Might League Moms
Wednesday 2 April 2014
Teach your children well. Please.
Happy World Autism Day!!
Caidan is off to nursery as usual, not dressed in blue or multi colours or red, just dressed as he normally is. My reasoning behind that? Why mark him out as being any more different than he already is? It is patently obvious to anyone who cares to watch him with the other children that he is different. Whether the children notice that or not, I doubt it, they are so young yet. But there will come a day in the not too distant future when they will notice. Then, they will either accept it and see him as just Caidan, or they will mock and ridicule him. It could go either way. At the end of the day, it is down to those children's parents which way it goes. If they are taught to accept people who are a bit different and to treat them like they treat everyone else, then he will be just Caidan. If they are not taught this, and they pick up the vibe that is is ok to bully and laugh at others, then he will be mocked. So, I ask all parents, teach your children well. Don't allow your children to be the cause of someone else's unhappiness, don't let someone else's child be the object of ridicule from your child. Children pick up vibes from their parents. Be a good example to them. If you as a parent teach your children through your actions that it is ok to bully and mock, then your child will do the same thing. Don't be that parent, please. Think. Think how you would feel if it were YOUR child who was autistic, or different in any way, be it colour, race, religion or any type of additional needs, or because they may be heavier than other children, or because they wear glasses, or can't hear as well as their peers. Think how YOU would feel and how you would want other parents to take action. Well, it IS my child and I am pleading with you. Be accepting, teach your children well.
Don't make life harder than it already is for my child and others like him, adults included.
Be the change. Encourage others to be the change. You know it's the right thing.
Thank you.
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Hi, Thanks for writing your blog. I just want to encourage you. My son who has autism is 10. It is difficult I think with children and bullying because they are taught not to pick on kids who are a different colour, or who are "disabled" but with autism kids don't necessarily see it in the same way as they do being in a wheelchair or something you can see. The other kids have always just viewed my son as "weird" but I have to say that while.he has experienced SOME bullying he hasn't experienced much, and on the whole the other lads iin his class have stuck up for him if someone else has picked on him, they tend to be quite defensive of him.
ReplyDeleteI think this is because I have taught him not to be ashamed of who he is, he understands that he has autism and how it makes him different,. and he talks openly about it with his friends. A few years ago he brought a few friends round to watch a newsround documentary about autism then said "that's what I have" and since that went well, when he was in year five he gave a presentation to his class about having autism- I was worried this would make them bully him, but on the contrary it made them more understanding. I think if we can encourage our kids to be part of the process of educating others about what autism is and instill in them self confidence and self worth then I think not only will they get bullied less but they'll also be more resiliant to it when it does happen.....of course I may be a bit premature in all this, I have high school to contend with next year ;o)
Thank you for taking the time to reply Sarah! I am so glad your boy hasn't had many bullying problems and I sincerely hope that continues for you all. Love and luck xx
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