Want to talk to your child or students about children who have special needs? You want to foster compassion and acceptance of differences with your children or students?
Knowledge brings about understanding and compassion and nothing can achieve this better than sharing books with the youngsters under your care followed by lively discussions on the topic. Take this opportunity to discuss the challenges some children face every day and how they can be their friend.
The six children’s books I recommend in this post touch on childhood anxiety, ADD/ADHD, sensory processing disorder, childhood friend’s battle with cancer, emotional and sensory processing difficulties, and a sibling with autism. Most communities have public libraries where you can borrow beautiful picture books with a wealth of information on children with special needs.
Violets Cloudy Day
Is your child feeling overwhelmed with negative or anxious thoughts? “Violet’s Cloudy Day” is a great resource for kids dealing with worry and anxiety because of its content and as a conversation starter to discuss these issues with the child or children. Parents, teachers, therapists can use this beautifully illustrated book to help anxious children under their care.
Where has Polly Gone
Lisa Service hopes her comedic adventure book will allow a child’s mind to be captured by Math. Congrats to Ms. Service for bringing literature and math together! Furthermore, Where Has Polly Gone? has two additional perks in that it indirectly deals with the challenges of children with ADD/ADHD, and it looks at world travel.
Im Not Weird, I have SPD
If you have a child with sensory processing disorder (SPD), this book should be in your home. Your child will be able to relate to Alexandra as she describes what it is like for her each and every day. Your child will be comforted by the fact that other children also have the same feelings as he does. It also helps a child with SPD know the words to use to explain to others what it feels like living with sensory issues that affect them constantly.
Her Pink Hair
It is a picture book about a childhood friend’s battle with cancer. Jill Dana has used the medium of clay sculptures to illustrate her book with lifelike figures and all the setting. Young children aged 5 -8 will be able to relate to these beautiful pictures and to the simple text that shows how a little girl who has cancer goes through her struggle. Her Pink Hair promotes discussions between adults and children about several serious topics and provides an opportunity for children to express their own emotions and feelings about these issues.
The Kids’ Guide to Staying Awesome and in Control: Simple Stuff to Help Children Regulate Their Emotions and Senses
The goal behind this book is to give kids control, direction, and ownership of their own states of self-regulation. This book provides children of all abilities with a tool to empower themselves to feel calm and in control. Children will learn ways to take a proactive, independent, and successful approach to managing their own states of self-regulation. It is filled with simple ideas like the use of fidgets and noise-reducing headphones and strategies that are designed to help children regulate their emotions and senses in order to allow them to tackle difficult feelings head-on and feel awesome and in control.
Leah’s Voice
Educators and parents can use Leah’s Voice as a resource for teaching siblings, friends, and classmates about autism, inclusion and acceptance. The 28 page picture book is about a sibling with autism but its important message on the acceptance of differences and treating everyone with kindness is for all children.
***** Article Provided by Lorna d’Entremont / kidcompanions.com