Teaching with Love: How Fred Rogers’ Philosophy Helps Young Children Learn Empathy
By Junior Kindergarten Teachers Elizabeth Dean, Mary Eckenroth and Julie Renne
As Early Childhood Educators, we know that learning letters and numbers is important, but learning how to care for others is essential. Fred Rogers, the beloved host of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, taught us that children learn best when they feel safe, loved and understood. This past summer our Junior Kindergarten Team had the incredible opportunity to attend The Work of Fred Rogers Conference in Latrobe, PA. It was an inspiring conference and comforting to know that Fred’s philosophy continues to guide educators from all around the country as we help young children grow into kind, thoughtful people.
Empathy, the ability to understand and care about how someone else feels, helps your child to build strong friendships and a sense of belonging. When your child practices empathy, they learn patience, cooperation, and compassion, which support them not only in school but in all areas of life. Fred Rogers believed that “feelings are mentionable and manageable.” When your child can name their feelings and know it’s okay to talk about them, they become more secure and better able to recognize those feelings in others. Mr. Rogers also showed us the power of slowing down, listening carefully, and truly respecting a child’s thoughts and feelings.
Our days in Junior Kindergarten are filled with opportunities for your child to build kindness and empathy through social interactions. During our daily Morning Meetings, children are given time to talk about their feelings with one another and share their own special stories. Teacher observations of behavior always include the use of specific statements like, “I noticed how gently you helped your friend when they were feeling sad.” Our recognition of the demonstration of empathy can help a child to remember to do it again. We are always actively practicing “Emotion Coaching” as your child learns about their own emotions as well as the emotions of others. Listening to empathy-rich read-alouds provides time for your child to think about how characters are feeling and how these feelings and experiences connect with empathy in their own lives. We listen to Mr. Roger’s songs, and even use role-play to help your child to see the world from another person’s point of view. We conclude our day just as Mr. Rogers did by saying, “You’ve made this day a special day, by just your being you. There’s no person in the whole world like you, and I like you just the way you are.” We feel that this is one of the best ways to enforce your child’s feeling of belonging.
Model empathy at home by letting your child hear you wonder about how others feel. “I wonder how Grandma felt when we called her today?” Allow your child to participate in the conversation by thinking of additional ways to make someone feel happy. Encourage problem-solving by guiding your child to talk through conflicts with siblings or friends, rather than jumping in to do it for them. Role-playing is a helpful way to teach this empathy skill. Include your child in caring acts, such as setting the table, feeding a pet or making a card for a loved one. Always talk about feelings openly, whether it’s a big emotion or a small frustration. Naming feelings helps your child to manage them and understand how to react to them. It’s also comforting for your child to know when you have experienced an emotion, and that you have empathy for them and know how they feel.
Children thrive when home and school work hand-in-hand. When they see adults practicing empathy with one another, they learn that kindness and care are community values. Together, we can help children grow into people who make the world a gentler, more loving place. As Fred Rogers said, “There are many ways to say I love you.” We are appreciative in your partnership with helping your child discover those ways every day.