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Help Children Understand Differences
All children
want to feel accepted and respected. As children with learning
and behavioral difficulties increasingly participate in programs,
the need arises to help children understand individual differences.
Understanding and accepting differences is at the core of respect.
In order to show respect to another person, we must acknowledge
that person's point of view. This is particularly true during
disagreements. Often, conflicts arise because children make unfair
assumptions about others' perceptions and intentions.
Helping children behave in respectful ways is an ongoing goal
in afterschool programs. We often have rules and behavioral norms
that assist children in behaving respectfully. But unless children
understand and accept individual differences, it is unlikely
that they will behave in respectful ways on their own.
Afterschool staff members can help children build understanding
of different points of view through literacy activities. For
example, children may:
· Read a book and talk about how each character sees the
world. Ask children questions that challenge them to see differences
between the characters.
· Write a story, poem, or news story that expresses different
points of view. Encourage children to think about how different
people may see the same thing (e.g., situation, interaction,
event) differently.
· Enact a role play or story drama that features characters
who must solve a problem or conflict by understanding different
points of view. Engage children in talking about how different
characters approached the issue differently.
· Explore differences among each other in a group discussion.
Invite children to ask questions of each other, or prepare questions
for response.
These types of activities can be integrated into regular activities,
such as reading time, homework, or tutorial sessions. They also
may be developed into stand-alone activities that can be implemented
at any time.
A Case Example
See the world through the eyes of Tiki, a Yorkshire Terrier,
and her best friend Tiger, a little Maltese, in Life Through
Tiki's Eyes, With Comment By Tiger. Tiki, affectionately known
as the Grand Dame of Bennington Hollow, shares her wit and wisdom
about her home, the world outside, and the universe. Her longtime
companion, Tiger, lovingly peppers the text with commentary.
The two friends provide a unique perspective on experiencing
the joy in everyday life.
Beautifully illustrated with photographs and graphics, Life
Through Tiki's Eyes, With Comment By Tiger, is appropriate
for children ages 10 and older. The one-page stories provide
a format for engaging children in discussions and activities
focused on understanding the perspective of others. Use the following
activities, which focus on the theme of pets, to help children
understand different perspectives. [Note: If a child does not
have a pet, allow him or her to create an imaginary one. Have
them name the pet and give it a history. Or, have ready photos
of animals from magazines that children can choose from and pretend
is their pet.]
See the World As
Your Pet Does
Read one of
Tiki's stories with Tiger's comments (e.g., Rain, Sun, On Leaf
Patrol, Crumbs, First Snowfall, Moonbeams, About Manners). Have
children describe their perceptions of the story's theme. Encourage
them to imagine themselves in the situation (e.g., looking out
over a new snow fall, sitting in the hot sun, being stepped over).
Ask them if they see these things differently or similarly to
Tiki and Tiger.
Next, ask them to imagine the scene from their own pet's perspective.
What would their pet have to say? Invite children to imagine
they are seeing the world from the eye level of their pet (e.g.,
if the pet is a fish and is looking out through a bowl of water,
have the child look through a clear glass of water; if the pet
is a seven-pound cat, have them get on the floor and look up).
Use Tiger's commentary as a format for collecting the children's
responses (i.e., "Tiger claims the snow is really millions
of frozen kisses that form a love quilt over the yard. His objective:
To get completely snow-covered.").
Describe Differences and Similarities
Begin the activity by having children generate descriptors for
their pet. To help focus the task for children with learning
difficulties, have them suggest a descriptor word that starts
with each letter in the pet's name. [See sidebar for Tiki.] Have
children share their descriptors with the group. Invite the other
children to guess what kind of pet is being described.
As a variation, have children compare their pets with Tiger and
Tiki, as well as with the pets of their peers. How are they like
Tiki and Tiger? What is unique about them? What peer has a pet
that is most like theirs?
Pet Characterization
Tiki sees herself as the Grand Dame of Bennington Hollow. She
is twelve years old and lives in suburbia. She has cataracts
which cloud her vision, but that doesn't stop her from seeing
the world her way, full of beauty and wonder.
Ask the children:
· How does your pet see the world?
· Does your pet have any special physical characteristics
that affect how it moves, sees, or hears?
· What does your pet see all day? Are the things your
pet sees different or similar to what Tiki and Tiger see?
· How would you characterize your pet (e.g., serious like
Tiki, playful like Tiger)?
· If your pet is older like Tiki and Tiger, how was he
or she different as a puppy or kitten? If your pet is a puppy
or kitten, how will he or she be different as an adult?
To help children with learning difficulties process the discussion,
use a web graphic organizer to provide a visualization of their
thoughts. Write the pet's name in the center of the web and write
descriptors on the spokes emanating out from the center.
As a variation, ask children
imaginative questions about their pet, such as:
· Remember the "101 Dalmatians"? If your pet
was in a group of 101 other pets just like him or her, could
you pick your pet out? What special trait would distinguish your
pet?
· If your pet had a profession, what would it be?
· If your pet was a character in a nursery rhyme or fairytale,
what would it be?
Imagine Your Pet As...
Often we assume that animals (and people) are limited in what
they think and do. Tiki asks us to consider whether dogs have
a secret life-do you really know what your dog is thinking when
it stares at the wall or looks out the window?
Prompt children with these
statements:
· All my pet does all day long is_____. If I was my pet
I would______.
· If I could change one things about my pet I would_____.
If my pet could change one thing, it would be________.
As a variation, select
another book. Have children substitute their pet for the main
character. Discuss how the story might change. Would their pet
do things and say things differently?
What Would Your Pet
Say?
Tiki and Tiger encourage people and their pets to write to them
at tiger&tiki@exinn.net. After reading the stories, have
the children write to them, or have their pet write to them.
As a variation, have children
team up with a peer and exchange letters to each others' pets.
Wrap Up
In all cases, it is important to point out to children how differences
enhance our world. Everyone has unique talents and abilities
that can be shared. The key is to seek understanding and discover
any false assumptions we may have about others so that we can
correct them.
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