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Dealing with curious kids??

Posted by Aaron A on July 21, 2010 at 3:06pm
Hi Guys!

How do you guys deal with curious kids?  Usually I joke around and say I'm from a different planet or born with special powers and some of my skin colour changed because of it. Then sometimes I would plainly say "that's how God created me and He created everybody differently"

Discuss....

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Replies

  • Vitiligan Princess July 26, 2011 at 7:13pm
    I just tell them straight what it is, better for them to be educated then call the litlle girl or boy at school who has vitiligo an alien...
  • Cy July 19, 2011 at 11:46am
    I worked at a summer camp the past two summers so I ran into this a lot. A lot of kids just thought they were scars. I would just explain that tanning is your body's natural defense against the sun and some spots on my body don't have that ability any more so I have to wear sunscreen and be careful. Most of them were like oh that cool. I only had one camper who wouldn't drop it and he was being annoying about it and laughing but I didn't let it bother me. I think he had some undiagnosed mental problem though because he had some issues.
    • Jen Davis > Cy July 19, 2011 at 2:53pm
      I think that's a great way to put it!
  • Michelle July 18, 2011 at 5:58am

    I think it all depends on the person asking, the place and what kind of ' hurry ' I am in.  When I say the word Vitiligo, they almost always say, "oh is that what Michael Jackson had"?

    I agree with the comments above, I get a lot of 'did you get burned' questions from my students.  The sweetest question I ever got was from little girl with cerebral palsy, she was sitting next to me, reached over, brushed my leg and said "hurt"?

     

     

  • Jen Davis July 17, 2011 at 3:43am
    I think it's great that some of you share truthfully what it is...my daughter who was just recently diagnosed (last month) and is 7, was at the eye doctor with me the other day and noticed that the woman helping us had white spots on her hands.  She asked the lady, "Excuse me, do you happen to have Vitiligo?" and the woman was caught off guard at first and then quickly recovered and explained that yes, in fact she did.  :)  We got into a really nice conversation between the three of us and Zoey (my dd) was pretty thrilled to meet someone else like her.  I know the perspective is different for us, because Zoey actually has it too...but I agree with the individual that said share what it is so that more people grow up knowing about the disease and therefore releasing some of the stigma of it.  Empower them with knowledge and truth and care!
  • Debbie Wright July 16, 2011 at 3:32pm

    Kids notice my hands - I tan easily so they show up.  I tell them they are my spots.  Usually they say  "OK" and go on.  If they want to talk more, I say some people have spots some don't.  Some people are blond, some are redhead.  I usually go for age appropriate conversation with them and how curious they are.  Hope this helps.  I, too, try to have a sense of humor about it with them.  I think it is easier for me because mine didn't show up until age 45.  I'm not sure I would have handled it as well as I do now if it had showed up eariler in life.  I really feel for the younger ones and what they must put up with from peers.

  • Amanda Flynn July 15, 2011 at 4:51pm
    Last fall I student assisted in a first grade classroom and it was the first time a child had ever asked me about my Vit. I kept getting questions like, "Did you burn yourself? How come it's white around your eyes? Why is your skin like that?" It was so sweet when they would come up and touch my hands and ask, "Does it hurt?" At first I had no idea what to say. However, I realized that it really depends on the age level and maturity of the child. Sometimes you just have to explain that everyone has different skin. Sometimes you can tell them that you have something wrong with your body that is turning your skin white, but they can't catch it! With older kids, you can go into a lot more detail. Most kids just want to understand, and since I'm going into teaching, I think I will get a lot of practice when it comes to curious kids.
  • Francis July 15, 2011 at 3:30pm
    Hey Aaron,  when kids ask me about it I just use the same saying you said " thats how God made me".  :0)  I get questions from adults too but they usually think I was in a fire, so for the adults I will tell them what it is and if I'm not in the mood I'll say "Yea I was in a fire"  lol
    • Aaron A > Francis July 15, 2011 at 3:48pm
      soo funny Francis! lol!!
  • sjsmith August 16, 2010 at 3:21pm
    My niece asks me almost every single time I see her why do I have white spots on me..she is six. I explain the same way every time - Aunt Sue has vitiligo which means I was born with two colors and then I point to each color. I then say some people are born white, some black, some tan - I was born with two colors. I then tell her it's called vitiligo and tell her to say it out loud.

    My thought is - tell the truth and there will be one more person in this world who will grow up knowing what vitiligo is and that her aunt has it and isn't a freak or weird. This way if my niece ever sees anyone again with vitiligo she will know what it is and won't stare at that person out of ignorance....
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