Hello!
Today marks the completion of my first month in my new job as an assistant teacher in a childcare for children with special needs. Today I got my first bite from an angry child, but today I was also happy to hear a child who usually just echoes sentences spontaneously said "Give it to me" to a friend who snatched his playdough :)
I have not updated this blog because I usually feel super tired after work and because it is a new job, there are so many things to learn! Many things in this job are my first time of doing them. It's my first time changing children's diapers, my first time showering children one after another, and my first time tapping children's backside until they fall asleep.
Every child is unique, whether he or she is a typical developing child or a child with special needs, each child is different. I've never realized this as much as how I realized it now. When I give seven children the same playdough, one likes to make many small balls of it, another one likes to cover her water bottle with it, another one likes to shred it just like he loves to shred papers and drop multiple crayons on the floor, another one likes to roll it, and one likes to put it on his lips (which explains why I make my own playdough using saltdough). Even though in psychology we have learned about many aspects of developmental disabilities, this is my first time experiencing how complex it is! We really need to observe many aspects of the children's development and see how we can help to progress in these aspects, not only their communication skills, but also their motor skills, their sensory needs, their emotional regulatory skills, and so on and so forth.
At the end of the day, the new challenge for me is also to remember that this work is a way to sanctify myself and others, so that I do not only focus on the 'results'. Even if I feel tired by 2pm, or feel happy for a simple 'help me' utterance from a child, the most important thing is this work is done for the glory of God. On another note, I see other children in a different manner now. When I listened to the talkative and energetic niece of my boyfriend, I really smile more because I'm grateful that she can speak and jump around. This job has also helped me in my prayer as I am often reminded about the children during prayer time, now I try to pray for their families too.
I really thank God for this opportunity to journey with these children. :)
Today marks the completion of my first month in my new job as an assistant teacher in a childcare for children with special needs. Today I got my first bite from an angry child, but today I was also happy to hear a child who usually just echoes sentences spontaneously said "Give it to me" to a friend who snatched his playdough :)
I have not updated this blog because I usually feel super tired after work and because it is a new job, there are so many things to learn! Many things in this job are my first time of doing them. It's my first time changing children's diapers, my first time showering children one after another, and my first time tapping children's backside until they fall asleep.
Every child is unique, whether he or she is a typical developing child or a child with special needs, each child is different. I've never realized this as much as how I realized it now. When I give seven children the same playdough, one likes to make many small balls of it, another one likes to cover her water bottle with it, another one likes to shred it just like he loves to shred papers and drop multiple crayons on the floor, another one likes to roll it, and one likes to put it on his lips (which explains why I make my own playdough using saltdough). Even though in psychology we have learned about many aspects of developmental disabilities, this is my first time experiencing how complex it is! We really need to observe many aspects of the children's development and see how we can help to progress in these aspects, not only their communication skills, but also their motor skills, their sensory needs, their emotional regulatory skills, and so on and so forth.
At the end of the day, the new challenge for me is also to remember that this work is a way to sanctify myself and others, so that I do not only focus on the 'results'. Even if I feel tired by 2pm, or feel happy for a simple 'help me' utterance from a child, the most important thing is this work is done for the glory of God. On another note, I see other children in a different manner now. When I listened to the talkative and energetic niece of my boyfriend, I really smile more because I'm grateful that she can speak and jump around. This job has also helped me in my prayer as I am often reminded about the children during prayer time, now I try to pray for their families too.
I really thank God for this opportunity to journey with these children. :)
