I had a child with autism in my class who brought a baby doll with him everywhere. His doll brought him so much comfort and joy. He had been made fun of for having a doll, so he was especially excited the first time he saw the doll I had brought into the classroom. He thought it was very special and was thrilled to see that he wasn’t the only one with a baby doll.
During our first visit with our “Tiny Teacher,” the boy proudly showed his doll to the baby during our welcome song. The baby reached out toward the doll, which made the moment even more meaningful.
At the end of the session, the boy, who doesn’t speak much, approached the baby’s mom and asked if she would like to keep his doll because he thought the baby would like it.
– Roots of Empathy Instructor | Gander, Newfoundland & Labrador