Opening New Conversations: How Our Song Aims to Help Parents Talk to Their Children About Limb Difference
Every child deserves to feel seen, understood, and celebrated. My animated short film, Our Song, hopes to play a pivotal role in fostering meaningful conversations between parents and their children about limb difference. The film centers on a father determined to shield his son from the heartbreak he anticipates due to the boy’s ectrodactyly. Inspired by a moment watching gold medalist Nicky Nieves bear the flag during the Paralympics opening ceremony with my niece and answering her questions about the many athletes we were ready to cheer on and plaster all across our social medias, I realized how my own film could spark similar dialogues and bonding moments between families.
Talking to children about limb differences is essential in shaping their understanding of the world and fostering empathy and inclusion from a young age. When these conversations start early, they can help children see differences as a natural part of human diversity rather than something to stare at, point out, fear, or stigmatize. For children with limb differences, these discussions can also be vital for building self-esteem and helping them navigate a world that may not always be kind.
Our Song aims to open doors for these discussions, providing parents with a gentle yet powerful tool to introduce the topic in a way that resonates with both children and adults. The film’s narrative, which highlights the father’s journey from fear to the realization that he may be the only barrier for his son, reflects a common struggle among parents who want to protect their children from pain but must also learn to trust their resilience.
How to Start the Conversation:
1. Be Honest and Open: Use simple, age-appropriate language to explain limb differences. Answer your child’s questions directly and honestly, and don’t shy away from admitting when you don’t have all the answers — Google may.
2. Use Visual Aids: Children often learn best through stories and visuals. Watching films like Our Song together can be a great way to start the conversation and help them relate to the characters’ experiences.
3. Emphasize Strengths and Abilities: Focus on what people with limb differences can do rather than what they can’t. Highlighting their strengths and abilities helps to foster a positive and empowering perspective.
4. Encourage Empathy and Inclusion: Teach your child to understand and appreciate the differences in others and in themselves. Encourage them to include all children in their play and social circles, emphasizing the value of having new experiences with others, friendship, and understanding.
Our Song is an honest and heartfelt contribution to the growing collection of resources that help parents navigate the complexities of parenthood and aid in starting what used to be difficult conversations with their children about differences. By starting these discussions early and using the power of storytelling, parents can help their children develop a deep sense of empathy, acceptance, and self-confidence. In a world that often highlights what makes us different, films like Our Song remind us that it is our shared humanity that truly matters.
None of this would be possible without my incredible team of dreamers:
Jessica Woodard — Producer
Stephanie Glover — Director
Noah Maestre — Art Director
Dariel Filomeno — Animation Director
Lordell Rush — Music composition and sound design
Tiffany Spencer — Associate Producer
Pre-Production Visual Development Team:
Eris Paz
Doi Park
David Pla
Kimani Emmanuel
Story Artists:
Chase Mack
Chad Bennet
Stefan Mirvil
Consultants:
Ethan Zucker
Charles Zucker
Mathias Horhager
We are excited to bring this important story to life. If you’re interested in supporting the film as we move through production and put it out into the world, we welcome donations here. And sharing is caring. Please feel free to reach out to me directly with any questions you may have.
