In the late 1970's, a series of books and videos were produced to help children understand and feel more comfortable with a few common medical scenarios. We have looked at a few of these books in the past -- Let's Talk About Going to the Hospital and Let's Talk About Having an Operation. Although I have never seen it, I can only assume that there is a book to go along with the third title from this series, Let's Talk About Wearing a Cast.
The Let's Talk About It series was produced by Family Communications through the support of Johnson & Johnson Baby Products as well as the McFeely-Rogers Foundation (Latrobe, PA). Major cooperation was also received from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Hospital Association, and the American Medical Association.
While each of these videos takes place in Mister Rogers' television home, the structure of each "episode" is significantly different from a typical visit to the Neighborhood. Each video opens with Mister Rogers entering to the instrumental theme of I Like to Be Told. After introducing himself to viewers ("Hello, I'm Mister Rogers. I like to talk with people about important things."), Mister Rogers spends the next 20 minutes discussing the feelings that children might have when dealing with these medical experiences. His talk with viewers is divided throughout various video clips of children in these situations along with calming conversations with experts in the medical field.
Entering to I Like to Be Told could not be more fitting for these videos. It is very obvious from the detail he covers that Mister Rogers placed a great deal of importance on children being informed. Children deserve to have a sense of comfort and an understanding of their experiences -- especially times such as these when a child is likely unsure. While these videos are comforting to children, Mister Rogers does not sugarcoat the topics and is very direct and honest about what children might experience.
Let's Talk About Having an Operation
Mister Rogers opens by telling viewers that he has had some recent conversations with doctors about what it's like to have an opreation. He clarifies the terms "operation" and "surgeon" ("Sometimes it's the best way that a doctor knows of helping people who are sick on the inside of them. You know, under their skin.") before moving on and sharing what he has learned about having an operation. Mister Rogers narrates a film about a little girl named Laura who has recently had an operation. Showing a picture of Laura, Mister Rogers pointedly mentions that the picture was taken of her after she came home from the hospital (so as to show young viewers that she is okay, even after the operation). Laura's surgery was needed in order to fix a hernia -- likely the inspiration for the surgery needed by Daniel Tiger in Let's Talk About Going to the Hospital.
Mister Rogers walks viewers through Laura's entire experience beginning with the doctor's explanation of the surgery and concluding with her recovery. The film includes specific details such as the anesthetic ("a special medicine to make you sleepy") and the fact that "on her way down the hall [to the operating room], Laura could see the ceiling because she was lying on her back." Mister Rogers, as expected, does a terrific job of providing details on anything that a child might wonder about.
Back at the house, Mister Rogers explains that just like with most "hurt," an operations hurts most at first and then "each day after, you feel a little better until you're well again." He focuses on the importance of asking questions when you are unsure and lets viewers know that grown-ups can help explain things to them. This leads into the song I Like to Be Told.
The video is concluded in typical Mister Rogers fashion: "Some children wonder if they might be a different person after their operation. Well that just doesn't happen. You're the only person in the whole world like you. Only you can have your own special thoughts and feelings. No one can change who you really are. People like you just the way you are and I'm proud of the way you're growing."
Below is the supplemental book published to go along with this video:
© 1976 Family Communications
Let's Talk About Going to the Hospital
Mister Rogers opens by having a conversation with Daniel Tiger about what a hospital is and why people might need to go to the hospital. Using a picture of Daniel talking with Handyman Negri, Mister Rogers moves into a time of Make-Believe where Daniel is feeling nervous after being told that he needs to go to the hospital.
Dr. Bill Platypus has discovered that Daniel has a hernia and needs an operation. Handyman Negri helps Daniel realize that the people at the hospital will help him feel better and that he will be able to return to the comforts of his clock very soon. Back at the house for a moment, Mister Rogers talks with Daniel about the fact that going to the hospital doesn't hurt, but in order for people to feel better, sometimes doctors and nurses need to do things that do hurt. Returning to Make-Believe, Daniel is relieved to be home from his stay in the hospital.
Viewers then see a film segment about the hospital. The film is narrated by Mister Rogers who explains what children might see if they ever need to go to the hospital. He is very honest with viewers and is sure to validate their emotions: "People in the hospital are interested in all kinds of growing. This little girl is getting weighed and measured. It doesn't hurt. Everybody who stays in the hospital has to have a blood test, too, and that's something that does hurt. Of course, it's okay to cry if you want to. But if you hold still, it will be over all the faster."
After looking at a model of a children's hospital bed, Mister Rogers moves on to the next film about children in their hospital beds. He shows a wide variety of things that children might do in a hospital bed such as eating, drawing, and even using a bed pan.
Following the film, Mister Rogers shows a few common pieces of equipment that doctors and nurses use such as a thermometer and an otoscope. This leads into the next film which shows doctors and nurses using their tools with patients.
Mister Rogers mentions that some children may only need to stay in the hospital a short time while others may stay longer if they are "very very sick." He comforts viewers by letting them know that the reason they might be in the hospital is so that their "mothers and fathers and doctors and nurses can all work together to take good care of [them]."
Moving on to a more light-hearted topic, Mister Rogers shows a film about young patients playing in the hospital.
Concluding, Mister Rogers departs with a few comforting and familiar words: "Usually children don't have to do hard things all by themselves. . .We grown-ups care about children like you and we believe our caring helps you to grow. And you help us, too. You know how? By just your being yourself. There's only one person in the whole world like you. I hope you're proud of the way you're growing."
As you can see below, the front cover of the Going to the Hospital companion book represents the video very well. Complete in detail down to the color of Mister Rogers' sweater and tie, the drawing on the book's cover was clearly designed straight from the video footage.
© 1976 Family Communications
Let's Talk About Wearing a Cast
Arriving with a cast, Mister Rogers shows viewers how it once fit on his arm: "It's a strong, hard bandage." He explains that doctors sometimes use a cast on an injury to hold that part of the body very still and help it to heal. Mister Rogers reveals that he has never really needed a cast but he wanted to learn about them by having one put on his arm. He reflects on this experience by showing a clip from an episode from the Neighborhood program.
As Mister Rogers' doctor friend, Dr. Clark, explains the process, she applies a cast to his right forearm.
After watching the clip, Mister Rogers demonstrates a sling. Leaving no detail uncovered, Mister Rogers goes on to talk about how a person's skin often feels itchy under a cast.
Going back to the video clip, Mister Rogers remembers going to the hospital to have his cast removed.
After this clip is finished, Mister Rogers talks about how children who are wearing casts can still do many things. He shows a short film of young people with casts on as they perform everyday tasks. The film is set to an instrumental of Children Can.
Mister Rogers reminds viewers that, unlike a broken toy, a broken bone can heal itself: "You're not a toy. You're a person. A very important person. Even if you need to wear a cast your body will keep on growing just as your feelings and ideas keep on growing everyday. People like you just the way you are. I'm glad that we could have this special visit together."
© 1976 Family Communications
While you may not immediately recognize his name, I'm sure you are familiar with the work of 
. 
On Nov. 5, "A Tribute to Children" will be unveiled and dedicated on the North Shore at 10:30 a.m. 
Eiffel Tower; Dr. Duckbill, Elsie Jean and Ana Platypus' Mound; and a small replica of Daniel Tiger's Clock. The original clock currently resides at Saint Vincent's College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania at the Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning and Children's Media. 
