Mr. Rogers Post Goes Viral | PBS NewsHour

 

                                                             Photo by Jim Judkis

Mr.Rogers Post Goes Viral

By: News Desk

As more details emerge about Friday's Connecticut school shooting, thousands of Americans found comfort in the following touching image and quote from the late Fred Rogers:

"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.' To this day, especially in times of 'disaster,' I remember my mother's words, and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers -- so many caring people in this world."

On Friday, 170 Million for Public Broadcasting posted the image and quote on their Facebook page. Since then, the post has been seen by hundreds of thousands of people and shared more than 90,000 times on Facebook.

The quote was taken from a timely video in which Rogers advises parents on how to help their children during times of tragedy. You can watch that original video and see more photos and videos of Rogers here on the PBS Parents page.

Photographer Jim Judkis captured the photo in 1978 at The Children's Institute in Pittsburgh, then known as the Memorial Home for Crippled Children. On Tuesday's NewsHour, Judkis's daughter Maura Judkis talks about the virality of her father's photo.

 Source:
Mr. Rogers Post Goes Viral | PBS NewsHour

 http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2012/12/fred-rogers-post-goes-viral.html

Helping Children Talk About Their Scary Feelings

During troubling times, we'd like to offer some thoughts that may be of help to you and the children in your care.

Talking about our fears can often help make them less frightening.

Our mission has always been to help families grow in healthy, nurturing ways, and we hope our messages can be of service to you.

When children mention something frightening, find out what they know about it. (Their fantasies are often very different from the actual truth!) Listening carefully and respecting their concerns can assure them that they can talk about anything with you.
 
Somewhere deep inside each one of us human beings is a longing to know that all will be well. Our children need to hear from us adults that we will do everything we can to keep them safe and to help them grow in this world.
When Fred Rogers was a boy and would see scary things on the news, his mother would say to him, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping."
 
You parents and care givers are of prime importance in your child's life -- what you do, think and say are powerful influences on the children in your care. By helping them find healthy ways of dealing with their feelings -- ways that don't hurt them or anyone else, you're helping to make our world a better, safer place.







 Source:  http://www.pbs.org/parents/rogers/special/scarynews.html