“Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can read.” Mark Twain
Crissy was a non-verbal three-year-old in a classroom for developmentally delayed children. I was the substitute teacher that day. Crissy always cried when her mother left. And she continued crying throughout the morning. I sat beside her as one of the classroom aides conducted circle time. She was calmer and seemed to be listening some of the time. She resumed crying when it was over.
One of the aides transferred Crissy from her small special chair to a wheelchair and pushed her over to the table for cooking time. I sat beside her once again. She continued crying. I did a gentle Tickle Mouse fingerplay. No response but no tears either. I repeated it. Then I tried Here Is a Beehive. I moved my hand back and forth in front of her face because I had been told that Crissy had very little vision. Again, no response but no tears. I sang Itsy Bitsy Spider.
I gently took her hands and did Patty Cake. I had to be very gentle and careful because she did not have much range of motion. I repeated Patty Cake several more times and then I stopped. I left my arm on the top of her wheelchair tray. A minute later I felt a small hand grab my arm. I responded by repeating Patty Cake two or three more times. This time I deliberately stopped and waited to see what would happen. Crissy again reached out to take my arm. I watched her face. She was listening intently.
Next I shared two monkey fingerplays: Five Little Monkeys Jumping on a Bed and Five Little Monkeys Teasing Mr. Alligator. Each time I stopped a little hand reached out to take my arm. Her eyes sparkled and she looked happier.
I was told that this was the longest Crissy had ever been quiet and that reaching out was also a new behavior. It got so that she would pucker up and start to cry if I didn’t do the right finger play. It seemed to me that she wanted Patty Cake the most. Once we had established this bond, Crissy did not cry again, and she went home happy, This was one of the most satisfying storytelling experiences I have ever had. Crissy was a wonderful little listener! Stories can truly make a difference.
Every child matters. Every person matters. Every person is a Child of God. We need to be kind to one another.