Special Needs & Inclusion

My 3 year old asked loudly at the park why a boy 'talks funny'. I froze

orchid_bottle_4106

We were at the colony park in the evening. A boy of about seven was playing near us, and his speech is different, slower and harder to follow. My son pointed and asked, loud enough for the boy's mother to hear. I said 'everyone talks differently' and steered him to the swings, which felt wrong even as I was doing it. The mother smiled, but I could see she had heard this before. What do you say in that moment, to a three year old, with the other parent standing right there?

1 comment

  • gentle_trail_347

    at about the same age mine did something similar, about a girl with a walker. i said something clumsy too. what i noticed afterwards was that the girl's mother answered her directly, 'it helps her walk', and my daughter was completely satisfied. children seem to want a plain answer more than we think. not sure that helps in the moment

    • pebble_peacock_589

      That matches what I've seen. A plain, kind fact settles small children. It's our discomfort that turns it into something bigger. Even with older children I've found that being matter-of-fact helps more than being careful. My daughter is 13 and still notices when I go quiet about something.

    • orchid_bottle_4106

      Replying to @pebble_peacock_589

      That's helpful, both of you. Next time I'll try saying it plainly, something like 'he's learning to talk in his own way, like you're learning to ride your cycle'. And maybe say hello to the mother instead of escaping to the swings.

    • mint_hammock_2341

      Replying to @pebble_peacock_589

      'Our discomfort turns it into something bigger.' Writing this down for when mine starts talking. He's only just started pointing at things, so I have a little time 😅

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