Does your child have a classmate, neighbor or relative that suffers from a mental deficit? Too often, children either make fun of those with mental disabilities or avoid them, not knowing what to say. As a teacher of mentally challenged students, I have witnessed many of my students being ridiculed and harassed. I often wish parents had taught these students tolerance and acceptance. Teaching our children tolerance extends to those with mental challenges and only takes a few simple tips.
Explain to your child that people have different gifts and abilities. Just because a student is mentally challenged does not mean they do not contribute or have talents. Researchers now break down intelligence into 11 different categories. A child may have difficulty in language skills, but be musically gifted. Locate videos of mentally challenged children or adults who are wonderful artists or musicians and allow your child to watch. Discuss the video with your child and their reactions to the talented person.
Never make too much of your own child’s intelligence. Many parents brag about their child’s high intelligence. This sets a child to feel superior to others. Of course as parents, we want to congratulate our children, but find occasions to brag on your child in addition to academics. This creates the attitude that there are other abilities to be admired besides a child’s IQ score.
Almost everyone has a friend, neighbor or relative with a mentally challenged child. Make sure your child spends time around the challenged individual. Often, we feel uncomfortable around those that are different because we have never had experience with them.
Above all, demonstrate how to treat others with respect. Too often I have seen people who mean well but yell at my students. I advise them the student is not deaf. Other people will use a child’s voice when talking to my students. Because of my profession, my daughter found out at an early age how to relate to those who are mentally challenged. She would discover an interest of the child and discuss it with them. Opening up a conversation resulted in additional information about my daughter’s new friend.
If you do not know anyone with a mentally challenged child, contact your child’s daycare or school. They sometimes participate in buddy programs for the mentally retarded in their schools or districts. A non mentally challenged student is paired as a buddy with a mentally challenged student and spends time each week in the special education classroom interacting with the student with needs.
By teaching your child tolerance of all people they will benefit. Knowing how to relate to all people, even those with mental disabilities, broadens all of our worlds. Friendships with mentally challenged people proves to be a teaching lesson. Your child might even become a friend with her new buddy. My daughter is thankful that she learned early how to relate to special education students. Today, one of her friends is a teenager her age who is mentally challenged.