10 Moments from 'Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood' That Taught Us How to Parent

Thanks to its soothing, friendly nature, many parents turn to Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood when they need help explaining complicated concepts to their children: The show, a spin-off of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood , tackles how to handle the emotional ups and downs of both being, and raising, a toddler in an approachable way. Daniel, his family, and his schoolmates, are stand-up role models for little ones—who present realistic and healthy examples of toddler behavior, often through song—but parents can also learn a lesson or two from this family-friendly show .

We may not be taking fashion cues from Mom Tiger—why does she have to wear pants when Dad and Grandpere Tiger don’t?—but ask any parent of a Daniel Tiger -loving kid and they’ll probably name a few life lessons they took away from the show. Here, we revisit some of the most memorable moments from the beloved educational children’s series that are beneficial to kids and their parents.

PBS / Parents

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'Daniel Tiger' Moments That Taught Us How to Parent

Count to four

• Season 1, Episode 4

We all empathized with Mom Tiger and her fury when Daniel and Prince Wednesday decided to make an “inside beach” in her house…by pouring sand on the floor. Upon this discovery, Mom Tiger is clearly about to boil over with anger, but she catches herself and repeats what she taught her son about dealing with anger: “When you feel so mad that you wanna roar, take a deep breath and count to four.”

Grown-ups come back

• Season 4, Episode 12

One of the most popular lessons of the Daniel Tiger universe is the concept that “grown-ups come back.” When Daniel feels sad about his parents leaving for date night, they remind him that while grown-ups may sometimes temporarily leave, as loving parents they will never abandon their children. This episode and its accompanying song have become a balm for soothing the worries of anxious kids everywhere–and it's also a pertinent reminder for parents that it's okay to take time for yourself, even if your kid misses you at first.

Disappointment is part of life

• Season 1, Episode 1

One of the earliest episodes of the show sees the little tiger celebrating his birthday, but his tiger cake looks deflated after the journey from Baker Aker’s bakery back to his house. He’s disappointed, but his parents encourage him to look on the bright side—there’s still a delicious cake to eat. Everyone, both kids and adults, will encounter big and small letdowns as they grow up, but we can follow the Tiger family’s example and help each other find the positive side of a not ideal situation while still recognizing and validating our feelings.

Saying “I’m sorry” is the first step

• Season 1, Episode 26

When the Daniel Tiger characters mess up, they know that saying “I’m sorry” is the first step in mending fences. The second step is no less pivotal; the song that Daniel sings when he’s made a mistake reminds us to also ask “How can I help?” make things better for the person we hurt. Parents might find this lesson useful when  they are teaching kids the importance of apologizing, but even adults often find it difficult to say “I’m sorry,” and will occasionally need a reminder of their own.

Rest is best

• Season 1, Episode 35

When Mom Tiger gets sick, she wants to keep going about her day, but realizes that she must rest to feel better. As parents, we’re often so busy caring for everyone else that we forget to care for ourselves when we need it most, and Mom Tiger sets a good example by prioritizing sleep, soup, and quiet time when she’s under the weather—and Dad Tiger helps explain that to the curious little tiger, who gives his mom space so she can get better.

Routine is a good thing

• Season 1, Episode 17

Kids thrive on routine, Daniel included. His morning and nighttime routines are easy to adapt to your own life at home, especially when it comes to helping your child understand the importance of establishing healthy habits early on (not to mention making transitions easier). Whether you’re starting the day with “Clothes on, eat breakfast, brush teeth, put on shoes” or ending it with “Bathtime, PJs, brush teeth, story and song, off to bed,” both kids and parents will benefit from a predictable, reliable routine.

If you have to go potty, stop and go right away

• Season 1, Episode 11

Toilet training a toddler is rarely an easy task, but Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood is here to lend a helping hand. When Daniel and his friends are learning to use the potty, adults are constantly reminding them to “stop and go right away” instead of putting it off and risking an accident. It’s not just a catchy little jingle—it actually works! Raise your hand if you’ve sung this little tune to your child and reminded them to “Flush and wash and be on your way.”

If something seems hard, try it little by little

• Season 2, Episode 7

Maybe your child is learning to ride a bike, play a sport, write their name, or do a somersault, and they’re getting frustrated when they fail. Daniel Tiger and his friends emphasize that when it comes to learning new skills, perseverance is key, often breaking the task at hand down into bite-size actions to make it feel easier. This isn’t just a lesson kids need to hear; parents deal with failure and discouragement too. And if your first, second, or third try fails, you can always “grr, grr, grr out loud” and let those frustrations out before trying again.

Everyone’s job is important

• Season 4, Episode 10

Daniel and his friends learn that their neighbors all play an important role in their community: Dr. Anna keeps the neighborhood healthy, Mr. McFeely delivers the mail, and the children do their part by spreading kindness to their friends. This concept resonates with children, who enjoy feeling important at home and school; if your child is old enough, you can translate this idea to real life by giving them special duties at home, like feeding pets or putting away their laundry. “Everyone’s job is important [and] we all help in different ways” as the song Daniel sings goes, also resonates for grown-ups who are juggling chores, trying to be a good partner and parent, work tasks, seemingly all at the same time.

There’s enough love for everyone

• Season 2, Episode 3

Daniel welcomes his little sister Margaret in the first season of the show, and while he’s excited to be a big brother, he deals with insecurity and jealousy too, especially because Margaret needs more of his parents’ attention. Mom and Dad Tiger do a great job explaining that they have enough time for Daniel and his sister but more importantly, that there’s enough love to go around in their family. Parents who are expecting a new baby or dealing with sibling squabbles can all benefit from the reminder that love is not a finite resource—everyone in the family is loved immensely and equally.

Key Takeaway

Whether you’ve seen every episode of Daniel Tiger multiple times or have yet to dive into the neighborhood, this educational TV show is a great resource for young children and parents. Children will empathize with Daniel as he learns about friendship, sharing, emotions, and being a good neighbor, and parents can easily reference specific episodes for guidance when dealing with complex emotions, tantrums, learning new skills—and even ear tube surgeries.

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