Mister Rogers' Neighborhood is a "television visit" between Mister Rogers and his young viewers. The series is geared primarily to 2 to 5 year olds, but appropriate for all ages. With his caring and trusting ways, Mister Rogers creates a calm, safe place for children to learn about themselves, about others, and about the world around them.
While some adults wonder what makes this television program so fascinating, the children know: Mister Rogers brings them a one-to-one affirmation of their self-worth and offers them a place where they feel accepted and understood.
Tools for Learning
As creator and writer, Fred Rogers has based his television series on child development principles from his own studies and his work with consultants, assuring that this carefully structured program can help children develop the skills they will need for learning -- skills like:
- Self-esteem
- The ability to deal with their feelings
- Self-control
- Imagination
- Creativity
- Curiosity about their world
- Appreciation of diversity
- Cooperation
- Tolerance for waiting
- Persistence
- Ability to handle rules and limits
Theme Weeks
Each week of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood has a theme which is carried through Mister Rogers' conversation and songs, through visits with neighbors or guests, and through the puppet story in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe. Because the ideas are inter-related in the day and in the week, children can absorb them and learn about them in lots of different ways.
Format
The predictable format of each Neighborhood program helps children feel more comfortable and, therefore, more open to learning about new things or new ways of looking at their everyday experiences and feelings.
Won't You Be My Neighbor?
The television visit begins in Mister Rogers' "television house" with "Won't you be my neighbor?," an invitation that includes everyone, no matter what a person looks like, or what he or she can or cannot do. His familiar routine of changing to a sweater and sneakers is a way of saying, "Let's have some relaxing time together." Mister Rogers usually brings something to show -- stimulating curiosity and creative thinking. Often his regular neighbors or guests -- musicians, artists, pediatricians, athletes or plumbers -- drop by to share their interests and friendship.
Appreciating the World
A favorite part of many Neighborhood programs is a visit to a factory to learn how people make familiar childhood things -- crayons, stuffed animals, spoons, zippers, etc. These tours help children value work and know that things are made through a "process" with a beginning, middle, and end. With the focus on people, children gain an understanding of "work" and an appreciation for the work that people do.
The Neighborhood of Make-Believe
Mister Rogers uses a Trolley to introduce the Neighborhood of Make-Believe where the theme of the day or week is played out in a puppet story. It's a fantasy area, clearly separate from Mister Rogers' house -- to help children sort out what's real and what's pretend. Puppets and friendly humans help each other with problems and concerns, modeling cooperative and constructive problem solving. They also join together in whimsical fun and celebrations.
Closing
Afterward, Mister Rogers helps children reflect on the feelings and happenings presented in Make-Believe. Along with his familiar closing song, every day he offers a reassuring message that helps children feel good about who they are and who they can become.
