Comment by wise1 on September 1, 2012 at 9:30pm

I don't know where you live but my experience as an educational assistant in the canadian school system is that kindergarten kids are really accepting of differences. We are a fully integrated school system and there are kids with special needs, autism etc in the equals classrooms, teaches will usually spend time talking about how we all have special talents etc. However you said she will start kindergarten next year.... Don't worry so far in advance mom :-). Enjoy the growth and changes the next year brings and who knows what next year holds! teach her to be strong and kind and a good friend and no one will cafe if she has hair or not. Little kids are blunt though so make sure she knows how to answer the you have bald patches statements in a matter of fact manner. How she answers these questions will determine how the other kids handle it. If she cries and is embarassed kids will know it is a weakness, if she says yah that's me I have alopecia and it's no big deal all will be well. Good luck :-)

Comment by Tallgirl on September 1, 2012 at 9:49pm

www.naaf.org has videos explaining alopecia to kids, if you want it to show to the teacher and students.

Comment by Tallgirl on September 1, 2012 at 9:51pm

Give the info in advance for the school file, counselor, nurse, yard duties, administrators, teachers and subs to act wisely on her behalf.

Comment by Tallgirl on September 1, 2012 at 9:52pm

Give the school board a heads-up in case help is needed later for any issues. Provide pre-printed info from online.

Comment by madhu on September 3, 2012 at 11:54am

Thanks a lot for the tips. Guess i should explain to her and prepare her for any questions and situations that might arise.

Comment by Angie on September 5, 2012 at 10:53am

I agree with Tallgirl to give the school board heads-up. Continue to stay strong and show her your bold and confidence personality, so that she will mimic you. Help her keep her head up towards the sky, so that she will too. We will pray that A.U go and stay away!

Comment by wise1 on September 5, 2012 at 8:56pm

Not to sound argumentative but the school board and administration will not be the main support for your child. The best person to educate first is the child. She alone needs to know she is beautiful and should not tolerate any meanness, but truly it is her who will determine how others feel about her alopecia by how she behaves. What makes the difference comes from within that child. Teachers can facilitate understanding, but I firmly believe and have witnessed that being open and honest is the best policy when dealing with small children. They are open to learning about why Susie has no hair, why Johnny needs a wheelchair or why Bob has a harder time learning. If we catch the children or her classmates young then the administration or school board never needs involvement. By the time it goes to the board it is too late to salvage a chance at friendships. I see kids accepted or shunned all the time, and I believe in empowering the child and then they have the skills to move forward. I could say so much more but I fear it will be misunderstood. As you all stated yes the teacher needs to know but anything further is behaving like you are pulling out the big guns without trying the little things first. Like tallgirl said perhaps you can speak to her class on the topic or have the teacher do so. Maybe in a year there will not be a concern but this is part of who she is and she needs to know how to answer the questions that might arise. I wish you the best of luck.

Comment by Angie on September 5, 2012 at 9:29pm

We are not saying it is the main support, but they need to know, of cause we have to make sure it starts at home with us parents. Some school board and administrations need to be educated about Alopecia, so if it recurs, they will handle it correctly. We want the point to have heads up, so if this conditions returns the child will be allowed to wear her head wraps. She should be thought to education her peers, like you said children are willing to learn.

Comment by madhu on September 10, 2012 at 10:09am

I have started talking to my daughter about her condition and explained what is happening within her body. she used to question me when she started losing her hair, but she was 3 yrs old and i cdn explain to her.

now i have a better understanding of the situation and i have started educating her so that she is equipped to answer any questions her friends may have for her.

Thanks a lot for the suggestions.

Comment by Angie on September 10, 2012 at 10:25am

Hey Madhu,

Don't forget to bring her to A.W, there are children here with their pictures posted that look just like her. :-) And she can see all the adults with no hair with smiles on their faces. We are here for her!

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