{"id":13828,"date":"2018-07-03T18:02:06","date_gmt":"2018-07-03T18:02:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/ftf\/?post_type=first-things&p=13828"},"modified":"2018-07-03T19:18:53","modified_gmt":"2018-07-03T19:18:53","slug":"mister-rogers-movie-is-a-reminder-of-what-young-children-need","status":"publish","type":"first-things","link":"https:\/\/www.ftf-stg.magnetry.com\/es\/first-things\/mister-rogers-movie-is-a-reminder-of-what-young-children-need\/","title":{"rendered":"Mister Rogers movie is a reminder of what young children need"},"content":{"rendered":"

I recently saw the new documentary about Mister Rogers,\u00a0\u201cWon\u2019t You Be My Neighbor?,\u201d<\/a>\u00a0which is currently playing in select movie theaters. It’s very well done and worth the time \u2014 whether now or later on TV or streaming \u2014 for parents, grandparents, early childhood professionals and anyone who cares for, or about, young kids.<\/p>\n

Fred Rogers cared. A lot. And revisiting his life\u2019s work made me think more clearly and deeply about what young children need from us. (It also made me cry. A lot. I\u2019m a marshmallow, for sure, but I wasn\u2019t the only one.)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Among those interviewed in the film is Junlei Li, co-director of the\u00a0Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning and Children\u2019s Media at Saint Vincent College<\/a>, which carries forward Mister Rogers\u2019 legacy. Last year, prior to delivering an inspiring keynote at the First Things First Early Childhood Summit<\/a>, Dr. Li kindly answered a few of our questions about early childhood and parenting.<\/p>\n

Like the movie, Junlei’s words are worth spending some time with, too.<\/p>\n

\n

\"reading\"<\/h2>\n

What\u2019s happening in a child\u2019s brain in their first five years of life? Why is this time so critical to a child\u2019s long-term development?<\/h4>\n

Junlei Li:<\/strong> One word, \u201cconnection,\u201d captures for me what is happening inside and what is needed from the outside for a young child\u2019s brain. The brain cells are rapidly growing and building connections on the inside, and what the brain needs is a reciprocal connection with the external world \u2014 from its sights, sounds, touches, and most importantly, love and affection through the smiling faces and gentle touches and the responsiveness of the caregivers.<\/p>\n

While I believe so strongly that each time period has its own unique purpose and importance in the course of human development, I feel that the first few years of life offers each child life\u2019s first lessons about the kind of world we all live in. The first few years of life teach a child deep and meaningful lessons about questions that stay with us for a lifetime: Do I matter to someone? Am I worthy of being loved? Can I learn and grow at my pace? Do I belong here? Am I capable of offering happiness to those around me? Is there someone out there who loves, accepts, and values me for what I am right here and right now?<\/em><\/p>\n

You often talk about the power of human connection.<\/h2>\n

JL<\/strong>: Mister Rogers refers to the space between one human being and another \u2014 even across the television space \u2014 as \u201choly ground.\u201d In every single human interaction, there is the potential for something both ordinary and beautiful to happen.<\/p>\n

With a child, we have seen in so many different places around the country and the world, that caring people can offer children at least one of the four following elements of what makes a human interaction work: being present, give and take, an opportunity to stretch and grow, and a sense of belonging. It does not matter if we are teaching mathematics or changing diapers, what works for us and our children revolves around these simple principles.<\/p>\n

How can parents and families promote their young child\u2019s healthy development?<\/h4>\n

JL<\/strong>: Trust that you have what it takes to be the caregiver and caretaker of this young child. Your resources may be scarce at times. And your patience may be, too, if you feel otherwise stressed. Your child may not always respond to you the way you hoped, or the way someone else or some book told you they would.<\/p>\n

But please know that you do not have to be the \u201cperfect\u201d parent. Know that even as your child learns and grows, you learn and grow as a parent, too. Trust that the simplest, most ordinary things you do, far from the fancy and glitzy and spectacular gestures, are what matters the most.<\/p>\n

The greatest gift you can offer anyone, said Mister Rogers, is your honest self. It is your honest self who can listen, who can notice, who can comfort, who can embrace, and who can acknowledge mistakes and still feel hopeful for another day of learning and growing with your child.<\/p>\n

\n

Credit for photo of Mister Rogers: Jim Judkis<\/em><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00abOne word, ‘connection,’ captures what is happening inside and what is needed from the outside for a young child\u2019s brain.\u00bb Read our Q&A with the co-director of the Fred Rogers Center.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":13858,"template":"","tags":[22,23,73,74],"class_list":["post-13828","first-things","type-first-things","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-parenting","tag-child-development","tag-social-emotional-development","tag-early-learning"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nMister Rogers movie is a reminder of what young children need - First Things First<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Mister Rogers cared deeply about young children. 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