Well it’s that time of the year again…sharpened pencils, fresh paper, bright pink erasers, the works. All over the country, children are back to school, and we think it’s a great opportunity to remind everyone of what Flawless is all about. For many children, going back to school is exciting; it provides an opportunity to hone skills, learn new subjects, make new friends, soak in the pride of being a whole grade older. But for children with behavioral challenges and their families, getting back to school can be tough, and each day can seem to pose more discouragement and hopelessness than anything else. Moving into the school year, we like to keep a few inspiring phrases in mind:
Kids do well if they can. Thank you to Dr, Ablon of Think:Kids for beautifully articulating this philosophy! Nothing about children with behavioral challenges should ever imply that they’re lazy or manipulative, or that they’re not trying hard enough. Just as typically developing children are more skilled at some tasks than others, so too are children with behavioral challenges. They’re working just as hard,(and most of the time, even harder) in their own way, to build the skills they require to grow and succeed.
Fair doesn’t always mean equal. Children with special needs have their own needs and benchmarks that are just that – special, unique to each individual. If one child’s learning styles, social skills, or development are different than the rest of the class, it may take him or her a few extra tries to grasp a new concept; making the achievement worthy of celebration for sure!
Most importantly, here at Flawless our main message is: compassion compassion compassion. Compassionate care for every child, finding the perfection in everyone, appreciating each mind for the unique gifts it has to offer, celebrating the ups and using the downs as an opportunity to react with love, patience, and empathy.
In the spirit of teaching and learning, Flawless is pleased to be sponsoring a lecture with Dr. Stuart Ablon of Think:Kids in New York City on November 3rd.
