A Competent Communicator to Admire

            Previously, I have highlighted this early childhood professional for the advocacy he has done for children and family rights throughout his career.  Even after his passing in 2003, his legacy continues to support the early childhood field in advocating for supporting our most precious humans.  I would like to revisit Fred Roger’s work with a focus on his communication style and mannerisms.  As a child, and now as an adult educator, I am still encapsulated every time I hear him speak to children and adults alike.  He models what competent communication should look like in each of his interactions, whether it was on his well-known television show, “Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood” or advocating before policy makers for the rights of children.  Competent communication is understanding and demonstrating effective and appropriate communication that is contextual and requires constant self-assessment of the communication process itself (O'Hair, Wiemann, Mullin, & Teven, 2015).  O’Hair et al (2015), points out that no communicator is precise in all areas of communication, however, they are always working towards getting better.

            Fred Rogers advocated for the “getting better” component of communicating with children and families specifically.  Like many educators, Rogers developed an understanding from studying early childhood education that our children and families are not being communicated with in appropriate or effective ways.  Our world is changing, and communication is lacking between adults and children, and from child to child.  Rogers, in “Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood”, addressed this lack of communication and set a platform for how to talk to children about the world around them.  The relevancy of his communication and advocacy was just as important.  If there was a controversial news topic that may be impacting children’s lives, Rogers included it into his television show, modeling how we communicate appropriately about sensitive topics that must be discussed.  I have included a link that is a testimonial from an actor that co-stared with Rogers, please watch and listen before you continue: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Eb0hCbTPGE

            As I child, I adored how Mr. Rogers spoke to me through the television set because I was one of those children that needed an individual to communicate with me in a loving and caring way.  I did not have models of competent communication in my home, my small moments watching his show truly impacted my sense of self.  I remember him telling me I was special the way I was!  As an adult, watching the link provided challenged me to get through it with a dry eye.  The impact his communication had on others has forever changed them.  Fred Rogers had genuine interactions and intentions of reaching individuals around him and advocating for love.  My biggest take away from Rogers is to communicate love, even when it is difficult to find it and it requires deep digging.  My hope is to communicate love and respect with children, families and colleagues and to be remembered for doing so long after I am gone.

References

The Fred Rogers Company (2018). Fred rogers-biography. Retrieved from https://www.fredrogers.org/fred-rogers/bio/

O'Hair, D., Wiemann, M., Mullin, D. I., & Teven, J. (2015). Real communication (3rd. ed). New York: Bedford/St. Martin's.

SeniorCare Helpers (2017, March). Mr Rogers and Officer Clemmons of Mr Rogers Neighborhood. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Eb0hCbTPGE