Thursday, March 05, 2009
Won't You Be My Neighbor Day...
...is March 20th. Fred Rogers began each episode of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood with this question in song: “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” In honor of his birthday, March 20th, people around the country will join in celebrating his legacy of neighborliness.
Mister Rogers' song "Won't You Be My Neighbor?" offers a double message: "You are special...and so is everybody else in the world!" We all share the same hopes and feelings, yet each human being is unique. When children can appreciate how they are like others and how they are unique, they are more likely to feel good about themselves to accept differences in others and to be neighborly.
...is March 20th. Fred Rogers began each episode of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood with this question in song: “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” In honor of his birthday, March 20th, people around the country will join in celebrating his legacy of neighborliness.
Mister Rogers' song "Won't You Be My Neighbor?" offers a double message: "You are special...and so is everybody else in the world!" We all share the same hopes and feelings, yet each human being is unique. When children can appreciate how they are like others and how they are unique, they are more likely to feel good about themselves to accept differences in others and to be neighborly.
Here are some ideas for your conversation with children about being neighborly:
- You could start with a story about how a neighbor helped you -- or how you helped a neighbor.
- Ask the children about ways that their family has been kind or helpful to a neighbor.
- Remind them that we don’t have to like every one of our neighbors. But it is important to be kind.
- Using puppets or stuffed animals, make up a story about why the character is angry -- for example, someone took his or her toy…or was too bossy when they were playing. Ask the children to be caring neighbors and help the puppet. Remind them they can use those ideas when they or their friends are angry.
- Help the children appreciate their neighbors, even those who seem different. Can they tell you ways that we’re different -- and ways that we’re all alike? Fred Rogers often reminded us that we are much more alike than we are different.
Here are other ways to encourage children to be neighborly:
- Have the children make thank-you cards for the neighbors who help them in child care -- the cook, the van driver, the maintenance person, the postal worker or substitute caregivers.
- Plan a “neighborly” visit to a nursing home and have the residents read to the children or sing with them.
- Sponsor a Mister Rogers Sweater Drive or food drive.
- Connect with a librarian to tell stories or read books about being neighborly -- either for storytime at the library, a visit to your child care, or book suggestions.
- Encourage families to be caring neighbors of our planet by collecting throw-aways for art projects, turning off lights when they leave a room, or marveling at a flower or sunset. Click here for more ideas.
- When you help children feel good about who they are as unique individuals, you’re helping them feel more secure --and that in turn helps them be more able to appreciate their neighbors.
So go ahead and celebrate, wear a sweater on March 20th and send in your photo,and listen or get the music to the Mr Rogers song.
Find out more information about Won't You Be My Neighbor Day. Remember, "I've always wanted to have a neighbor just like you..."
// posted by Tammy Wachter @ 6:36 AM 
