Mister Rogers’ Lessons for Young Learners (and Their Families, Too)

By Gregg Behr and Ryan Rydzewski It has been off the air for more than two decades, but Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood still matters — a fact that might not surprise the program’s creator. “I’ve always said the best time for our program is once it’s over,” Fred Rogers explained, “and the television is turned off.” It sounds counterintuitive. But as we document in When You Wonder, You’re Learning: Mister Rogers’ Enduring Lessons for Raising Creative, Curious, Caring Kids, Fred knew a thing or three about how learning happens best. “Television,” he said, “can be fairly passive.” It is one thing for young children to absorb information from a screen; it is another thing entirely when caring adults help kids use that information in living rooms, classrooms, libraries, and all the other places where kids and their caregivers learn. Modern science backs Mister Rogers up. Young people with families and caregivers who are actively engaged in their learning tend to do better in school, and not by a little: Students with engaged families are up to 81 percent more likely to graduate from high school and 95 percent more likely to report physical and mental well-being. Studies suggest that engaging young...