He was a children's television host for generations! I remember Mr. Rogers when he had a full head of dark hair, singing, playing the piano, showing us around his neighborhood, and making us feel genuinely prioritized not with self-esteem building motivational speeches, but his constant, though considerably more understated gentle kindness and generosity and down to earth advice.
He was also never afraid to discuss difficult topics that affect children, stuff that might affect us at home, like a death in the family, or troubling events on the global stage. Obviously he knew that his audience might catch a glimpse of the news or overhear adults talking about Cold War, political assassinations, space shuttle explosions, and such. He never talked down to us. He'd validate our feelings on whatever troubled us, then would point to the people we should emulate, the people trying to make things right. "Look for the helpers," he'd say. And for some reason that made a lot of kids feel better when times were rough.