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Let's Play Together: Fostering Friendships Between Children With and Without Disabilities
City University of New York - Queens College
Pace University
Parents know that having friends is one of the most rewarding aspects of a child's life. Parents of children with disabilities want their children to be loved, feel a sense of belonging, and share similar experiences with their siblings and other children.
Research supports what parents have always known - that friendships are beneficial to children's social competence, self-esteem, and confidence, and that friendships support social, emotional, and intellectual development. Having a good friend means sharing fun times and difficult times. A good friend can offer comfort and connection through conversation, gestures, or silence. A group of friends can provide a wonderful and important opportunity to fit in and to be accepted.
Children with disabilities are sometimes at risk of having social interactions only with adults who are paid to be with them (such as teachers, therapists, and doctors). But children need to play and interact with other children. Although some friendships develop naturally, it is still important to teach children specific social skills and provide opportunities for friendships to develop.