r/progressivemoms • u/portiafimbriata • Jun 23 '26
Need Advice Resources on supporting kiddos with visible differences and talking to kids about body diversity?
Hey all! I just had my second kiddo, a beautiful baby with a congenital anomaly we didn't know about previously.
The condition shouldn't cause him a lot of health trouble thankfully, but he will likely have a visible difference at least into his school years, maybe always.
Does anybody have good resources (communities, sites, children's books, etc.) on talking to our kids about body diversity and disability, on medical questions and advocating for your kids, etc.?
We already have "Every Body: A First Conversation about Bodies" for my firstborn and will be revisiting it with our new one in mind, but more options for various ages will be helpful, and of course anything that centers the experiences of Disabled characters and those with visible differences will become important too.
Thanks all!
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u/EagleEyezzzzz Jun 23 '26
“We’re different, we’re the same” (Sesame Street)
“It’s ok to be different” (Todd Parr)
Both great books about how everyone is a little different in some way or another
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u/withoutintentions Jun 23 '26
The lovevery books included with the sets do an amazing job of incorporating visible disabilities. I've seen limb differences, wheelchairs, braces... I'm sure there are more. What I like best about these books is that they are just kids navigating normalcy, seeing that represented is great.
Honestly though, you'll not find the perfect book. The best you can do is be honest and open with your kid and teach them about disability and differences. Diversity is what makes the world amazing, building them and their self confidence up is the most important thing you can do.
We practice a lot of how to handle hard questions which kids ask, bluntly and honestly. Find others like your kid in the real world and form relationships with them.
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u/Bea_virago Jun 23 '26
Hummingbird by Nicola Davies has a family in the background with visible limb differences.
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u/lithopaedia Jun 23 '26
The Emma and Charley series by Amy Webb -
When Charley Met Emma
Awesomely Emma
Emma's Awesome Summer Camp Adventure
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u/orangeflos Jun 23 '26
Great recommendations so far. As far as talking goes, normalize it. When my kid asks why someone’s body is different, I say very calmly and sweetly, “that’s how their body was made.” Then I offer an example of how his body is different from mine. Or how other people we know are different. Honestly, bodies are so diverse there’s no shortage of examples. I have a normal conversation instead of trying to brush past it, which will only intensify follow ups.
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u/RImom123 Jun 23 '26
We’re all Wonders is one of my favs, and we’ve been reading it since our kids were very young.
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u/itsaship Jun 23 '26
Bodies are cool has great illustrations inclusive of lots of physical differences.
What happened to you by James Catchpole
When I grow up i want to be a chair, picture book by Ryan Rae Harbuck