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Little People
Social Challenges for Children With Skeletal Dysplasia By Teri Brown
and social health of children with all forms of Skeletal Dysplasia. She believes that while all children eventually have to deal with a physical aspect of their appearance that might make them feel different, children with dwarfism do not have the luxury of an eventual discovery. It is apparent very soon in their lives and to everyone they encounter that they are different.
"The question then becomes how does a child grow up with this part of himself or herself," says Montuori. "How does a child learn that this is just a part of who they are and not the definition of who they are?"
All parents want to protect their children from hurtful experiences, and the parents of children in special situations are even more fearless about wanting to ward off painful and difficult things. Montuori says while this is understandable, it is not always feasible.
"Learning independence, working with others, how to make friends and how to be a friend are just as important for a child with a Skeletal Dysplasia as it is for a healthy child," says Montuori. "Parents need to teach the child the fine art of balance. Yes, it is warranted to request that a child with a Skeletal Dysplasia sit closer to the blackboard so they can see without straining or to see around a classmate taller than them, but it is not OK for the parents to request that their son's or daughter's best friend sit next to them because their son or daughter is special."
Montuori says while it is important to prepare the school for reasonable accommodations – such as stepstools in classrooms and in bathrooms, classrooms on ground floors – which will allow the child to be able to keep up with peers, it is just as important not to go overboard. "What you don't want is for the child to be limited beyond his or her physical limitations," says Montuori.
Montuori says the challenges of parenting a child with Skeletal Dysplasia are similar to those of parenting a child without a Skeletal Dysplasia. "The goal is to raise a happy individual who is able to use their talents and abilities to become a contributing member of society," says Montuori. "Everyone has a different road to get to this goal, but ideally, we are all aiming to get there."