 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
- PBS
- Genre: Educational
Common Sense Media says
Classic series gently promotes social skills, imagination.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this TV classic's messages about social responsibility, respect, and self-esteem are just as relevant today as they were at the show's start in the 1960s. The series uses music, make believe, and everyday tasks to illustrate kid-friendly themes like honesty, overcoming fears, and being a good friend. Field trips expose viewers to how common products are made, and the host's visits with his neighbors demonstrate how their jobs benefit the community. Occasionally the show explores sensitive subjects like divorce or the loss of a loved one, but it's always done in a responsible manner that's appropriate for kids.
What's the story?
MISTER ROGERS' NEIGHBORHOOD is a long-running preschool series that stars Fred Rogers as the titular host who opens his doors to his TV audience and invites them to share in his daily experiences in and around his neighborhood. Rogers uses songs, visits with friends, field trips to factories and local events, and everyday tasks like caring for his goldfish to teach kids important life lessons in responsibility, overcoming fears, and respecting differences. A regular segment of the show also transports kids -- via a bright red Trolley -- from Rogers' living room to an imaginary place called the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, where puppet characters like King Friday XIII, Henrietta Pussycat, and Lady Elaine Fairchilde (all voiced by Rogers) interact with human ones and explore a problem related to the episode's theme.
Is it any good?
Since this series' start in 1968, Rogers has invited his viewers to be a part of everything he does, from lacing up his famous sneakers to taking a field trip to the circus, and every aspect of the show encourages curiosity, imagination, and self-expression. Throughout its 30-year run, the show explored nearly every imaginable concern that kids face, including competition, caring for the Earth, and even death, always with Rogers' trademark gentle honesty and in a way that preschoolers will understand.
What makes this series most notable is its adherence to wholesome social mores like loving your neighbor, showing kindness to others, and respecting differences. The show makes a point of including people of various ethnicities and physical abilities, and Rogers' own appreciation for each person's uniqueness set the tone for reminders to not only respect each other, but to truly appreciate the things that make each one special. For a generation of parents who were raised on Mister Rogers Neighborhood, the timeless nature of the show's messages is a great reason to settle in for some quality TV time with your kids.
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. Mister Rogers isn't 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, 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."
What families can talk about
Families can talk about respect. What does respect mean? Why is it important to treat other people with respect? How do our differences make us special? What are some of your best qualities?
Kids: How does Mister Rogers' neighborhood compare to your own? How do neighbors rely on each other? What jobs are important in a neighborhood? How can you show you care about your neighbors and friends?
If you could create a make-believe land, what would it look like? Who would the characters be? What kinds of troubles would they face? How would they overcome them?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
I Can't Begin to Recommend This Series Enough!
The best young children's series on TV. Nothing at all bad. Highly, highly, highly recommended!
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AGE
Beloved Classic of Children's Television
Along with "Sesame Street", "Lassie", and "Captain Kangaroo" (which seems to have vanished from the face of the Earth), "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood" is perhaps the most well-known, beloved children's television program ever seen on American airwaves. As one of the longest-running American television series (period), Mr. Rogers introduces themes of kindness, understanding, and issues of importance to preschoolers - all in his trademark gentle, non-confronting manner. For example: in certain episodes, he shows kids how divorce is a "grown-up decision" and how it's "not the kids' fault". Rogers does not condemn nor support the practice of divorce. He does not preach religion or politics to his audience. Rather, he simply explains it in a manner that preschoolers can understand, making sure his audience walks away feeling better about the whole situation. Mr. Rogers is always a comforting presence, and Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood deserves its status as a timeless classic of children's entertainment. There is absolutely nothing that could possibly be considered objectionable in any of these episodes.
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AGE
great for younger kids
i used to watch this show when I was little and I would recomend to any kid under the age of eight.It is also a great way for young children to learn manners
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Kid, 11 years old
September 24, 2010
AGE
It was perfect for me when i was a tiny one. hehe.
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AGE
Great tv for tots
My 2.5 yr old loves Mr Rogers and so do I. You learn so much on this show, from how to make tortilla chips to seeing trainers work woth killer whales. Excellent show.
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AGE
Too bad there aren't many shows like this
This is a great show for preschoolers.
It really addresses issues that are of concern for children this age, in a way that they can understand. The pace is not rushed and the material is top rate.
It is too bad that only a few episodes are
available as videos.
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AGE
Great show but for 10-
I watched this a few days ago and I enjoyed it quite a bit. I know its for little kids but Ive never really seen it so I watched it. Afterwards I assumed he had died and to my surprise, he had. Its educational for youth and teaches life lessons.
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AGE
Very good for small children
My 2-3 year old watches this whenever it comes on. It is such a quiet, slow paced show, and my child sits down quietly and watches the program. He really listens to Mr. Rogers and loves the trolley. I believe these quiet type programs will help our children to be quiet peaceful type children. All the shows that yell at our children loudly, like some sort of aroebics PE teachers, are helping our children become loud shouting type of people. Its not okay. We need to teach our children how to find peace, especially within themselves. If they can do that, they can remain stable and find peace as adults. You won't be scared sending them off to college, guys.
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| Topics: | magic and fantasy, arts and dance, music and sing-along, numbers and letters, puppets |
| TV rating: | TV-Y |
| Network: | PBS |
| Cast: | David Newell, Fred Rogers |
| Genre: | Educational |
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