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.
Transition Times
February 2024: The other day in the dentist's office, I found myself quoting a Fred song - "I like to be told." I was thanking the hygienist for letting me know what to expect, each step of the way. As Fred sang, "It helps me to get ready for all those things that are new...I trust you more and more..."
January 2024: We live in a world where we've come to expect instant gratification. We expect immediate answers to our emails. We expect next-day deliveries for our online orders. We expect our microwaved food to be ready in seconds. No wonder we get upset when we have to wait.
A Special Gift for Mr. McFeely...and messages for us all
December 2023: This month the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences is giving a special gift to our very own "Speedy Delivery," David Newell, whom we all know as "Mr. McFeely." We're proud to announce that David will be inducted into the National Academy's Gold Circle at the Emmy's Children and Family...
Your financial support of the Institute helps us expand our initiatives and resources so that educators and children's helpers can continue to learn and grow from Fred Rogers' legacy. Thank you!