The Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) announced today that it will present the 2015 Board of Governors Award to The Fred Rogers Company. The prestigious award, which is bestowed by NATAS to recognize career longevity, lifetime achievements and significant contributions to the television industry, will be presented to the nonprofit children’s media company at the 33rd Annual Mid-Atlantic Emmy® Awards on Saturday, September 19, 2015.

“We are thrilled to honor The Fred Rogers Company not only for its longstanding broadcast and community service legacy, but for its current, cutting-edge innovations in international children’s programming,” said NATAS Chapter President Michelle Bradsher. “Even after Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, the company has continued to thrive and to produce other high quality national programs for children, including the award-winning programs Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, Odd Squad and Peg + Cat.”

Founded in 1971, The Fred Rogers Company specializes in creating quality children’s programming for public television, which continues to advance the philosophy and values of its founder, industry pioneer Fred Rogers, by developing ways to engage new generations of children and families.

“It’s such an honor to be recognized with The Board of Governors Award,” said William H. Isler, CEO of The Fred Rogers Company. “We’re carrying on Fred’s philosophy that media is an incredibly powerful tool and should be used to convey positive messages. That’s what inspires us and what’s behind everything we create for children and their families.”

 

Daniel Tiger has a new ride at Idlewild Park in Ligonier, PA, which was the amusement park Mister Rogers visited in his own childhood. The "Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood Trolley Ride," designed by Schell Games, is the only sing-along amusement park ride in the world. The interactive trolley ride travels through the Neighborhood of Make-Believe.

"What we have is a state-of-the-art ride that continues the tradition of Fred Rogers and Mister Rogers' Neighborhood," said Bill Isler, President of The Fred Rogers Company.

The trolley stops to visit Daniel's neighbors. At each stop, riders meet a Neighborhood character (Katerina Kittycat, O the Owl, Mr. McFeely and more) and sing "Come along, come along, to the Neighbor Hug 'n' Song," an invitation that leads to a wonderful gathering of all of the characters (and trolley passengers) near the end of the ride

 

Here are two clips from a recent episode of Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood that introduces Chrissie, Prince Wednesday’s six-year-old cousin. Chrissie uses crutches as well as braces on her legs to help her walk. When asked about her disability, Chrissie proudly talks about the many things she’s able to do on her own, as well as what she needs help with. Chrissie’s matter-of-fact responses give Daniel, as well as young viewers, a wonderful opportunity to learn about someone who is different from a preschool perspective. Daniel really likes it when Chrissie comes around, because she is friendly, outgoing and knows how to use her imagination very well!

Watch Clip 1

Watch Clip 2

The goal for this episode is to help children see and appreciate the similarities and differences among people. More information for this episode (Episode 133: Daniel’s New Friend/Same and Different) can be found on our PBS Kids Parent's website for Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood.

When you help your young child realize that differences are okay, you set the stage for them to appreciate diversity throughout their life. Here are some tips from The Fred Rogers Company to help you reinforce with your own little “neighbors” at home that everyone is special in their own way!

Model Friendliness

Children learn from example and from the things we say. Help your children respect others by the way you greet people, talk with them, and speak about them afterwards.

Create a Family Book –

Work with your child to create a book together about your family titled, “How We’re Alike and How We’re Different.”

Meeting New Friends

Sit down with your child and talk about how it feels to meet someone new. Reassure them that we all can feel a little shy, scared or confused when people look or behave differently.

Value Differences

Arrange a small get-together with one or two other families. Each could make a snack that may be new or different to the others, possibly an ethnic food or one that’s special to their family in other ways.

ODD SQUAD, aimed at kids ages 5-8, premieres on Wednesday, November 26, 2014, on PBS KIDS with a special one-hour broadcast of two back-to-back episodes: “Zero Effect/Bad Luck Bears” and “Soundcheck/Double Trouble.” The series will air weekdays following its premiere on PBS stations.

PBS KIDS just debuted full-length streaming video content and digital games in advance of its November 26 premiere on PBS stations. Six full-length 11-minute “Case Files” from the series, as well as many additional clips that include profiles of the agents, agent training videos, recruitment videos and more, are now available for free on pbskids.org, the PBS KIDS Video App, and PBS KIDS on Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast and Amazon Fire. In addition, two games and parent resources are now available on the series’ website: pbskids.org/oddsquad.

ODD SQUAD is created by Tim McKeon (Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, Adventure Time, The Electric Company) and Adam Peltzman (The Electric Company, The Backyardigans, Wallykazam!) and produced by The Fred Rogers Company and Sinking Ship Entertainment. ODD SQUAD is funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and the U.S. Department of Education through the CPB-PBS Ready To Learn Initiative, a program that supports the development of innovative educational television and digital media targeted to preschool and early elementary school children and their families.

 

There will soon be even more DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD for parents and preschoolers from coast-to-coast to love! The Fred Rogers Company has announced a second season of the ratings-winning animated hit, with 25 engaging new episodes to begin rolling out later this year, as well as new interactive games and digital experiences. Season 2 of the popular program, the first original TV series from The Fred Rogers Company since MISTER ROGERS’ NEIGHBORHOOD, will feature a host of charming, relatable stories and catchy musical strategies that have become the show’s hallmark and helped it earn high marks among parents and preschoolers alike.

“The foundation of DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD has always been the gentle life lessons pioneered by the inimitable Fred Rogers, and the success of the series in its first season shows that Fred’s methods continue to resonate strongly with children and families today,” said Paul Siefken, Vice President, Broadcast and Digital Media, The Fred Rogers Company.

“We’re delighted to bring a whole new season of this endearing show to life for fans young and old, helping parents navigate even more everyday preschool challenges – and providing some fun surprises along the way,” said Angela C. Santomero, Series Creator and Co-Executive Producer.

“Since its debut on PBS KIDS in September 2012, DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD has been a great success and season-to-date it has been one of our top three shows with moms every month,*” said Lesli Rotenberg, General Manager, Children’s Programming, PBS. “We look forward to continuing to give families strategies to help their kids learn and grow with more episodes, digital games and apps from this family favorite.”

DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD was created by some of today’s preeminent innovators of quality children’s media. Creator Angela Santomero, from lead production partner Out of the Blue Enterprises, is co-executive producer, along with Kevin Morrison of The Fred Rogers Company and Vince Commisso of the award-winning animation studio 9 Story Entertainment. Each episode showcases two engaging stories starring 4-year-old Daniel Tiger and his best friends, who invite young viewers to come with them on fun adventures as they explore the colorful Neighborhood of Make-Believe. The innovative use of irresistible musical strategies reinforces the unique theme of every show, so that preschoolers and parents will want to sing along and incorporate them into their daily lives.