Most of the young children in our program have never been away from their mothers. Many struggle with the transition. But Henry presented unique challenges. He could go from friendly to aggressive, even violent, in seconds.
His sweet mother was at a loss. “That is just the way he is!” she told his teachers.
Our teachers believe in each child’s value as created by God. They knew that Henry could change in an environment of structure and safety. Daily, teachers loved, corrected, and patiently taught Henry. They worked with Henry’s mother to give her tools for positive change. Henry’s Mom gained confidence as she saw Henry improve at school and at home.
Now in the 3-year-old class, Henry makes his teachers smile. He plays with others and has few outbursts. Our hope is that his future is changing and he will be able to enter school without the label of “special needs”.
This year, we also have a new partnership with the Early Childhood Program at Harbor! This weekly addition to our classrooms will help teachers promote children’s social and emotional skills, giving greater support to families like Henry’s.