Celebrating the best in Children's Media
By Tamara Bockow, Intern WHYY Children's Service
Don't you wish it could always be a beautiful day in the neighborhood? It can be with MISTER ROGERS' NEIGHBORHOOD. Since 1968, Mister Rogers has become the trusted television friend for three generations of children. The series is geared toward 2-5 year olds, but it is appropriate for all ages. Mister Rogers creates a safe place to discuss feeling such as, love, fear, sadness, jealousy, anger, friendship, trust, joy, and satisfaction.
The most important goal of the series is to strengthen children's self esteem and offer them a place where they feel understood. Mister Rogers creates a bond and a trust with each of his television viewers. This intimacy is enhanced with his simple and straightforward conversation style.
Rogers also provides children with effective coping mechanisms and talks to them about channeling angry feelings into constructive activities. Children learn the timeless skills of growing up including, sharing, patience and cooperation. They also learn how to manage frustration and deal with their feelings. At the same time the series helps children develop their imagination and explore their curiosity about the world around them.
Each show begins and ends in the living room of Mr. Rogers' "television house." He completes a simple and predictable routine of changing his shoes and sweater that makes children feel comfortable. The show always starts with the all-inclusive invitation, "Won't you be my neighbor?" Part of each episode is also spent in the "Neighborhood of Make Believe" with puppet friends, King Friday XIII and Queen Sara Saturday. Other neighborhood puppet friends include, the timid Daniel Striped Tiger, Prince Tuesday, the mischievous Lady Elaine Fairchilde, X the Owl and his loveable tree neighbor, Henrietta Pussycat. In additional to all the jovial puppets, the "Neighborhood of Make Believe is inhabited by adult friends that help mediate and resolve issues and conflicts. Together, the humans and puppets explore the theme of the week that is carried in the show through conversations, songs and visits from guest neighbors.
VIEW
Join Mister Rogers and his Neighborhood friends weekdays at 1:00pm on WHYY-TV 12. The beloved and trusted Fred Rogers will touch the hearts of all children and parents as he provides everyone with the courage to grow.
DO
Help your child express feelings and develop self-control with some delicious "Get Out the Mad" Cookies.
What you'll need:
- A Large Bowl
- Cookie Sheet
- Ingredients: 3 cups oatmeal, 1 1/2 cups brown sugar, 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 1/2 cups butter or margarine, 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- Preheat the oven to 350 F
Place all the ingredients in a large bowl and mix them together well. Give your child a large chunk of cookie dough. Let your child mash it, knead it, pound it, smash it and squeeze it. The longer and harder your child mixes the dough the better the cookies taste! Talk to your child about other constructive ways to express angry feelings without hurting people such as pounding on clay or kicking a ball.
Show your child how to roll the dough into small balls and place them on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake the cookies at 350*F for 10 to 12 minutes and ENJOY! More information
READ
The Meanest Thing to Say by Bill Cosby
Little Bill comes face to face with a bully and must figure out how to avoid the challenge offered by this new kid in his class. With his family's help, Bill finds a solution. This is one book in Bill Cosby's Little Bill series. The books are designed to help kids cope with tough social situations, and Cosby successfully sees these issues and the world through children's eyes. Each book comes with a letter to parents from a child psychiatrist about the subject matter in that book. Recommended for ages 4-8.
Today I Feel Silly: And Other Moods that Make My Day by Jamie Lee Curtis
This whimsical picture book fits all moods. With playful rhymes, Curtis explores a child's emotions ranging from silliness to anger to excitement to grumpy and encourages us to express our feelings. The fun loving red headed narrator is angry when her feelings are hurt after being snubbed, sad when she and her friend have a fight, confused by the prospects of a sibling, frustrated by failed attempts to roller blade. Her other moods such as quiet and grumpy have no obvious source, but Curtis ensures children that its okay to have those feelings. Recommended for ages 3-8.
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