Resources for Caring Adults

Highlighted Resource
Compassion Fatigue
Digital Wellness
Empathy
Creativity
Talking with Children About Politics
When a Pet Your Child Loves Dies
Supporting Grandfamilies
Meeting Children Where They Are
Fundamentals of Learning and Growing 
Conversation Starter Deck

Fred Rogers was a practical scholar of child development, and his careful consideration of the needs and experiences of children is preserved in the 22,000 items in the Fred Rogers Archive at Saint Vincent College. The resources of the Fred Rogers Institute are grounded in the Fred Rogers Archive  and rigorous research with educators and other children’s helpers. Search our topics - there is something for everyone!

What Do You Notice?

What Do You Notice?

Press play on any episode of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood and you'll find yourself invited to slow down and notice something. Settle in, take your time, look carefully, listen deeply.

The Way It's Supposed To Be

The Way It's Supposed To Be

"That I might do things differently, and that's the way it's supposed to be." The voice is coming from one of the Pre-Primary teachers in the center where I worked as an administrator at the time. It is September of 2020 and we have just finished our weekly Zoom share ...

Conversation Starter Deck

Conversation Starter Deck

Prompt conversations between children and caregivers with questions on topics such as kindness and movement. Keywords: icebreaker, self-reflection prompt

Fred Rogers Institute Newsletter: March 2024

Fred Rogers Institute Newsletter: March 2024

This newsletter contains the article "A Love of Learning" by Hedda Sharapan in which themes of wondering about things, looking and listening, and teaching by example are discussed.

Plant One Seed - Grow Two Lessons

Plant One Seed - Grow Two Lessons

May 2022: Welcome to springtime - the "growing season!" Many teachers are using this time of year to offer a science lesson about "growing" by planting seeds. It's a great way to help children see first-hand what a seed needs in order to grow into a plant - soil, water, light.

A Memorable Marsalis Musical Gift

A Memorable Marsalis Musical Gift

December 2022: In all the years that I worked with Fred, one of the things I came to appreciate is that he encouraged us to be "mindful" - and that was long before it was a part of our vocabulary.

Technology and Interactive Media for Young Children

Technology and Interactive Media for Young Children

Report synthesizing the discussion, research, and practice around technology and media for young children and aligning it to Fred Rogers' ideas about how television could encourage and support whole child development.

View, Talk, Listen, and Grow

View, Talk, Listen, and Grow

The question of, "How might young children today respond to episodes of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood?" was an early wondering explored through observation of children and teachers watching episodes in classrooms.

Beechwood Kindergarteners Learn with Mister Rogers' Neighborhood

Beechwood Kindergarteners Learn with Mister Rogers' Neighborhood

"After 30 years of teaching, I never would have thought I'd be showing Mister Rogers' Neighborhood to my students," says Kathy Brown, a Kindergarten teacher at Pittsburgh Beechwood preK-5, in Pittsburgh Public Schools.

Letters of Love and Learning: A conversation through the years

Letters of Love and Learning: A conversation through the years

In 2017, we began a pen pal project with our Kindergarten classes, both in the Pittsburgh Public Schools, but in different parts of the city. What began as a project for our students grew into a friendship and ongoing professional relationship, including our learning about Mister Rogers' Neighborhood with Educators'...

Slowing Down

Slowing Down

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.

Fundamentals of Learning and Growing

Fundamentals of Learning and Growing

There is so much we think about when we help children learn and grow. Explore the foundations in which learning and growing are built upon order to become empathetic.

Save for a Rainy Day

Save for a Rainy Day

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.

Remote Learning Lessons from Mister Rogers

Remote Learning Lessons from Mister Rogers

"As schools search for ways to educate children this school year, my heart reminds me to slow down to notice for what's already here. We have a beautiful example of how to inspire joyful, curious learning through a screen. That example is Mister Rogers' Neighborhood."

As You Are

As You Are

"I like you as you are" is one of the most salient messages educators name in discussions about how Fred Rogers' work resonates with their practice. It's a message their students need to hear. It's a message their students' families need to hear. And it's a message that educators themselves need to hear.

"It's very, very, very hard to wait."

"It's very, very, very hard to wait."

Fred Rogers explored how children experienced emotions and this newsletter looks at how he interpreted what it is like for a child to have to wait. Discover ways of letting children know their feelings are natural and helping to find ways to manage strong emotions. Keywords: patience

The Power of "I Don't Know"

The Power of "I Don't Know"

The importance of wonder and asking questions is nothing new to educators. Early Childhood educators especially, know how to allow opportunities for children's "why?" and "how?" and "hmm..." and "oh, my!"

The Past And The Present Is Now

The Past And The Present Is Now

Please click on the button below to read Fred's NAEYC speech from 1983, "Past and Present," which talks about trusting self as "a positive contributor to children's development."

Many Ways to Say I Love You

Many Ways to Say I Love You

This newsletter explores what we can continue to learn from Fred Rogers, including ways in which we can show love to one another. Examples of loving actions include doing something kind and smiling at someone.

Talking to Children about Difficult Things in the News

Talking to Children about Difficult Things in the News

During times of tragedy and difficulty in the news, it can be difficult to know whether and how to talk to children about what is happening in their world. In this resource we offer ideas and support for guiding children through news about difficult current events.

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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!

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