For the past eight years, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood has felt like a part of my own community. Daniel Tiger was the first television character my eldest child truly connected with. My second son discovered him just as my oldest began to outgrow the show, ensuring Daniel remained a fixture in our home. Now, my youngest is nearly ready to fall in love with Daniel as well. Throughout my journey as a mother, my days have been filled with Daniel’s encouraging songs about sharing, managing emotions, and navigating the challenges of preschool life. I even shed a tear when Daniel welcomed his baby sister, Baby Margaret, into the world. It was a touching moment!
Since the show is produced by the Fred Rogers Company, it feels nostalgic and comforting to me. I enjoy seeing characters from my youth reimagined as adults in a neighborhood that supports children’s feelings and experiences. The show represents a diverse range of families, so I’ve never had doubts about the messages my children receive.
When I learned that Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood was introducing a character with autism, I felt a mix of hope and skepticism about whether my son would find someone relatable in Max, the newcomer.
My son Leo is five and is on the autism spectrum. We don’t use functioning labels because they can be misleading and don’t accurately reflect an autistic person’s experience. However, it’s essential to share a bit about Leo to understand my concerns regarding his potential connection with Max. Often, autistic characters on television are depicted as either highly verbal and focused on their interests or completely non-verbal and sensitive to sensory inputs. Neither of these portrayals aligns with Leo’s reality.
Leo communicates effectively most of the time but does experience a speech delay. His conversations don’t always mirror those of other five-year-olds, and he doesn’t recite impressive facts about his favorite subjects. He generally isn’t bothered by bright lights or loud sounds, and he thrives when he can engage in activities his way.
People often say things like, “He must have mild autism,” when they see him communicating well or handling sensory overload. Conversely, if he doesn’t respond to a question or needs space, others express sympathy about his autism, assuming it’s a burden for me. These assumptions about “how autistic” he is aren’t helpful.
Leo is fully autistic, and that means something unique for him. It requires time, space, and understanding for him to feel comfortable and succeed.
With all this in mind, last Friday, I scooped Leo up for a cozy afternoon. We snuggled with fluffy pillows and a blanket as I turned on the episode featuring Max’s debut. (Interestingly, an autistic actor voices Max, which was essential for me!)
Max’s first day in Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood was incredible. When the teacher introduced Max as autistic, I couldn’t contain my excitement. I exclaimed, “Look! Max is autistic!” and Leo’s face lit up as he said, “Just like me, Mommy!”
Seeing Max arrange his favorite toy buses in rainbow order made Leo beam with joy. He exclaimed, “The colors of the rainbow! Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple!” Max’s love of order resonated with him, and he immediately recognized it.
In another scene, when Max struggled with a noisy, bright situation, Leo could sense that Max needed a break. Even though Leo usually isn’t affected by such stimuli, he understood that Max required some downtime. When Max’s aunt took him outside, Leo said, “Now Max is happy!”
Leo watched the entire episode with a smile. Afterward, we discussed autism, and he echoed his favorite saying: “Autistic is awesome, and different is not less!” Later that evening, he chose to rewatch the episode on his iPad, giggling as the characters creatively included Max in their play.
Having a character like Max on television means the world to him, and as his mother, I’m incredibly thankful that Daniel Tiger offers that representation. It also serves as a valuable introduction to autism for neurotypical children watching the show. Beyond Max, PBS features other characters like AJ from Hero Elementary, Julia from Sesame Street, and Dennis from Dinosaur Train, contributing to a broader understanding of autism before kids even reach school age.
It’s vital for families like ours to continue seeing this kind of representation grow. Leo will soon transition to elementary school, mingling with children aged 5 to 11 or 12. The more kids who learn to understand and accommodate autism, the better his school experience will be.
This representation is not just important; it’s fair. Autistic individuals exist throughout their lives, just as it’s crucial for media to be inclusive of race, gender, body type, and religious practices. It’s equally important to portray neurodivergent individuals in character creation and casting.
We absolutely love Daniel Tiger’s new friend, Max, and we look forward to seeing him in many more episodes.
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