Tips to Make Valentine's Day More Inclusive
Valentine’s Day is just a few short days away! Growing up, I loved the school parties, making my Valentine’s Day box and addressing cards to my classmates. But, for some children, Valentine’s Day can be tough. I am sharing my top three tips on how to make your Valentine’s Day more inclusive this year!
Include something inedible with your Valentine’s cards! Whether you make your Valentine’s cards by hand or buy prepackaged from the store, including something inedible is a simple way to be more inclusive. Not all children are able to eat candy. Some use a feeding tube (G-tube), some have sugar intolerances, and some have diets that don’t allow them to eat solid foods like candy. Bubbles, stickers, or even pencils make great non-edible options! It is so easy to grab a few of these items when you pick up your Valentine’s cards and it is such a great way for your model inclusivity for your child.
Teach appropriate pragmatic skills! Many children have difficulty with social skills, including children on the autism spectrum. Social stories are a great way to help children identify and learn social skills. Valentine’s Day social stories are especially helpful for teaching eye contact, body language, and please and thank you’s. By explicitly teaching our children what is expected from them, we can help them gain independence and practice their pragmatic skills.
Talk about love! Lots of children associate Valentine’s Day with the romantic love the may witness between their parents, grandparents, or other family members. This day is a great opportunity to talk about platonic love and friendship, too. Talking about why we love our classmates, teachers, and friends is a great starting place for future discussions about disability awareness. Encourage your child to be specific when talking about people they love, such as “I love Mrs. Meyer because she eats lunch with us on Fridays!” or “Dylan is a great friend because he includes everyone on the playground.” Teaching your child to be specific encourages them to look for the good in others.