Laura Matuszewski

To purchase a copy of the book:

A Special Friend

Event:
Saturday, March 2
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Lake Forest Book Store
680 N. Western Avenue
Lake Forest

www.facebook.com/lmaspecialfriend

Tips for Parents when opening up discussions about kids with special needs:

Parents should talk to their children about kids with special needs in a way that highlights what they have in common with them before they discuss ways they might be different.

Remind your child that these kids have feelings and they know when people are being unkind.

Discuss the fact that there are many kids that need extra help with something, like reading, speech, controlling their emotions, etc. Kids with special needs might need help in more areas, but that doesn’t mean they should get made fun of.

Discuss ways your child might help a child or person with special needs in a classroom, on a playground, at a boy/girl scout event, etc.

Have your child explain how they would feel if somebody made fun of them, their sibling, friend, or neighbor, because they saw a teacher for extra help. Helping children develop empathy is extremely important.

Tips for Parents that have kids with special needs:

Take the book and read it to your child’s classmates in the general and special education settings.

Discuss the book with your child’s teammates, scout groups, religious classes, etc.

Donate a book to your school or town library.

Use the book to talk with kids in your neighborhood so they better understand your child’s needs.

Try to get your child involved in classes and organizations where they can increase their exposure to typically developing peers.