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Stitch with: @lyssa.hamblin Your kid just pointed at someone in the grocery store and asked about them. Loudly. 😬 What you do in the next few seconds teaches more than you’d think. That cringe moment is so normal. A lot of us grew up being hushed and hurried along. But kids read our faces faster than our words. When we freeze or shush, they learn the difference is something scary or off-limits. And they don’t stop noticing, but they do stop asking us about it. A few things that help, from the exam room and from real life: ✔️ Keep it short and honest. Little kids need one true sentence, not a lecture. “His legs work differently, so the wheelchair helps him get around.” Done. ✔️ Find the common ground. Point out what your child shares with that person. “She loves the swings too!” That turns a stranger into a possible friend. ✔️ Be careful with “we’re all the same” messages. The intent is kind, but kids raised on colorblind messages actually have a harder time spotting unfairness. ✔️ Real time together beats any script. Preschoolers who spend time with peers who have disabilities tend to be more accepting. Inclusive classrooms, playdates, books, and shows all count. ✔️ They copy what we do. Who we sit next to, how we talk about the new kid in class, whether we wave first. And if you fumble it in the moment? That’s okay. Circle back later: “Remember the boy at the park? I’ve been thinking about your question.” Kids learn kindness the way they learn to walk, lots of practice with us close by. That’s why we made Happy’s Big Mistake. 💛 Comment WATCH and I’ll send you the full Happy, Pappy? episode, “Happy’s Big Mistake,” on YouTube, plus Dr. Mona & Happy’s Corner: Looking Closer, where I talk through the lesson with little ones. Share this with a parent who’s had the grocery store moment. What’s the most memorable (or loudest!) question your kid has asked
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