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.
Grown-up learning from Fred Rogers: Authenticity
When I was a young child I often played "teacher." I loved to line up my stuffed animals and dolls and read to them the way my teacher read to my class. I loved the idea of grading papers with a red pen and singing songs at circle time. These are the actions that meant "teaching" to me as a young child as I observed...
Compassion fatigue is the toll of sharing in the emotions and concerns of the people that you care for. Compassion fatigue is more than burnout or weariness.
Educators and caregivers who look to Fred Rogers for inspiration often ask the
question, "how would Fred Rogers respond to today's landscape of social media and
personal devices?" Fred Rogers was certainly a pioneer in using technology ...
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