– As part of Happykindergartendlaautyzmu, we celebrated World Autism Awareness Day at our preschool on Monday, 4 April. On that day, as an act of solidarity with people with autism, all the children, teachers and preschool staff “lit up blue” by wearing this colour, while the preschool rooms were decorated with blue accents – reports Krystyna Gerwatowska, head of Municipal Public Preschool No. 2 in Bolesławiec.
The aim of World Autism Awareness Day is to increase knowledge about a disorder recognized by the UN as one of the world’s most serious health problems. In accordance with the event’s guiding theme, the children from MPP No. 2 watched a film entitled “Autism”.
Next, two children unpacked a box containing a “packed” teddy bear. The lead teacher compared the packed teddy bear to a person with autism who lives in their own world. The preschoolers also presented hearts bearing the words: EMPATHY, ACCEPTANCE, UNDERSTANDING, RESPECT, HELP.
The children greatly enjoyed a movement activity illustrated by the song “The Blue Boy”. As a sign of unity with people with autism, the children created artwork. (On the heart bearing the words, they stamped their hand painted blue.) The celebrations concluded with commemorative photographs taken in a photo frame.
– All the activities undertaken helped increase the children’s awareness and sensitivity regarding autism. They learned about the limitations and related difficulties people with autism face in their everyday lives, and focused on the main problems faced by people with autism and their loved ones, including discrimination, isolation, and a lack of care and support. They understood that predictability and repetition of situations are important for people with autism – adds K. Gerwatowska.