October 25, 2023
Many of our older children move onto kindergarten in beginning of September, we always wish them well and hope that their time with us has provided them the skills needed to be successful in kindergarten. The other day as I was greeting a parent who has a child going kindergarten, I asked how they were doing. She stopped and shared this with me…“Well, the teacher contacted me and had to tell me something about my child, this is what the teacher said; ‘This year I have a child with special needs in my class and I was so surprised to see how your child approached and treated this child just like any other child. She added that her child immediately spoke to this child with special needs even though this child does not speak back and that they included them in play. This encouraged others to be part of this child’s play as well.’ The teacher was just amazed and commented that they could not believe how accepting and comfortable her child was with this child with additional needs.” Both the parent and I shared in this joyful moment and agreed that the experiences her child had gained at River Road Child Care’s inclusive programming has shaped an understanding and acceptance of differences in people. Children’s early experiences shape lifelong values and perceptions. The impact her child is making now in kindergarten is going to spread to others and that is how we can be the change in our world!
