"We Don't Say Those Words in Class!"

When I was a child, my mother had a friend who's husband stuttered. I was about 7 years old, and had never heard anyone stutter, so when i heard him for the first time, i laughed and pointed, and said, 'why does he sound like that? he sounds funny!' My mother did tell me before i got there that the man will sound different, and not to make fun, but of course, being a child, i did that anyway. When my mom silenced me and reprimanded me, i felt ashamed; like i did something wrong, which i did, but i also felt like i couldn't ask any questions. My mother was embarrassed, and I seen it all on her face, which made me feel embarrassed as well. As an educator, I think the best way to respond to a child pointing out something different is to say that pointing out someone's differences is not nice, and that can hurt someone's feelings. I would also tell the child how we live in a world where everyone is different, and being different is a good thing, not a negative thing. I would give an example of how I am different, and allow for the child to think of a way they are different and bring it together by saying, see, being different is what makes us unique and interesting, and that we shouldn't make fun of people we think are different because we are all different.