Children Learning Tolerance

It is interesting to me, how children learn tolerance and acceptance of special needs students or adults. While sitting at a restaurant at lunch today, a group of people came in together on a bus. They were all adults with special needs. They were making loud noises and walking close to other people and moving their arms all around.

My daughter and her friends were staring and trying to strain their necks to stare...my daughter started to make a comment to her friends when I looked at her and said, "You are not going to embarrass yourself and me are you? If your dad or sister or friend or mother had those conditions would you make fun of us?" She sheepishly said, "no.." Then do not embarrass yourself right now."

I wonder if that was the right thing to do. Now, one of the gentleman was yelling out moaning noises and I could tell it was making the girls uncomfortable. I said, "He may not go out very often and could be scared....like a baby that cries because they cannot speak words....he may be the same."

The girls accepted that and did not really react after that. I guess children learn empathy and tolerance and acceptance through example...and that learning is hands-on. There is not a whole lot I can say or do that will prepare them for what/who they may encounter throughout their lives. If anything, I hope to provide my girls with the tools (and common sense) to deal with life's little challenges. We'll see as they get old...