Mister Rogers and the Art of Paying Attention
The beloved children’s-show host knew what was at the heart of human relationships.
From the hungry cries of newborns, to the whining helplessness of tired toddlers, to the sulking of older children, kids demand their parents’ attention in many different ways. Adults use the phrase just looking for attention to imply that something is wrong with a child, or perhaps worse, that the child’s parents aren’t raising him or her well.
But attention has, undeservedly, gotten a bad rap. A child may seek it inappropriately or rudely, but seeking it isn’t bad per se. Humans are social animals: Reliable attention from other people promotes healthy social and emotional development.
