Fred Rogers’ “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?" song was an invitation – an invitation to be close. To share thoughts and feelings. To talk about things that matter. That’s what he did for more than forty years on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. And in response to that invitation, we received many, many letters over the years. As Fred said ” … to me (it was) a way people have of saying, ‘Yes, I will be your neighbor…and here’s something I’d like to tell you that matters to me.”

The first thing he worked on when he came into the office each day was the viewer mail, and he gave his personal attention to every letter.

Here’s one of them.

Fred Rogers' response: 

Dear John,

It meant a lot to me that you wanted to tell me your feelings about spiders and monsters. Many boys and girls are scared about things like that. It was interesting to know you pretend to be able to spray the monsters and spiders with your pretend monster spray. Playing and pretending about things that scare you can sometimes help. That way, you can be in charge of the scary things. Sometimes it helps to draw, too, and .. . I wondered if it might help you to draw about some of the things that scare you. Little by little, as you grow, some of the things that upset you now won't be as scary. That's a part of inside growing. And I'm proud of the many ways you're growing—inside and out.

 

 We hope you’ll find the letters and responses enlightening and informative – and even funny or touching.  You may want to forward them on to others who might learn from them as well. 

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