Getting Closer to the Fun

The action can get a little bouncy in a class for early childhood special education (ECSE) but the students in this class know how to adjust their boisterous ways when they are playing near a fellow student who is medically fragile.  Today's theme seemed to be "cowboys" and these students wanted their classmate to participate in playing "horsey."  One little guy took the lead and rode his horse over to be petted by their less mobile classmate, then another student got the same idea and moseyed over on another stick horse.

The horses' fur was really soft!

When we see our students sitting a little bit away from the fun in the classroom it's easy to bring them over to the center of action.  By just hanging out with our "target" student in the larger group of students we can model ways our students can be assisted to play with the toys and, oftentimes, the less-physically challenged classmates imitate us.  Remember to tell the teacher and aides how wonderful their students are, specifically citing examples of shared toys, conversation and other positives.