For the past eight years, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood has felt like our own community. Daniel Tiger was the very first TV character my eldest child fell in love with. My second son started watching just as the oldest was beginning to move on, allowing Daniel to remain a part of our lives. Now, my youngest is nearly ready to embrace Daniel’s adventures too. Throughout my parenting journey, my days have been filled with Daniel’s cheerful songs about sharing, managing emotions, and tackling the challenges of preschool life.
I even shed a tear when Daniel welcomed his little sister, Baby Margaret. It was a touching moment.
Since Daniel’s neighborhood is created by the Fred Rogers Company, it feels warmly familiar. I cherish seeing characters from my childhood now depicted as adults in a setting that acknowledges children’s feelings and experiences. The show celebrates various family types, assuring me that the messages my children absorb are positive and nurturing.
When I learned that Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood would introduce an autistic character, I was both excited and cautious, hoping my son would resonate with Max, the new addition.
My son, Leo, is five years old and autistic. We avoid using functioning labels as they can be misleading and unhelpful. To give context on my concerns, it’s important to explain that many portrayals of autistic characters in media often fall into two categories: those who are highly verbal and focused on specific interests, and those who may be non-speaking and sensitive to sensory input. Neither of these depictions accurately reflects Leo’s experience.
Leo uses language appropriately most of the time and is quite chatty, but he does face a speech delay. His conversations may not align with typical five-year-old interactions, nor does he narrate extensive facts about his favorite topics. He generally isn’t affected by sensory overload, feeling comfortable in diverse environments as long as he can engage in activities that suit him.
People often remark, “Oh, he just has mild autism, right?” when they see him communicating clearly or managing sensory stimuli well. Conversely, when he struggles to respond or needs time to himself, I encounter sympathetic comments about his autism, as if it’s a burden. Such assumptions don’t aid Leo’s experience.
Leo is fully autistic, and that means different things for every individual. For him, it signifies a need for understanding, space, and support to thrive.
With this in mind, I recently took Leo to my room, where we cozied up with pillows and a blanket to watch the episode of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood featuring Max. An actual autistic actor voices Max, which was essential for us to engage with the story authentically.
Max’s introduction to the neighborhood was delightful. When the teacher announced that Max is autistic, I couldn’t contain my excitement. Leo’s face lit up as he exclaimed, “Just like me, Mommy!”
He beamed when Max arranged his favorite buses in rainbow order, recognizing the colors and enthusiastically reciting them. Later in the episode, Max struggled with a noisy, bright environment. Despite Leo usually being unfazed by such stimuli, he easily understood Max’s need for a break, remarking, “Now Max is happy!”
Watching the episode together, Leo smiled throughout, and afterward, we discussed autism as we often do. He proudly repeated, “Autistic is awesome, and different is not less!” That evening, he chose to re-watch the episode multiple times, giggling as he followed the characters accommodating Max’s needs.
Having someone relatable on screen means the world to him, and as his mother, I am incredibly grateful that Daniel Tiger provides that representation.
Moreover, it’s vital for neurotypical children to gain early exposure to autistic peers. Max is just one of many autistic characters on PBS, where kids can also meet AJ from Hero Elementary, Julia from Sesame Street, and others. By the time they enter school, children will have seen multiple representations of kids like Leo, which is significant.
For families like ours, ongoing and expanding representation is crucial. As Leo approaches elementary school, where he’ll interact with older kids, the more understanding his peers have about autism, the kinder his school experience will be.
Equally important, it’s fair for media to reflect the diversity of human experiences, just as it does with race, gender, and other aspects of identity.
We’re thrilled about Daniel Tiger’s new friend, Max, and we hope to see him in many future episodes.
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Summary:
Our family has cherished Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood for years, and the introduction of Max, an autistic character, is particularly meaningful to us. My son Leo, who is also autistic, found joy and relatability in Max’s story. This representation is essential, not only for families like ours but also for fostering understanding among neurotypical children. We look forward to seeing more of Max and hope for continued representation in children’s media.
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