Before I was a mom, I swore my kids wouldn’t watch any TV until at least 2. And I KNEW they would never be obsessed with any characters. Like no stuffed characters and no characters on their clothing.
HA. JOKE IS ON ME.
Sent my big kid to school today in a Daniel Tiger shirt — Ugga Mugga!
Recently, my oldest has found big love for Daniel Tiger. And to be honest, I have no idea why we avoided it for so long. Daniel and his family are some kind of cute. Teacher Harriet is a vision of patience, and Grandpere is the least overbearing grandparent I’ve ever seen.
I loved Mr. Rogers Neighborhood as a kid and have all the nostalgia watching Daniel Tiger with my kids.
But even better than all of that, the lessons in the songs are everything.
I think I knew about the lessons before but more of in a “Daniel Tiger uses the potty so you should, too” kind of way. I didn’t realize that there would be a song aimed at the root of all feelings and behaviors. My son dances around singing the DT songs on a daily basis. My two-year-old says “grownups come back” each time we leave him with my mom for a minute. And while the songs have reminded my kids from time to time to take a deep breath, to stop to potty, and to help our friends, I have heard the messages and needed them even more than my kids. I often need Daniel’s messages louder and in a more immediate way than my kiddos do.
The songs are stuck in my head but in the best way. I have benefitted from Daniel as much as my kids have. I am being reminded frequently of the lessons I know and believe in but often aren’t my gut reactions. I have also been able to articulate my own feelings and frustrations to my kids in a way they understand. Because I have feelings, too! So, if you haven’t given Daniel Tiger a try with kiddos from 2 on, here is my endorsement. And if you need permission or justification, this is basically me saying that DT teaches me just as much as my kids.
Here are some of the lines that I have used with myself recently —
