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Meeting Children's Special Needs
June 20, 2007
Kindness can become its own motive. We are made kind by being kind.
-Eric Hoffer
-Eric Hoffer
When I had committed myself to a career in early childhood education, one of the very first centers I had the distinct pleasure of getting to know was St. Elizabeth's Child Development Center in Portland, Maine. l remember that not only was the facility memorable �" a quaint old three-story house with views of Casco Bay from its second story classrooms �" but also the social atmosphere was relaxed and happy. So when I received a copy of the book, Faith in Children: Stories from Faith-Based Children's Centers (Franklin, TN: Providence House Publishers, 2007; www.providence-publishing.com), I was drawn immediately to a story from St. Elizabeth's, from which I will share a brief excerpt:
"Years ago, one of our families adopted two young boys, and we, in a sense, adopted their entire family. We joined in their high hopes as they created anew their loving family. One of the boys, a very bright child, had extraordinary challenges. Alden needed special help to become part of a group, build friendships, and learn. Fortunately, at St. E's we have a mainstream classroom, where Alden could be with a small group of children led by two teachers and have a personal aide to support him.
"Once a week, an occupational therapist came into Alden's classroom to invite him and a friend of his choosing to join her for special activities. It was a distinct honor for other children to be chosen in this way, and it served to eliminate the mystery or any stigma about therapy. Time with a specialist provided this preschooler essential support to build skills so that he could participate fully in classroom activities. The company of classmates helped Alden build friendships and extended interesting activities learned in therapy into the classroom. This child soon graduated from needing a one-on-one aide and, after two years, from needing any special services."
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A New Career Helping Young Children Develop and Learn
Learn how to give a young child the very best foundation possible �" with a Bachelor of Arts Early Childhood Development at National University.
Comments (2)
Displaying All 2 CommentsPademelon Press
Sydney, NSW, Australia
Lovely excerpt. Shows what children can acheive when educators have faith in children's natural abilities, respect the uniqueness of every child, and truely practice inclusion by refusing to label and stigmatise.
I would love to read more about this centre. It seems to be a wonderful example of love and caring.
Wheelock College
Lincoln,, MA, United States
I'm delighted to see St. Elizabeth's remembered as the unique place it was.
I don't know of any other preschool program - faith based, accredited, or whatever distinction it may have -- to come even close to this program. I remember it had a "welcome room" for children whose parents brought them before the teachers were scheduled to be there. I once took my entire class from "Progam Issues in Child Care, all the way up to Portsmouth from Wheelock College in Boston to view what child care can be when you care. Wheelock
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