How to teach your child to be open and empathetic towards peers with special needs

Children discover the world through their curious eyes and the experiences they live every day. They observe those around them, ask questions, wonder, and try to understand how everything works: from how a flower grows to why a classmate speaks or moves differently from the rest. In this formative period, you are your child’s most important source of answers. They look at you not only to learn how to tie their shoelaces but also to understand how to relate to people.

In your child’s life, sooner or later, there will appear a classmate, a neighbor, or a friend with a special need. Some differences are easy to notice – a child who moves in a wheelchair, who wears a hearing aid, or who speaks with difficulty. At other times, however, the differences are more subtle: learning difficulties, speech disorders, or increased emotional sensitivity. For a young child, all of these may raise questions, and for you, as a parent, it becomes a challenge to explain simply and correctly why their friend behaves differently.

The way your child relates to peers with special needs begins at home. If you talk to them about respect, empathy, and friendship, they will learn to see differences with openness, not with fear or rejection. Children are sincere, curious, and eager to understand the world. Your role is to show them that being different does not mean being less valuable.

Unfortunately, many children with special needs face rejection or isolation, especially in schools. Sometimes, they are the target of bullying, other times they are simply ignored.

Encourage their curiosity, don’t suppress it

When your child sees someone who is different, it is natural to ask questions. Do not say “don’t look” or “don’t ask,” because in doing so you send the message that differences are a shameful subject. Answer simply, in a way they can understand, and help them see that beyond differences there are also many similarities. You might say: “Yes, your classmate uses a device to hear better, but just like you, he enjoys playing during recess and laughing with friends.” This way, your child will learn to see normality beyond appearances.

Teach them to take the first step

Many children with special needs are overlooked, not because others are ill-intentioned, but because they don’t know how to approach them. Encourage your child to be the one who smiles, greets, and says a kind word. Even if they don’t get an immediate response, their gesture matters greatly. You show them that the initiative of friendship doesn’t mean expecting a reward, but the desire to be open and kind.

Create contexts for friendship

If your son or daughter tells you they want to play with a classmate who has a special need, support them. You can organize a meeting at home or in the park and invite the other child’s parents as well. In a relaxed and friendly environment, children can discover how many things they have in common and can build an authentic relationship. These experiences not only make children feel accepted but also give them self-confidence.

Talk about bullying and courage

Bullying is a reality in many schools, and children with special needs are often the most vulnerable. Explain to your child that laughing at someone or isolating them is never acceptable. Moreover, show them that sometimes they need to have the courage to intervene when they see an injustice. It may be enough to say “that’s not fair” or to stand by the classmate in question. Teach them that true strength does not lie in hurting, but in protecting.

Be the role model they follow

Your child learns first of all from what you do, not just from what you say. If you react with embarrassment, distance, or indifference toward a person with a disability, they will copy that behavior. If, on the contrary, you speak naturally, greet, and behave respectfully, they will understand that this is the correct way. Your actions are the most powerful example. Use simple and respectful language Do not complicate explanations and do not use offensive labels. Tell your child, for example: “She uses a wheelchair because her legs do not move as they should.” Simplicity and respect in language will teach them that differences should not be hidden or stigmatized.

You are responsible for how your child will look at the world. If you show them that a classmate with special needs is not “different” in a negative way, but simply needs extra support, you give them the key to a relationship based on empathy and friendship.