Participants Get a Unique Look at the Lives of Challenged Children

By Linnae Riesen
WEAC Public Relations Specialist

The challenges that come with raising children with serious emotional and behavioral disorders can be compared to juggling many balls in the air – trying to maintain the needs of the home, community, school, and family can be overwhelming for both children and their families.

The Wisconsin Children Come First conference, held in Appleton Wednesday and Thursday (July 20-21, 2005), provided strategies for bringing integrated services to children and their families. Parents, school and community liaisons, education professionals, and children of all ages attended.

The children at the conference presented their own seminar on the unique challenges they face in their everyday lives to a crowded room full of parents, education professionals and community liaisons. The kids directed their own game of “juggling balls,” asking for eight audience volunteers to engage in a game of keeping various balls afloat in the circle. As the volunteers worked to keep the balls in the air, the children gave feedback that they often encounter everyday:

“Maybe you should just try harder.”

“Look how easy it is for everyone else!”

“Maybe you don’t really want to succeed at this.”

“I already explained this to you.”

“Faster, go faster!”

And just when the volunteers thought they had the hang of it, the children would change the rules or add a new twist, symbolically representing the frustration the children feel when their support system changes, or when they are not aware of the “rules” for their own environment.

Gradually, the volunteers took the advice of an audience member who added “if you always do what you’ve always done…you will always get what you’ve always gotten.” They improved their skill by trying out new methods, listening to their teammates, and "thinking outside the box." With the right support and teamwork, the volunteers, much like the children who encouraged them, felt they could accomplish anything.

For more information on the Wisconsin Council for Children and Families, visit www.wccf.org.

Posted July 22, 2005