A Letter to Our Child's First Teacher

Dear Unknown Kindergarten Teacher,

Our child is special. I know you've heard that before. But it's true. He (or she) is special and beautiful and smart and creative and don't you dare take any of that away from him (or her). He does not need your approval. He will sit when you tell him to sit, eat when you tell him to eat, and be quiet when you ask for silence. He will not however, paint the grass green or the sky blue just because you said so. He will draw mommy with no neck and daddy with seven fingers. He can build and he can take down. He will probably glue his hand to the piece of paper and you will not make him feel stupid for doing so, instead you will congratulate him on his exploration and ask him what he's learned. He will not be happy if he feels sad. He will not be expected to be excited about something just because everyone else is. He will not play with the other kids if the other kids are mean to him. He will not play with the other kids if he feels like playing alone. In fact, as long as he is safe, he will play however and with whoever he wants. He will play with dolls, he will play with tools, he will dangle from the jungle gym and lay like a log on the floor. He will play doctor, parent, child, artist, cook, judge, cop, soldier, supermodel, movie star, musician, dog, cat, giraffe. He will be nice to girls. He will be nice to boys. He will be nice to children. He will be nice to adults. He will read. He will write. He will count. You should laugh at his jokes, no matter how terrible. You should listen to his stories. You should listen to everything he says because he'll probably say something really important. If asks to spell a word for you, listen. If he gets it wrong tell him so, but don't call him stupid. Correct him gently and encourage him to try again. He will cry. He will shout. He will laugh. Do not tell him any of this wrong. Dialogue with him about his feelings and help him express himself in a healthy way. If he hits someone do not simply tell him to apologize, explain to him why it was wrong and help him understand the importance of apology and humility. Let him be proud of his work whether it is the best in the class or the worst. If he wants to read instead of nap, draw instead of nap, eat instead of nap, let him. Maybe he's just not tired.

Do not suppress my child. Do not discourage him. Do not hold our faults against him. Do not take all that is special about him away. Do not let any of the others do this either.

Do teach him how to be a cooperative and helpful classmate. Do teach him how to be safe. Do teach him how to learn. Do teach him the things we can't. Do teach us the better ways to help him. Do teach him that he can do whatever he wants. Do protect him. Do chastise him when he is in the wrong and do hold him responsible for his actions. Do send him home as a better person than who he was when we dropped him off.

Thank you.

Sincerely yours,

Two Very Appreciative Parents of a Very Special Child