I remember being in the store with my son. This woman (who is know one of my co-workers for the past eight years) and her daughter passed by. Her daughter has this illness that left her with really short limbs, she have two fingers on each hand. She can not talk. Well my son saw her for the first time as they were walking down the aisle in the store and he asked mom what's wrong with her. I told him to be quite, the girls mother heard me she turned around and came to me and said "don't tell him that, he just want to know, so she begin to explain what was wrong with her daughter to my son. After she got through explain, my son asked the lady May he buy her little girl an ice cream. I as an adult and an educator felt so ashamed of myself because as an educator, I should have known to explain to my son that people are different but they all are still human and deserve to be treated with respect.
As an educator of young minds we should have a variety of materials such as books, dolls, manipulative's, puzzles, and various of other items to teach our children about diversity of all type.
Erica Hines
Hello Erica
ReplyDeleteI believe that we have to prepare our kids but I respect your co-worker for taking the time to explain to your son the nature of her daughter disability. As a mother, I talk to my kids about how we are different and because we are different we do not stare. I beleive when you prepare children they have a better concept and they understand when they are faced with difference.
Good Post and thanks for sharing!