Your Child is Going to School, continued
Start early in your child’s life educating him/her about his condition. Include your child in conversations about his/her condition. Do not overemphasize its significance, but make sure that your child knows that it is a topic that you and he/she can be comfortable addressing. After all, it is a part of who they are.
Make sure your child has words to use in explaining his or her condition. It is helpful that your child can add a positive comment to this explanation such as, “I was born with a … and actually I have had really cool doctors!”, or “…you should see how much the doctors have changed how I look!” A simple additional positive comment tells other children that your child is comfortable with it and is not ashamed. This will lessen the likelihood of him/her being teased for this quality.
As a part of transitioning into school, it is critical that the teachers involved in your child’s life understand his/her condition and how you would like them to approach it, especially with other children. Arrange a special meeting to discuss this and emphasize the positive aspects of your child. Express to the teacher any fears you may have about your child being treated overly special, inappropriately assumed to be lacking in abilities that are not associated with your child’s condition, or other concerns. Discuss ways these will issues can be handled in advance before they arise as problems.
Encourage the teacher to provide your child with opportunities that will allow other children to know your child for his/her abilities, interests, and personality; not only for what makes him/her unique associated with facial difference.
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