I recently had a great opportunity to watch a scientist at work. She was studying an empty plastic water bottle, turning it over and over, staring at it, squeezing it – and then she let it drop from her highchair, studying the effect of gravity. And yes, she was just 11 months old! No wonder they call babies and toddlers little...
Read MoreOh, the comforting smell and feel of a beloved blankey or stuffy! No wonder children call them “loveys.” And no wonder teachers are seeing a lot of them, especially now at the beginning of the year. To us, those objects might look worn and bedraggled, but just think how powerful they are for children. They can calm a crying child, provide...
Read MoreWe all know how important daily routines are in child care. But I’ve come to find out that some routines have a special significance for children. Knowing the value of routines, Fred filled his Neighborhood program with so many of them – from the opening, coming through the door with his song, followed by his sweater and sneakers routine, introducing Make-Believe...
Read MoreI just came back from the Professional Development Institute of NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children). What a great place to learn new ideas, have some “old” ideas confirmed, and connect with new friends and old friends! And sometimes, if you’re lucky, you come away from a session being so inspired by someone that you want to...
Read MoreWelcome, springtime! It’s the “growing season” and a time when many teachers help children grow plants from seeds. That’s a great science lesson because children can see what a plant needs to grow – soil, water, light. But I’ve learned from Fred that there’s another lesson here, too, one that’s harder to see and harder to learn. That’s the lesson about...
Read MoreWhenever 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 recently a teacher talked about “how” Fred said and did things. What struck her was his slow pace, how comforting and comfortable it was -- and how...
Read MoreMarch 20 would be Fred Rogers’ 88th birthday, and I wanted to celebrate his life 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,...
Read MoreI recently observed 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. I could see why they were so involved. They wanted to make a chain that would go all the way across the floor. Anything so big has...
Read MoreWhen most people think of Fred Rogers' puppets, they think about his Neighborhood of Make-Believe stories. But there's another way he used puppets--a way that can help us learn about children's thoughts, feelings and concerns. Fred was always enamored with puppets, so when he was a graduate student in Child Development, they were a natural tool for him to use with...
Read MoreAt this gift-giving time of the year, we usually think about presents that come in a box. But for this newsletter, I wanted to give you a "gift" of one of our favorite Neighborhood videos that has a great example of thinking "outside the box." It's Fred's visit with author-illustrator Eric Carle, who has given us such wonderful books as The...
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