WQED, Fred Rogers Productions, and PNC Grow Up Great will host “Be My Neighbor Day” in Etna on Saturday, Sept. 20.
The free event celebrates kindness and what it means to be a caring neighbor. It will include service projects, crafts, and photo opportunities with Daniel Tiger.
“Be My Neighbor Day” will run from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. along Butler Street between Freeport and Bridge streets. For more information, visit WQED’s website.
In recognition of the upcoming National Day of Play championed by the USA Affiliate (IPA USA) of the International Play Association on Sept. 20, Trying Together is asking caregivers and educators to take part in a letter-writing campaign to advocate for the importance of play for children in early childhood settings.
Play-based learning and adequate recess time have been shown to support children’s health and holistic well being, aid in the development of executive function skills, improve behaviors, and increase academic knowledge acquisition.
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and the World Health Organization recommend one to three hours of vigorous activity for children each day and play-based learning as the primary instructional model for all of early childhood, birth to age 9, yet no state in the United States requires recess and most children in U.S. schools receive 40 minutes or less of recess per day.
Trying Together’s Advocacy Team recommends sending a letter to school principals, school board members, or other district leaders and mobilizing other members of the community to do the same.
The Advocacy Team has put together a toolkit of sample letters to get started. Writers should be sure to include their own story and discuss why play matters to them.
Letters can be sent by mail or email.
Sample letters include ones for caregivers or teachers to administrators, ECE providers to school districts, formal memos to districts or birth to age 5 programs, and students. Another resource is a list of recommendations on physical activity by age.
“Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood“
-Mr. Rogers
Inspired by Fred Rogers, former Gov. Tom Wolf declared the 143rd day of the year as “143 Day,” a number that Mr. Rogers used as his special code for “I Love You.”
This year’s 143 Day, which takes place on May 23, is intended to inspire Pennsylvanians to spread kindness and good deeds for others. The state’s 143 Day website asks residents to use the hashtag #143DayinPA online any time they do something nice for themselves or others.
On his show “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood,” Rogers used “143” as a code for “I Love You” based on the numbers of letters in each word.
“With everything going on in the world, it’s no surprise that we are all feeling a little weary and overwhelmed,” the 143 Day site reads. “”This isn’t the time to add more “to do’s” to the list. This is the day to take a beat, realize that you are special, and affirm that you are enough.”
Some of the many suggestions on the website’s kindness generator include:
For more information on 143 Day, visit its website.
More than 50 years after Fred Rogers first appeared on television and asked viewers to be his neighbor, the impact of his legacy continues to resonate. This summer, the Fred Rogers Institute will host its second annual Work of Fred Rogers Conference.
The conference will be practice-focused and practice-informed. It will feature sessions from educators and other child-serving professionals who will share ideas, stories, and inspiration. Questions that will be explored during the conference include:
The conference will be of interest to educators and practitioners who work in the direct service of children and/or families, or who provide support to those who provide support to those who work directly with children or families.
Educators, clinicians, and practitioners in numerous child- and family-serving fields continue to turn to Rogers’ legacy to inform their practice. His wisdom continues to inspire families and children’s helpers.
The agendas for day one and day two are both available.
The conference will be held on June 21 and 22 at the Fred Rogers Center on the campus of Saint Vincent College in Latrobe. The cost for both days is $275, while the cost for one day is $143.
Act 48 credits will be available to Pennsylvania educators who attend the conference. All attendees will receive certificates of attendance that can be applied to CEU credit in other states.
Registration is open through June 14.
