March 20th would be Fred Rogers’ 95thbirthday, and I wanted to celebrate by sharing with you the tribute video that PBS produced shortly after his death in 2003.
As I listened to the words “Feels Like Home to Me” on the song they chose, I thought about how much we all have learned from Fred about the simple, everyday, ordinary things that make a place “feel like home” -- warm and welcoming, safe and secure.
Fred greeted us every day on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood in a place that looked like a home. In fact, Fred referred to it as his “television house.” But it wasn’t just the rooms and the furniture that made it feel like home. It was a place where there was a predictable routine; where someone cared about you “just because you’re you”; where it was okay to be sad or mad or scared and someone helped you deal with those feelings in a constructive way; and where you were celebrated for the little and big things that you do. And there was something in Fred's eyes….and something in his voice.
MUSIC - It's More than Meets the Ear
September 2023: A gazillion times! Is that how many times you've sung Itsy, Bitsy Spider and Wheels on the Bus? I know it's not easy to keep finding the energy and enthusiasm to sing the same songs over and over again, but I hope you know how much you're giving children when you do.
August 2023: The world lost a legendary musical giant last month when Tony Bennett died. We're left with our memories and treasured recordings. I wonder if you knew that one of those recordings was from our very own Neighborhood - in 1975. Not with Lady Gaga - but with Lady Elaine!
I wonder how you felt about math when you were in school? I have heard many early childhood professionals say math was not their favorite subject. I actually liked math, but even now I can remember how it felt when we were faced with long division problems with a remainder...
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