‘Be My Neighbor’ event fosters community

NILES -- With songs such as "I Like You Just the Way You Are," "Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood" on PBS Kids is an extremely popular television show with toddlers. Created in 2012, the animated series was inspired by "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood."

Four-year-old Daniel's father was Daniel Striped Tiger in the original series and was from the Neighborhood of Make Believe. This new show features Daniel's parents and many second-generation characters of the original cast helping children deal with interpersonal issues such as disappointment, sadness and anger.

Local children had a chance to meet Daniel Tiger and take a photo with him at the annual PBS Western Reserve Be My Neighbor Day on Saturday at the Eastwood Mall.

Gina Tunison of Austintown said watching the series teaches her daughter, Samantha, 4, to be calm.

Autumn Barnes of Garrettsville said that Daniel Tiger was the first television show that her son, Brayden Russell, 2, enjoyed.

Celebrating community was the theme of the day.

The event offered several information booths for parents and children to learn about programs and activities available in their community. The booths included the Warren Trumbull County Public Library, Cadence Care Network, McKinley Memorial Library in Niles, a Scouting America troop and several other local organizations. Casal Aveda Institute offered free haircuts and Jocko the Clown made balloon animals for children.

Being part of a community means even small gestures could help your neighbors.

"Daniel teaches that even if you are small, you can make a difference in your community. You can be a helper," said Holly Cartwright, chief education officer at PBS Western Reserve.

Children had the opportunity to paint a kindness rock to give away to someone in their neighborhood to create a community. They could also try on helper vests such as a policeman, fireman or other occupation. Ohio State Highway Patrol officer Paige Patterson was in the play/dress up area to talk to children about her job that helps people.

Aminah Muhammad, 9, of Warren, put Daniel Tiger's example of helping people into action. She put together a personal hygiene kit with small items such as shampoo for the Salvation Army to distribute.

Children received tiger ear headbands when they started their journey through the booths. They also received a passport to get stamped at each information site. When they turned in their passports, they were entered into a raffle drawing.

Children waited patiently in line to meet Daniel even though the line ended several stores up the hallway. Faye Meisner, 4, of Diamond, jumped up and down when Daniel returned from a short break and ran up to greet him with a hug while her older sister, Rylee Meisner, 6, kept their spot as next in line to meet the costumed character. Each child was rewarded with a souvenir photo after meeting Daniel Tiger.

The enthusiasm and large crowd of parents, children and siblings showed that "Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood's" message of kindness and community is reaching children and teaching them to be good citizens and members of their communities.