Food! Fun! Games!
June 11, 2009 by Jill Cornfield
Filed under Health
Among our books is a copy of the Betty Crocker book of children’s parties published in the early ’60s, which I’ve kept because it has a very touching section on children with handicaps. “Children who have physical or mental disabilities are, first and foremost, children,” the author points out, “with the need for color and excitement and surprise in their lives. They have friends, and should be able to entertain their friends. The child who is giving the party may invite friends who have similar disabilities and also friends, brothers, sisters, and cousins who do not have these disabilities.” I am so moved by the inclusion of children with special needs that it’s probably earned a permanent place on my shelves.
Illustration from Betty Crocker's Parties for Children
I know some kids with autism may not enjoy the swirl of sensations that go into even the simplest party – and when he was younger, Alex had his moments of bursting into tears and not wanting to be around the few of us singing Happy Birthday – but these days he lights up at the very idea of a present, a word whose meaning he certainly knows. So any ideas on helping make it a successful celebration are welcome.
When Ned was young I spent a fair amount of time on sites that give birthday party ideas (if you’re looking for how-tos on a farm or pirate or Spiderman theme, there is no better place to go). But search “special needs” or “autism” or “spectrum” on these sites and you get nothing. I know, I know, you can just type those terms into any search engine and get great results. (Like this one, which has gift ideas for kids with autism.)
Imagine a party like this one. While it’s easy to think that everything’s better and more inclusive and more P.C. these days there definitely were people who exhibited both common sense and kindness when it came to kids with differences. IIt seems like the sites that deal with birthday parties and assume a world in which no special accommodations are needed are coming from the truly rigid, out-of-date era.
