Resources on Early Learning
Tip Sheets
Understanding and Accepting Differences: Why Can't Maria Walk?
Find out about the particular disability a child has. You'll be better able to suggest appropriate ways of interacting with her. The child's parents may be good sources of information on what the child likes to play and how to adapt games so she can play.
Model positive interaction with children who have special needs. Interact directly with the child rather than with aides or helpers. Smile, laugh, and talk with the child often, just as with other children. Show the class that you will not rush a child who needs a slower pace.
Share information with the class. A child's parents may welcome a chance to help others understand him and his special needs. If not, you can share what you have learned.
Use simple but accurate words. "Maria uses a wheelchair because she was born with a condition called cerebral palsy and can't walk." Remember that some differences don't show. "Sometimes, Katie needs extra time."
Help children understand what it is like to have special needs. "Children with special needs play, go to school, and have fun. Sometimes they need special teachers or assistants to help them learn and keep them safe. Sometimes they need medicine or special equipment. Those things won't hurt them, or you. They get to decide if someone else can touch their special equipment."
Offer clear suggestions to help preschoolers of various abilities relate to one another.
- "It's okay to offer to help Katie. But it's also okay for her to say, 'No, thanks.'"
- "It's okay for you to ask Maria why she can't walk. But it's also okay for her to say that she doesn't want to talk about it."
- "It's okay to use words like 'listen' or 'see' or 'walk', even around children who can't hear or see or walk."
- "You can ask Jamal politely to repeat his words if you didn't understand him."
- "It's not okay to speak for Jamal. He just needs a little extra time to talk for himself."
- "It's not okay to pet Maria's service dog. He's working right now."
Clear up mistaken ideas as soon as you notice them. A preschooler may think the child with a disability is simply not trying, that someone forgot to show her how to do things, or that the disability is contagious. Tell him, "Maria was born with cerebral palsy. It affects what her body can do. We won't catch it like we catch colds."
For more information about specific disabilities, visit these Web sites:
- Disability Information
http://nichcy.org/disabinf.asp - National Organization for Rare Disorders
http://www.rarediseases.org/ - Medical Problems
http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/medical
For more information about teaching children about disabilities, visit these Web sites:
- Count Me In
http://www.pacer.org/puppets/count.asp - Helpful Hints
When Meeting Friends With Disabilities
http://www.easterseals.com/site/PageServer?pagename=ntl_friends_hints - Insensitivity to Physical, Racial, or Ethnic Differences
http://www.nncc.org/Guidance/insens.differ.html - The Kids on the Block
http://www.kotb.com/ - Kids with Special Needs
http://www.kidshealth.org/PageManager.jsp?dn=KidsHealth&lic=1&ps=
307&cat_id=20069&article_set=22021 - Helping Young Children Learn About Differences
http://www.ccplus.org/newsletters/7-3.pdf - IEL Interactive Chat: Communicating with Parents during Sensitive or Difficult Situations
http://illinoisearlylearning.org/chat/stephens/index.htm
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