Resources for Caring Adults

Fred Rogers loved questions. And he loved inviting YOU to ask questions about anything and everything.

This year's Mid-Year Convening on January 21 included ten educator-led breakout sessions on topics such as trauma aware care, QRIS peer learning communities, and building community in early childhood and secondary classrooms.

Slowness—as both an idea and practice—is a significant layer of what we can learn from Fred Rogers and Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. And slowness is about much more than going slowly. Slowness opens a space for what is essential for children and their helpers.

January 2023: A while ago, I was observing a group of preschoolers, and I was amazed at how long they stayed at a task. What was so engaging? They were making something rather ordinary and kind of "old-fashioned" -- paper chains.

April 2022: Whenever I show video clips from Mister Rogers' Neighborhood at a professional development workshop, I often ask, "What messages did you hear in it?" Usually teachers talk about "what" Fred said or did. But I remember a teacher who told me she found a lot to learn from "how" Fred said and did things.

In The Little Prince, the above line is a piece of wise advice given from the fox to the little prince as he travels and learns about the world. It is a piece of advice that is simple, yet profound. It is a quote that also profoundly shaped the work of Fred Rogers that was displayed in the Family Communications ....

There is so much we think about when we help children learn and grow. We wonder what activities to plan, what experiences are important, what materials and toys are necessary, how to create a supportive environment...all while meeting basic needs and balancing opinions and outside influences.

June 2023: It's summertime, and that usually means more time outdoors. But in today's world, it seems that "outdoor time" has come to mean "playground time." I remember reading Richard Louv's Last Child in the Woods, and being reminded that there is a difference between "outdoor time with nature" and ...

Positive learning outcomes are related to healthy social-emotional skills, and both are strengthened through quality interactions with adults. As a Youth Services Librarian, I am interested in this connection, and how I can support children's learning through programming like storytime.

September 2022: I don't know what this summer has been like in your neighborhood, but it's been raining a lot around here. I even caught myself singing, "Rain, rain go away.

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...

August 2022: With all the attention on high tech these days, I was happily surprised by a low-tech moment I had when I was doing an observation in a preschool.

October 2023: I recently talked with a teacher who was excited about a new learning center that she set up for the children. She called it the "Creation Station," and stocked it with recyclable "stuff" donated by families - boxes, egg cartons, packing material, plastic containers, and paper towel tubes.

May 2023: I've heard elementary school teachers say that one of the most important qualities that children need to succeed in school is the willingness to take risks. They're talking about "safe risks," like the willingness to offer ideas in class discussions, ask questions, try new things, or tackle problems ...

As Educators' Neighborhood moves into its fifth year of educators learning together inspired by the life and work of Fred Rogers, I've been reflecting on the core of this work, it's essential through-line, the heart of it.