Being a foster parent is an incredibly rewarding experience, but it can also present unique challenges. One of the biggest challenges I faced with my foster son, Little Monkey, was managing his big negative reactions. A stern voice, or even the word “no,” would trigger meltdowns. Thankfully, I discovered the magic of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, a children’s television show that offered practical solutions for navigating these situations.

The Power of Tone of Voice

Little Monkey was highly sensitive to my tone of voice. My “mom voice,” intended to convey authority, or “no nonsense” would backfire spectacularly because he took perceived it as threatening. It took me a while to recognize this pattern, but once I did, I knew I had to find a better way to communicate.

Daniel Tiger to the Rescue

Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood has songs that address a variety of social and emotional challenges faced by preschoolers. These catchy tunes provide parents the vocabulary to us through a song. It’s a gentle and effective way to redirect children’s behavior when you are trying to change your previous parenting habits.

For example, when he was on the verge of hitting his sister, of course I needed to be on hand to redirect the behavior. However, while intervening, instead of saying “Stop. Do not hit your sister.” I sang the “Stop, Stop, Stop” song. Singing helped me do better to maintain a neutral affect rather than the one of disapproval or even frustration, which is my default when dealing with aggression from a child.

DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD

https://www.pbs.org/video/stop-stop-stop-song-j4de5t/

Stop Stop Stop Song

Clip: Season 3 Episode 18 video

When Daniel, Miss Elaina, O the Owl and Prince Wednesday feel they are getting really mad, this song helps them stop themselves. They are learning that it’s okay to feel angry, but it’s not okay to hurt someone.

PBS Kids

The Science

Research has shown that Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood is not just entertaining, it’s educational. A study published in the journal “Behavior Analysis in Practice” found that the show can effectively teach social skills to young children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The show’s modeling of behavior and catchy songs resonate with children, making a useful tool for parents and early intervention providers.

Research:

Evaluating the Ability of the PBS Children’s Show Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood to Teach Skills to Two Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Results:

“Both children showed improved performance of skills only following exposure to episodes of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, suggesting that watching episodes can help children with ASD learn specific skills.”

Published in Behavior analysis in practice, 10(1), 67–71. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-016-0134-z by Dotson, W. H., et al. 2016.

So Many Ways Daniel Tiger Can Help Through Episodes and Songs

Parents use all kinds of strategy songs to help navigate life with small children.

Jen plays “Clothes on, eat breakfast, brush teeth, put on shoes, and off to school!” for her son in the morning to remind him of the routine.

Adam sings, “We gotta try new food cause it might taste good” in an operatic falsetto to encourage his three kids at the dinner table.

And another busy mom I know pulls out “When you’re sick, rest is best, rest is best” — even with her teenagers — as a family reminder to prioritize self-care when illness strikes.

My friends Erin and Kathy both showed their kids the doctor’s visit episodes when they were preschoolers to prepare them for what to expect, especially for shots.

Even though her kids are older now, “I still sing to them ‘Close your eyes, and think of something happy’ when they start to feel scared,” said Kathy.

And then there are the times we sing the songs to ourselves. “I use Daniel Tiger for my own emotional regulation all the time,” said Caroline. “Like ‘Sometimes you feel two feelings at the same time…and that’s okay!’”

My friend Beth said, “I use ‘If something seems hard to do, try it a little bit at a time’…honestly more for myself than for the kids!”

Recently, Anne’s four-year-old turned to her grandma during a game and said, “Keep trying, you’ll get better! That’s what Daniel Tiger says.”

(Find even more songs with the free Daniel Tiger for Parents app.)

What Would Mom Tiger Do?: Parenting Tips from Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood
Mar 28, 2019 Author: Deborah Farmer Kris https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/what-would-mom-tiger-do-parenting-tips-from-daniel-tigers-neighborhood

More Than Just a Cartoon

Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood is a valuable resource for any parent, not just those with foster children. The show’s gentle prosocial messages and practical strategies can benefit all children. And let’s be honest, sometimes parents can use a little emotional regulation themselves!

References

Dotson, W. H., Rasmussen, E. E., Shafer, A., Colwell, M. J., Densley, R. L., Brewer, A. T., Alonzo, M. C., & Martinez, L. A. (2016). Evaluating the ability of the PBS children’s show Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood to teach skills to two young children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 10(1), 67–71. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-016-0134-z

Kris, D. F. (2019, March 28). What Would Mom Tiger Do?: Parenting Tips from Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood. PBS Parents. https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/what-would-mom-tiger-do-parenting-tips-from-daniel-tigers-neighborhood

PBS. (2019, July 26). Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood | Stop Stop Stop Song (Season 3, Episode 18) [Video clip]. PBS. https://www.pbs.org/video/stop-stop-stop-song-j4de5t/

PBS Kids. (n.d.). Video: Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood [Streaming video landing page]. https://pbskids.org/video/daniel-tigers-neighborhood/2364991212