Thoughts for the Week:

When young children begin to recognize likenesses and differences, they often focus on differences and not the underlying sameness in people or objects. They sometimes think that being different means there is something wrong with them. Adults can help children see that there are human qualities that make all of us alike in many ways, even though we come in different shapes, sizes, colors and from different backgrounds.

Summary of the Week:

In this week of programs, Mister Rogers helps children understand about likenesses and differences in lots of different ways: a look at television programs from different countries; sign language, which is a different way of communicating; a trip to a car show to see how antique cars are alike and different; and a visit to the circus to see that clown make-up changes only the outside of a person--the person underneath stays the same.

In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, Prince Tuesday worries that his mother will become someone else forever when Queen Sara and Mayor Maggie trade places for the day. The neighbors help him know that changing costumes or jobs doesn't change who the person is.