Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood - TV-Y
TV Rating: TV-Y
Network: PBS Cast: Fred Rogers, David Newell
Genre: Educational
Available on: 
DVDDownload
Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that Fred Rogers quickly set a standard for years of educational television to come. Contemporary viewers might consider the program to be slow and dated, but there's great value in what exists therein: a gently moving, safe, and predictable moral foundation for the youngest viewers. Mr. Rogers is in it for the betterment of all children and is committed to bolstering his viewers' self esteem. Positive messages are enforced throughout each episode.
Families can discuss the messaging within the series. How does this compare to the other programs on the air? How do your kids feel about themselves after watching the show? What impact does the land of make-blieve have on them after viewing? Do you notice your kids being inspired by way Mr. Rogers speaks to them?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Joly Herman
MR. ROGERS' NEIGHBORHOOD has a couple of dimensions to it. First, there's Mr. Rogers (Fred Rogers) himself, who enters the room singing and being genuinely cheerful. He sets a predictable pattern by getting comfortable in his environment, feeding his fish (not too much), and talking a bit to his viewers.
Then viewers visit the world of make-believe, wherein puppets and humans model grace and courtesy by talking, singing, and working out problems. Not everything is perfect in this world, but it's always safe and gentle.
And even though he comes off as a big softie, with his hypnotic speech patterns and the devilish-but-benign look in his eyes, Mr. Rogers is revered as a true cultural icon. Not many people can boast that they received the Presidential Medal of Freedom -- the highest honor a civilian in the United States can receive. Fred Rogers was given that title in 2002, the year before he passed away. His legacy lives on among three generations of our country's youngest viewers.
This program is purposefully slow-paced, precisely because young children need time to digest the information they receive. The topics are big enough to hold interest, while the details of the set, the field trips, and general discourse have been well considered.
Mr. Rogers is not afraid to tackle big issues like "What is love?" He discusses divorce, shyness, fear, grandparents, "being so angry you could bite," and being unique. Most of all, Mr. Rogers never loses touch with the notion that "We have to remember to whom the airwaves belong, and we must put as great an emphasis on the nurturing of the human personality as we can."
Kids and parents might also enjoy educational TV classics like Sesame Street and Blue's Clues.
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Social BehaviorBringing a gentle spirit to everyone in his neighborhood, Mr. Rogers makes it safe for everyone to be exactly who they are. |
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