Credit: Photo via wedupublicmedia/Facebook
Watching TV can be good for kids if you believe researchers from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA).

In an independent study commissioned by the show’s producer Fred Rogers Productions, UCLA’s Center for Scholars & Storytellers surveyed 150 teenagers who were toddlers when “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood” premiered on Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) nearly 13 years ago—and found that they “retained significant memories of the show’s lessons about social-emotional and life skills” such as empathy.

For one of its most popular events, Tampa’s PBS affiliate WEDU welcomes Daniel Tiger and Katerina Kittycat to its studio for a four-hour party.

Gently-used books will be collected as families mingle with community helpers (cops, firefighters, paramedics), listen to music, complete meet-and-greets, get trolley rides, take station tours and more.

Free parking is available at nearby Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park, Beulah Baptist Church, and Tampa Preparatory School.

There’s no cover, but registration is requested for Be My Neighbor Day happening Saturday, March 29 at WEDU studios in Tampa.

This article appears in Mar 20-26, 2025.

Read his 2016 intro letter and disclosures from 2022 and 2021. Ray Roa started freelancing for Creative Loafing Tampa in January 2011 and was hired as music editor in August 2016. He became Editor-In-Chief...