Mister Rogers arrives with an infant seat, describes how it is used to carry small babies, and fixes its broken buckle. He explains about laps and how they are used. At Bob Trow’s workshop, Mr. Trow shows a model of an infant chair. Bob Trow replaces an arm on a child’s rocker and practices talking like Robert Troll. In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, Corney and Robert Troll make an infant seat for Prince Tuesday. They deliver the seat to the castle and King Friday finishes the seat. Prince Tuesday sits in the seat. When King Friday is left to watch the baby, he plays some sound games with him. Lady Elaine overhears and learns what little babies can do and decides that King Friday is a good father. Back at the house, Mister Rogers recites Lewis Carroll’s poem “The Jabberwocky.”
Mister Rogers arrives and shows pictures of his family. Mister Rogers shows different puppets and how they work. Mister Rogers explains that puppets may be used to express feelings. Mister Rogers waits on the porch for Susan Linn who brings her special puppets. With puppet Audrey Duck, Susan talks about alternatives to dealing with feelings. In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, X the Owl introduces Audrey and Susan around the neighborhood. Baby Ana is startled when she sees new faces, and cries. Henrietta is hiding from X and his guests. Lady Elaine introduces herself to Susan and Audrey. Henrietta works up the courage to meet them. Mr. McFeely delivers a message that the king wants them to visit. Back at the house, Susan shows her first puppet, makes a puppet out of a sack, and explains how to do ventriloquism.
Mister Rogers shows and explains the different games that balls can be used in. Basketball players Barry & Garry Nelson visit and talk about being twins. In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, X the Owl plays basketball with Lady Aberlin’s help. Daniel is having difficulty playing with a ping pong ball. The Nelsons show Daniel how to play ball with something that he can more realistically handle. Back at the house, Betty Aberlin visits with a marble game that she is unable to do. Mister Rogers shows her a way to play the game within her abilities. Mister Rogers talks about being frustration.
Mister Rogers shows different kinds of kites. He remembers flying a kite in the past and talks about how it can be frustrating. At Negri’s Music Shop, Mister Rogers is introduced to a percussionist. When Audrey Roth arrives to clean the shop, she joins in by using her garbage can as a drum of her own. In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, Lady Elaine Fairchilde and Bob Dog wonder if grown-ups ever get scared. They meet at the castle where they use a kite that resembles a witch to frighten King Friday. Upset with Bob Dog and Lady Elaine, King Friday explains that grown-ups have feelings, too. They realize that adults can be scared too. Back at the house, Mister Rogers says that adults can be scared just like children.
Mister Rogers greets several of his neighbors as he walks through his Neighborhood. Mr. McFeely gives him a box. Mister Rogers finds a new pair of sneakers — just what he needed — and a Christmas card from the McFeelys. Thankful for the gift from his friends, Mister Rogers talks about his Christmas wish. Afterwards, he receives a phone call letting him know that Mr. McFeely will be stopping by. Mr. McFeely stops by on his way to the rehearsal for the holiday get-together. He mentions that Stephanie, a young girl who will be performing, is quite disappointed that her family may miss the get-together due to car trouble. Mister Rogers goes with Mr. McFeely to the rehearsal where Stephanie shares her disappointment with Mister Rogers. Stephanie joins Mister Rogers as he returns to his house where they talk about how hard it is to wait for things you are looking forward to. Mister Rogers opens a gift from a friend — a small banner that says, “Merry Christmas” on one side and “Happy Chanukah” on the other. Taking out a dreidel, Mister Rogers spends some time talking about Chanukah as he plays and sings the Dreidel Song.
In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, presents are not to be opened until King Friday gives his permission. Lady Elaine shares with Handyman Negri that she is upset that she has received only one present. When Mr. McFeely arrives with several packages to deliver, Lady Aberlin and Handyman Negri offer to help him. Lady Elaine finds that the others in the Neighborhood have received many more presents than she has, so she turns everything in the Neighborhood upside down — everything except the Music Man who is able to use his magic stick to keep himself right side up. Everything returns to normal when the Music Man gives Lady Elaine an ice-skating experience — a gift that does not need to be wrapped. When King Friday gives the word, presents are allowed to be opened throughout the Neighborhood — the first being a Christmas decoration for Lady Elaine put together in parts by all of her neighbors.
Back at the house, Mister Rogers talks about different family traditions — Christmas, Chanukah, and those who celebrate neither. He suggests that all presents are a sign of love. At the get-together, everyone sings as Stephanie prepares for her performance. She is overjoyed when her family arrives. Stephanie proudly performs her dance on the stage. Returning to the house, Mister Rogers concludes: “I, for one, wish you good memories of this holiday. And I hope you’ll be able to look for all the different ways that people have of showing that they love you.”
Watch full-length Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood programs. The first Monday of every month will feature programs from the early years 1968-1975. The third Monday of every month will feature programs from the “Theme Weeks” library 1979-2001.