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Don Swaim Interviews

Kids' Corner

Fred Rogers, better known as Mister Rogers, was the creator and host of the PBS children's television series, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. Rogers talks about how the program, while designed for children ages 2 to 6, draws in older people, particularly parents. The program began with a small cast in Canada. Rogers, however, wanted to raise his sons in the United States and the program moved with him in 1963 broadcasted by five network stations. At the time of the interview, 280 network stations were broadcasting the program.

In this 1987 interview with Don Swaim, Rogers also talks about his series of books called First Experience, his most recent at the time was Friends and Moving. These books describe first experiences in the lives of children. He said this series is probably the best expression of his and his team’s philosophy regarding children besides from the Neighborhood. Parents use the books to start family communications. The books, he said, act as springboards for talking at home. Other books in the series tackle issues such as daycare, a new baby, going to the doctor and going to the potty.

Listen to the Fred Rogers interview with Don Swaim, 1987, RealAudio
(28 min. 34 sec.)

MP3 File

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