Childhood lies at the very heart of who we are and who we become.
Mister Rogers made us feel valued and loved. “There is only one person in the whole world like you, and people can like you just because you’re you.” With that kind of encouragement, we could manage our fears and feelings, and be willing to try new things even if we might fail. His support helped us to become competent, compassionate and caring adults.
Mister Rogers helped children understand that feelings – all kinds of feelings – are natural and normal. Feelings are a part of being human. He encouraged us to talk about our feelings so that we could manage them, because “Whatever is mentionable can be more manageable.” And he showed us some of the many ways people express their feelings.
In Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, everyone was welcomed and valued. Mister Rogers helped us appreciate and respect others. He opened his door to all, and warmly invited them to share their talents and ideas. He showed us the power of kindness and compassion, “You are special and so is everyone else in this world.”
TV is all about coveting, but Mister Rogers was about appreciating what you already have, about caring for others and seeing the best in them.
Mister Rogers gave us the tools to be lifelong learners – a sense of wonder, a curiosity about the world around us, the willingness to ask questions. His genuine interest in the world was infectious. Whatever he showed us, he encouraged us to look and listen carefully, to keep trying, and to see the world as a wondrous place. “Did you know when you wonder, you’re learning.”
“I like to be told,” Mister Rogers sang. He understood that new experiences or changes in routine can feel overwhelming and scary to young children. He showed us what to expect. He reassured us. He prepared us to meet and trust the people who would care for us – the doctor, the dentist, the barber, the teacher.
Mister Rogers was not afraid to tackle tough subjects. From divorce, to assassination, to death, he talked honestly and openly about subjects that adults were often afraid to talk about, but which children often silently wondered and worried about. And he was willing to help children, and adults too, know that there are some things no one can understand. “Some things I don’t understand.”
There was another voice behind the Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood scripts. It was the voice of Fred Rogers’ chief consultant Dr. Margaret McFarland, a highly regarded child psychologist. They met regularly to discuss child development theory, so that the scripts would authentically reflect the real concerns and feelings of children.
Although children’s “outsides” may have changed a lot, their inner needs have remained very much the same. Society seems to be pushing children to grow faster, but their developmental tasks have remained constant.