All Kids have Special Needs

One of the things I get frustrated with is that the world seems to want to put people/children in boxes where they think they seem to fit.  I like to look at people/children as unique individuals creatively made with many gifts, strengths and of course, weaknesses.  Therefore, I believe everyone has special needs.  Children do not all have the same needs.  One child may need more structure, another more freedom.  One child may love drawing, another shy away.  One child may be fascinated by fish, or snakes and yet another child love trains or dolls.  Just as there are different likes/dislikes/strengths/weaknesses, there are different learning styles. Children develop at different paces as well and respecting the pace at which a child learns is critical to them fully developing and learning.  One of the things I love about the Montessori environment is that children can enter in with all their unique needs/personalities and be respected and accepted.  This includes children with certain learning challenges such as ADHD, Sensory Integration issues, Dyslexia etc.  The environment itself envelops children, draws them in and allows them to unfold and develop in their way and in their own time.  We currently have a child with some complicated learning challenges.  His mother called me in December 2010 asking if I would consider allowing him to be at my school.  I met with her, talked a few times, met her son and decided if she was able to come with him to assist him, we would love to have him.  Honestly, I had my reservations.  This little boy is precious and loves being at our school, but he also has several different challenges including Apraxia.  He is non-verbal which means he occasionally makes noises which is a way he communicates and expresses emotion.  This little boy has brought much joy to our school and has taught the teachers and the children to have an even deeper understanding of acceptance.  In the beginning of the year, There were about three children who were unsure of this little boy's noises and sometimes erratic movements.  Now that he has been in our classroom since September he has become just like any other child in the class, despite his special needs.  The children love this little boy and assist him in many wonderful ways.  They include him, they encourage him, they do work with him and they hold him accountable if they don't think he's doing what they believe he's capable of.  This little boy's mom and I have been in tears on more than one occasion watching the precious interactions of her son and the children.  One day a little girl stood with him as he was doing a spooning work-she helped support his arm (he has some muscle tone issues so sometimes it's difficult for him to hold his arms up for long periods of time).  She gently supported his arm and helped him spoon stones into a bowl.  Another day, a child played the fabric matching work with him and the child was meeting this little boy right where he was-inviting him to do what he was able to, encouraging him to do a bit more and assisting him when needed.  Just last week, this little boy's mom was reviewing sounds with sandpaper letters with her son.  He was on the floor and she was saying the sounds.  A 3 year old went over and snuggled up next to her and repeated the sounds after she said them, then said 'Good job (child's name)'!  It was beyond precious...so caring, so authentic and so supportive.  I love learning at my school everyday along with the children.  Stepping back and allowing the children to do what they do is magical.  Take in the beauty of children! 

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