fresh thinking
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Teaching Inclusion
Inclusion means to include all and to give access to everyone. How do we know if we are inclusive? How do we learn about inclusion to teach others? These are big questions to an enormous topic, so I will focus this conversation on what I know best, differences in abilities.
Inclusion is a constant thought for parents and special educators. When you are a parent of a child with special needs, you feel the effects of not being included. We think about if our child will be a part of the activities, will they be represented, will they be invited, will they be treated with respect. These thoughts and more are always in the back of our minds.
As human beings, we notice differences. We need to talk openly, honestly and use positive words to discuss how people in our community differ. We need to celebrate our differences and our similarities. Talk to our children about how our differences make our community strong. We can also take this time to learn about one another. If your child asks you a question that you don't know the answer to, it is okay to tell them that you are still learning and can learn together. We all have something we can become more educated on when including others.
As adults, we need to create an inclusive environment. We can do this by surrounding ourselves with diversity. This might be inviting a family that doesn't look like yours to an event. It could be checking books out from the library that teaches about different abilities, watching TV shows and movies that represent a community other than your own. My child is different. His differences are not seen when you look at him or even talk to him. He reacts differently to situations. There have been times when he has been excluded from activities. When he was three years old, he was in a Montessori preschool. They would invite parents to see what their child was working on as a class. I remember when I went to see their science activity. When I came into his classroom, I looked around, and my child was not in the room. I was informed that he was in the 2-year-old room because they thought he would enjoy being in there more. He was excluded because of his difference; they were worried that him being him might reflect poorly on them. He did not fit the cookie-cutter behavior. This preschool made it a habit to tell the other children not to get close to my son, and because of this, all the kids called him bad. I know this because I overheard a child tell their parent that he doesn't get one of her birthday cupcakes because he is a bad kid. This preschool was not creating an inclusive environment to teach about differences. Don't worry, I got him one of the cupcakes, and we left this preschool as soon as possible.
Another way to show and teach inclusion is to use empathy. Teaching empathy is vital for child development and necessary for creating an inclusive community. I have written a newsletter about empathy, so I will not go into many details about what empathy is and how strongly I feel about building up this skill with our children. To create an inclusive environment, we need to know the difference between empathy and sympathy. Empathy is the ability to share perspectives and feelings with another person. It is not the same thing as sympathy or feeling sorry for someone. It is about creating a community where others feel safe, supported, and included.
I will leave you with this thought. Always keep in mind that your child is watching and listening to you. Know that your actions and words make a difference in the world. You can make your community a more inclusive place; you create a ripple effect by learning, including, and empathizing with others. Your child will also start making their ripples of creating an inclusive community.
Wonder
Teaching inclusion
Celebrate Differences
- It's natural for kids to notice the differences in people.
- Talk about differences openly and honestly.
- Talk about the similarities you share.
- Be honest! You can tell your child that you are learning to be more inclusive.
Create A Diverse Environment
- Meet people who are different than you.
- Have books, toys, shows, movies that show differences in people.
- Make it a point to learn about others and from others.
- Surround yourself with people who are different from you.
Teach Empathy
- Model being compassionate.
- Normalize talking about feelings and emotions.
- Model treating others with respect.
Fresh Thinking Special Education Advisors
Email: leddyg@freshthinkinginc.com
Website: www.freshthinkingforkids.com
Phone: 816-787-0048
Leddy Glenn, M.A., M.A.
Email: leddyg@freshthinkinginc.com
Website: www.freshthinkingforkids.com