How to tell your kids about Fred Rogers' death - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brett Ferino · 02-27-2003, 02:37 PM

PITTSBURGH -- Fred Rogers taught his young viewers that death was something to be talked about. It shouldn't be any different now that Mister Rogers is gone.

The group that produced ``Mister Rogers' Neighborhood,'' Family Communications Inc., is telling parents not to shy away from their children's questions in the wake of Rogers' death. A pioneer in children's television, Rogers, 74, died in Pittsburgh early Thursday after a bout with stomach cancer.

``As Mister Rogers always said, 'Whatever is mentionable can be more manageable.' Crying, feeling sad, that's part of being human,'' said Hedda Sharapan, an associate producer with the show, which has continued to broadcast repeats since the final new episode aired in August 2001.

``Young children need help in dealing with this. They don't understand death the same way adults do,'' she said.

The people who created the show say parents need to be aware that every child will experience the news of Rogers' death in his or her own way. It's important, they said, that parents ask how their children feel about it and listen to what they say.

``If you only say, 'He was sick and died,' children may worry that you or they might die, too, when you're 'sick' - with the flu or a cold,'' the group said on its Web site.

Some children may not believe Rogers is dead because they just saw him on television. In this case, parents may want to explain that when people die they cannot come back to life, ``but Mister Rogers put his programs on videotape so they can be shown over and over again,'' the Web site said.

Rogers faced the subject of death on his show. On one program, he discussed the death of a fallen bird; another dealt with the death of one of his goldfish.

At the end of the program about the goldfish, he sang a song in which he said it's OK not to have all the answers about death.

In an article on the Family Communications Web site, Rogers and collaborator Barry Head, a member of the Family Communications' board of directors, wrote about the need to be honest with children.

``Just being close to our children and being willing to listen to their concerns about death - or anything else - allows them to know that they can mention difficult things to us and we'll respect their 'wonderings' and be as honest and helpful as we know how,'' they wrote.

The two also wrote a book entitled ``Mister Rogers Talks with Parents.''

``Fred always thought of children first and how to talk to them,'' Sharapan said. ``Every parent has to decide how best to talk to their children about this.

Babes_Cat · 02-27-2003, 02:39 PM

1. I don't care
2. George (11 yrs) doesn't care
3. Peter (7 yrs) never watched that show before in his life

Yep, my parents don't need to tell us in any special way.

Sitcomwriter · 02-27-2003, 04:33 PM

Well most of today's "kids" (1-9 is what I'd call kids.10-12 is preteen and 13-18/19 is teenager) really are too young to ever watched the show.I watched it but I fit the teenage age group.My brother who is 12 never watched it because all he watched kids show wise is Nick Jr. stuff so he really doesn't care.My mom is actually the saddest of all of us

AllIWantIsYourClutch · 02-27-2003, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Babes_Cat
1. I don't care
2. George (11 yrs) doesn't care
3. Peter (7 yrs) never watched that show before in his life

Yep, my parents don't need to tell us in any special way.

Well I care...my grandma just carelessly screamed it up the stairs and I almost cried.

Chocoholic · 02-27-2003, 06:04 PM

I cared too. I'm 21 and in college and I cried when I heard the news.

blackbeard · 02-27-2003, 06:14 PM

Good Bye Fred, RIP You will be missed by many

Titania · 02-27-2003, 06:19 PM

kids do need extra help dealing with death....i wasnt too attached to mister rogers but i remember being sooooo upset when gene kelly died...(ok i was a weird kid!)

Adamantium · 02-27-2003, 07:17 PM

I also care. There was something calming about Mr. Rogers. The first death of a kids show star for me was Mr. Hooper on Sesame Street back in I think 1983.

White_Daisy · 02-27-2003, 07:47 PM

When I heard he died this morning, I did feel this wave of terror wash over me. I mean...Mister Rogers can't die!!! That was the first thing I said. He just can't die. Mister Rogers is immortal.

My friends say I jinxed him because I wore my Mister Rogers shirt on Tuesday, but it's no laughing matter.

I hope he rests in peace and finds life after death easier than life before.

SBTB Geek · 02-27-2003, 07:55 PM

I don't think there is an age limit to feel sad. Most of America grew up watching, and admiring Fred Rodgers. In some occasions, Mr. Rodgers was more of a parent to kids- than the actual parents.

I'm 17, and I am still deeply saddened to hear this terrible news. It's like losing a close family member that always came to visit. Mr. Rodgers will be remembered as one of the greatest people of this world.

~LadyJess~ · 02-27-2003, 09:31 PM

I never really liked Mr. Rogers Neighborhood (I was more of a Seasme Street girl) but this morning when I heard it on the news my eyes flew open since I was just laying around, too tired to get up. That sure shocked me and made me wake up.

Penny Lane · 02-27-2003, 09:33 PM

I have been going to funerals since I was very young (about 10)
My parents always taught us that death is a fact of life, so at an early age I was kind of immune to it! My own kids attended funerals when they were young. On the other hand my husband has always been averse to to death and funerals as his parents never allowed him and his sister to attend them. So in a way I think it is better to lay out the facts of death to children. When they grow up it will be a little better to accept. Kids are tougher than we think! At least I was! But the death of a dear friend or loved one is never easy!

Chad22 · 02-27-2003, 09:57 PM

I Care too. I Used to watch Mr. Rogers when i was a little kid. Its really sad to know hes gone

But Well...At least hes in a better "Neighborhood" Now.

Chad22 · 02-27-2003, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Babes_Cat
1. I don't care

Thats a little cold, Dont you think?

InspectorExstead · 02-27-2003, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by White_Daisy
When I heard he died this morning, I did feel this wave of terror wash over me. I mean...Mister Rogers can't die!!! That was the first thing I said. He just can't die. Mister Rogers is immortal.

That's exactly what I thought when my two friends told me in first period. I just stood there frozen. Mr. Rogers was my best friend while I was growing up. I loved him! I grew up with him. I learned to tie my shoes with him.

I'm going to miss him. He was such a great friend.

My mom and me are really the only ones who are Mr. Rogers fans. My sisters watched Nick Jr. while growing up. I think they've only seen a couple of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood. I called my mom at school to tell her. I'm still in shock. Why can't he come back? WHY?!?! RIP Mr. Rogers.

02-27-2003, 02:37 PM	#1
Brett Ferino Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 18, 2000 Location: PA Posts: 3,782	How to tell your kids about Fred Rogers' death PITTSBURGH -- Fred Rogers taught his young viewers that death was something to be talked about. It shouldn't be any different now that Mister Rogers is gone. The group that produced ``Mister Rogers' Neighborhood,'' Family Communications Inc., is telling parents not to shy away from their children's questions in the wake of Rogers' death. A pioneer in children's television, Rogers, 74, died in Pittsburgh early Thursday after a bout with stomach cancer. ``As Mister Rogers always said, 'Whatever is mentionable can be more manageable.' Crying, feeling sad, that's part of being human,'' said Hedda Sharapan, an associate producer with the show, which has continued to broadcast repeats since the final new episode aired in August 2001. ``Young children need help in dealing with this. They don't understand death the same way adults do,'' she said. The people who created the show say parents need to be aware that every child will experience the news of Rogers' death in his or her own way. It's important, they said, that parents ask how their children feel about it and listen to what they say. ``If you only say, 'He was sick and died,' children may worry that you or they might die, too, when you're 'sick' - with the flu or a cold,'' the group said on its Web site. Some children may not believe Rogers is dead because they just saw him on television. In this case, parents may want to explain that when people die they cannot come back to life, ``but Mister Rogers put his programs on videotape so they can be shown over and over again,'' the Web site said. Rogers faced the subject of death on his show. On one program, he discussed the death of a fallen bird; another dealt with the death of one of his goldfish. At the end of the program about the goldfish, he sang a song in which he said it's OK not to have all the answers about death. In an article on the Family Communications Web site, Rogers and collaborator Barry Head, a member of the Family Communications' board of directors, wrote about the need to be honest with children. ``Just being close to our children and being willing to listen to their concerns about death - or anything else - allows them to know that they can mention difficult things to us and we'll respect their 'wonderings' and be as honest and helpful as we know how,'' they wrote. The two also wrote a book entitled ``Mister Rogers Talks with Parents.'' ``Fred always thought of children first and how to talk to them,'' Sharapan said. ``Every parent has to decide how best to talk to their children about this.

02-27-2003, 06:19 PM	#7
Titania a part of that Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 04, 2000 Posts: 3,694	kids do need extra help dealing with death....i wasnt too attached to mister rogers but i remember being sooooo upset when gene kelly died...(ok i was a weird kid!)
	__________________ I don't mean to put on any pressure, but I know what a thing is right. and I spend every day reconfiguring my senses. I'll give you stars and the moon and a soul to guide you and a promise I'll never go I'll give you hope to bring out all the life inside you and the strength that will help you grow. myspace

02-27-2003, 07:47 PM	#9
White_Daisy blank Senior Member Join Date: Oct 22, 2002 Posts: 2,374	When I heard he died this morning, I did feel this wave of terror wash over me. I mean...Mister Rogers can't die!!! That was the first thing I said. He just can't die. Mister Rogers is immortal. My friends say I jinxed him because I wore my Mister Rogers shirt on Tuesday, but it's no laughing matter. I hope he rests in peace and finds life after death easier than life before.
	__________________ <marquee>I love you, Potsie Webber</marquee> <center> "H14...My favorite letter, my favorite number"</center> <center>http://www.obeygiant.com/stickers/bo...happy-days.gif</center> <center>They Call it Potsie Love</center> <center>http://www.tvlinksonline.com/boards/...&postid=549343</center> <center>Warren "Potsie" Webber</center> <center> To me, Fonzie is what everyone wants to be, Richie is kind of what everyone wants her son to be. And Potsie, I think, is what everyone is - Anson Williams </center>

02-27-2003, 09:31 PM	#11
~LadyJess~ Football Chick Forum Fanatic Join Date: Mar 15, 2002 Location: At the Shamrock doing shots with Mo Posts: 8,260	I never really liked Mr. Rogers Neighborhood (I was more of a Seasme Street girl) but this morning when I heard it on the news my eyes flew open since I was just laying around, too tired to get up. That sure shocked me and made me wake up.
	__________________ 8/26/05 Jessica & Anthony

02-27-2003, 09:33 PM	#12
Penny Lane Butter Pie Forum Icon Join Date: Jul 03, 2001 Location: Beneath the blue suburban skies Posts: 51,036	I have been going to funerals since I was very young (about 10) My parents always taught us that death is a fact of life, so at an early age I was kind of immune to it! My own kids attended funerals when they were young. On the other hand my husband has always been averse to to death and funerals as his parents never allowed him and his sister to attend them. So in a way I think it is better to lay out the facts of death to children. When they grow up it will be a little better to accept. Kids are tougher than we think! At least I was! But the death of a dear friend or loved one is never easy!
	__________________ Vulgarity is no substitute for wit- Lady Violet Crawley

02-27-2003, 02:39 PM	#2
Babes_Cat Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Oct 11, 2001 Location: massachusetts Posts: 34,145	1. I don't care 2. George (11 yrs) doesn't care 3. Peter (7 yrs) never watched that show before in his life Yep, my parents don't need to tell us in any special way.

02-27-2003, 04:33 PM	#3
Sitcomwriter Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 27, 2001 Posts: 7,356	Well most of today's "kids" (1-9 is what I'd call kids.10-12 is preteen and 13-18/19 is teenager) really are too young to ever watched the show.I watched it but I fit the teenage age group.My brother who is 12 never watched it because all he watched kids show wise is Nick Jr. stuff so he really doesn't care.My mom is actually the saddest of all of us

02-27-2003, 06:04 PM	#5
Chocoholic Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 01, 2000 Location: Between a rock and a hard place. Posts: 11,235	I cared too. I'm 21 and in college and I cried when I heard the news.

02-27-2003, 06:14 PM	#6
blackbeard B.O.G. Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 05, 2001 Location: Constitution State Posts: 712	Good Bye Fred, RIP You will be missed by many

02-27-2003, 07:17 PM	#8
Adamantium TVAdam No More Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 11, 2002 Location: Springfield, Ohio Posts: 7,824	I also care. There was something calming about Mr. Rogers. The first death of a kids show star for me was Mr. Hooper on Sesame Street back in I think 1983.

02-27-2003, 07:55 PM	#10
SBTB Geek Smooth Moderator Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 21, 2002 Location: Southern California Posts: 6,004	I don't think there is an age limit to feel sad. Most of America grew up watching, and admiring Fred Rodgers. In some occasions, Mr. Rodgers was more of a parent to kids- than the actual parents. I'm 17, and I am still deeply saddened to hear this terrible news. It's like losing a close family member that always came to visit. Mr. Rodgers will be remembered as one of the greatest people of this world.

02-27-2003, 09:57 PM	#13
Chad22 Captain Juke N Jive Moderator Forum Addict Join Date: Nov 23, 2002 Location: Caribou, Maine Posts: 71,661	I Care too. I Used to watch Mr. Rogers when i was a little kid. Its really sad to know hes gone But Well...At least hes in a better "Neighborhood" Now.