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By Sarah's World member Melissa Chapman-Mushnick
(Add Melissa as a friend) No matter how old we get, as parents, most of us can still fondly recall in great detail, the shows we watched when we were kids.
Though these seemingly ancient kids shows might be a lot slower than the frenetic, dizzying and fast-paced live action shows and cartoons that mesmerize our own kids and glue them to the tube as we watch them bewildered by their appeal- there is one show that has a transcendental appeal and can actually bridge the generation gap between ourselves and our kids. This classical favorite is Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, which premiered on PBS in 1968, stayed in production until 2001, and continues to be broadcast daily beaming out from television sets across the globe. Despite its simple details and minimal effects, it manages to keep parents and kids entertained and educated by focusing on universal issues and themes that all families can relate to. 
So what can you expect when you plop your child on your lap and tune into your very first screening of a Mister Rogers Neighborhood television episode? A kind, soft spoken gentleman, who, when not appearing as a television host, was also known as Reverend Frederick McFeely "Fred" Rogers, an American educator, minister, and songwriter who worked throughout his life to promote the benefits of education. During any given episode, which thankfully is continually broadcast despite his death in 2003, you and your kids are invited into his world to accompany him on various field trips where you can get a front-row seat and watch as factory workers construct dolls or crayons, to give kids an appreciation of how the products and toys they play with come to be. Mister Rogers also whisks viewers away to a land of make-believe, and through the magic of puppetry, conveys moral lessons about values like sharing and cooperation. The episodes are as timely and relevant to our kids today, as they were to us growing up. For more information about how you and your little one can tune into an episode of Mister Rogers Neighborhood, log onto www.pbskids.org . The website also offers comprehensive information about coping with death, and specifically, how parents can help their kids to understand that Mr. Rogers has passed on. Can you recall your favorite episode or theme from Mister Rogers? If so, comment about it now! Readers have left 4 comments.  1. Posted by nannygirl on 2008-01-28 04:48:15 I loved when they went to the land of make believe.Also, when Mr.Rogers went on field trips and we learned things.  2. Posted by ShaynaJ on 2008-02-05 06:01:46 For some reason, the episode I remember most was when he tried to make peanut butter by mushing whole peanuts into a stick of butter.
But I, too, love the land of Make Believe (especially the train that went around the castle!)  3. Posted by bronxkay on 2008-02-23 22:15:05 For some strange reason, I had a dream about Purple Panda the other night. I don't remember exactly when this character disappeared from the Land of Make Believe... but I remember him fondly. I also loved when they started producing operas. I'm from the Pittsburgh area and Mr. Rogers was on locally before he became a part of PBS. I didn't like Lady Elaine Fairchild at all when I was a kid. She was always stirring things up or getting in trouble. Guess what! I grew up to be Lady Elaine! Toot! Toot! Toots! |
