Researchers at UCLA’s Center for Scholars and Storytellers recently concluded a study on the impact of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood. Among the findings: teenagers are looking for content that addresses social and emotional challenges, filling the gap Daniel Tiger left behind after they aged out of the program’s target demographic.
The small study surveyed 150 teens ages 13-16 who were toddlers when the show first aired. Researchers found that 71% remembered feeling happy while watching the show, 57% said their most memorable lessons from Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood were about understanding and managing emotions, and 21% specifically mentioned that they still use calming techniques they learned from the show today.
The study was commissioned by Fred Rogers Productions in celebration of the show’s 10th anniversary back in 2022. Chief creative officer for the production company, Ellen Doherty, initiated the study and said she expected the positive responses they’ve received, considering the care invested in its development.
“The character of Daniel Tiger on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood was the one that was closest to Fred, to Fred's heart, to who he was,” Doherty said.
When it came time to animate Rogers’ Neighborhood of Make-Believe, the creators chose to center the new series on the son of the shy puppet character from the show, Daniel Striped Tiger. They also drew on Rogers’ approach to Mister Rogers Neighborhood in developing the new series Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood.
“Fred Rogers wanted to make a TV show that put the child at the center and he understood that the first thing he wanted to do was understand children: where their concerns were, what they thought about, how they grow,” Doherty said.
Rogers studied child development, famously working with child psychologist Margaret McFarland to ensure the scripts for Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood simplified themes such as fear, competition, and anger into messages that could resonate with young viewers.
New programming tailored to adolescents’ needs should be informed by the same approach, said Doherty, but it also must consider input from the audience in order for it to be compelling.
“Sometimes, I think people wanna make stories that are for other adults reflecting back on that time period,” Doherty said. “But, if you really wanna tell stories for people who are 15 years old today, then you need to talk to 15 year olds today.”
The surveyed teens identified bullying, mental health, and self-worth as themes they want to be depicted in programming tailored to their needs. Doherty shared that several projects for adolescent audiences are currently in development, though the details are still under wraps.
