older children.
Websites
PBS KIDS: Watch Mister Rogers' Neighborhood's iconic opening, play games, view show clips, print coloring pages and more.
Fred Rogers Center: The legacy of Mr. Rogers lives on through the Fred Rogers Center, which offers advice on everything from interacting with young children to the appropriate use of digital media. This site is a great resource for parents and educators.
This is a very sweet and well-done mashup of various Mister Rogers' Neighborhood segments encouraging children to grow the gardens of their minds.
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