Education in Mister Rogers' Neighborhood

Fred Rogers' views on what it means to be educated

"Love is at the root of everything." - Fred Rogers

Fred Rogers used television to educate young children. His target audience was pre-schoolers, but Mister Rogers' Neighborhood looms large in the minds of many adults who grew up watching him throughout childhood—myself included. In the often fast-paced world of television, and children's entertainment in general, Mister Rogers moved slowly, careful with his words and how he distinguished between reality and make believe.

His primary focus was on helping children develop a sense of self. Mister Rogers wanted children to understand that they are unique and that their feelings matter. Knowing this, they could appropriately express themselves and exercise control in how they handled their response to challenging situations.