Fred Rogers Productions Reminds Us: There Are "Many Ways to Show You Care"

Credit: Courtesy of Fred Rogers Productions

Introducing: "Many Ways to Show You Care", a new short docu-series from Fred Rogers Productions!

"Many Ways to Show You Care" from Fred Rogers Productions includes a heartwarming and educational series of short documentaries created for kids ages 2-6. Hosted by beloved PBS KIDS characters, Daniel Tiger, Donkey Hodie, and Alma Rivera, this series shares the stories of three children caring for members of their families. These young caregivers show us how they navigate resilience, responsibility, and empathy in their everyday lives and that anyone can be a big helper in their family.

This short series extends beyond the screen with additional educational resources available on PBS LearningMedia as well as parent activities and articles on PBS KIDS for Parents. "Many Ways to Show You Care" is a production from Fred Rogers Productions, in association with Lea Pictures and WETA Washington, D.C., in conjunction with the Well Beings Caregiving project.

From the very start, humans are wired to connect emotionally. Even newborns just days old will cry when they hear another baby crying. This is an early sign of emotional attunement. As children grow, their emotional sensitivity deepens. A preschooler’s tears over missing a parent can ripple through a classroom. Young kids often mirror the moods of the adults around them, unconsciously mimicking facial expressions, posture, and tone.

This emotional contagion helps us feel what others feel. It’s the foundation of empathy, but empathy alone does not guarantee kindness. Compassionate behavior is something children learn over time. Research shows compassion grows with experience and guidance. Studies by Carolyn Zahn-Waxler and colleagues* found that toddlers rarely respond with care to someone in distress at just over a year old. By age two, about half do. This shows that compassion develops as children grow and are nurtured.

Here are some tips to raise a caring child.

Point out positive impact.

When your child does something kind, draw attention to how your child helped or made someone feel good. You could say, “Thank you for helping me put away the groceries! Because you helped, we got them away quickly!” or “That was kind of you to help your sister pick up the blocks, even though you didn’t play with them. She was feeling overwhelmed by the mess, and your help made the job easier. Did you notice how much happier she looked when you started helping?”

Talk about feelings.

Talking about how your child is feeling makes those feelings seem more understandable and more manageable. Saying things like “You’re feeling frustrated because we have to wait” or “You’re sad that your toy broke” helps your child learn to put their feelings into words.

Be your family's biggest fan!

Part of being self-confident is recognizing the value in the process of what we’re doing, not just the outcome. We can help instill this concept in our kids by noticing and celebrating their efforts, and helping them to enjoy themselves in the moment rather than focusing on a particular accomplishment. This might sound like: “I see you’re working really hard at that!” or “Hasn’t it been fun to spend time creating this?” or “You’ve had so many creative ideas for how to solve this problem!”

Model self-care out loud.
Helping kids thrive means helping them grow, learn, and reach their full potential. Just as important is teaching them how to care for themselves: how to cope, regulate emotions, and build habits that support lifelong well-being. Here are 11 simple self-care habits for kids.

When we model caring behavior and help kids work through the sticky parts, we give them the tools to choose compassion. Teaching kids to care is a daily rhythm built through example, encouragement, and lots of love.

Find more tips to help your child learn and grow at PBS KIDS for Parents.

*Paz Y, Orlitsky T, Roth-Hanania R, Zahn-Waxler C, Davidov M. Predicting externalizing behavior in toddlerhood from early individual differences in empathy. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2021 Jan;62(1):66-74. doi: 10.1111/jcpp.13247. Epub 2020 Jul 9. PMID: 32645218.