PBS
Daniel Tiger
Mister Roger's Neighborhood was a childhood favorite of many generations of children. The show stopped production in 2001 and the beloved Fred Rogers died in 2003.
The Fred Rogers Company, formerly known as Family Communications, developed a new show based on characters from the popular Mister Rogers Neighborhood. In 2008 PBS identified social and emotional development as missing curriculum pieces in its television lineup. This was the opportunity for the newly conceptualized version of Mister Rogers Neighborhood to fill this void.
The new show entitled Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood is aimed at children between the ages of 2 and 4. It is an animated show featuring characters that are the fictional offspring of the puppets in Mister Roger's Neighborhood. As parents watch with their children, they will recognize references to the original show. I immediately noticed the trolley, the castle and the revamped theme song while watching with my 3 year old.
Daniel Tiger is the host that sports a red cardigan and speaks directly to the audience just like Mister Rogers. However, he is a 4 year old who has to deal with issues that affect preschoolers. He must learn to deal with emotions such as disappointment, anxiety, fear and develop empathy. There are two stories per episode with live-action scenes in between featuring children in similar situations.
The new format is bright and colorful and the stories are fun to watch. The music that is integrated within each story keeps the mood light. Children should be able to relate to Daniel and hopefully gain a better understanding of their own feelings through the curriculum presented in Daniel Tiger's neighborhood.
For more information on this new series, please visit http://www.pbs.org/about/news/archive/2012/daniel-tiger-tca-launch/
