Special Children

[atula]

Have you had any experience with children who are spastic or physically challenged. Does your day care take these children and how do other kids behave with them?

[SageMother]

Many of the daycare homes and centers in my area have to get special licenses for special needs children with physical challenges.

Otherwise, there are day care programs, run by the city or state, that focus on this sort of care.

[Laughingmouse]

I don't know much about special licensing, but I can see where it might be required, and with good reason. The extra medical issues could be a problem.

Most little children will ask about a difference they see in a playmate, assuming they are old enough to ask. Once they get an answer they usually go back to play with that person, challenges and all, without giving it a second thought.

[atula]

children actually are much less bothered about the difference once their curiosity is answered as you rightly said Laughing mouse...but sometimes the day care owner may differently act with these childs which may create problems like jealousy...by other kids who mught think that the special kid is getting more attention...

[tater03]

I would think that if it is a home daycare you would have to have a special license and some schooling in teaching special needs children. I am not sure though.

[Lyndsey]

It is sometimes helpful to sensitize the other kids before adding special needs students - a little intro about the condition and how you'd like the others to behave - if they're old enought to undertsand. Babies and toddlers are pretty accepting.

[lilwonders]

I have had several special needs children through the years in my daycare and the other children loved them. I explained in very simple terms to my 2-5 yrs olds about the childs special needs/limitations and how it was our privilige to do all we could to make them feel part of our little family. Most recently I had a 2yrs old sight challenged little boy who blossomed from all the attention he got from the sighted children/myself. He benefited as did the others who learned compassion and patience.
Don't get me wrong, it is hard working with specially needs children, takes a lot of patience and love, but it is worth it and we all benefit. I don't have any special training nor have I been required by the state/county to get any as of yet. I would love to though.
By the way I am a newby and this is my first post, still trying to figure out how all this works
lilwonders