Parenting is the most difficult job ever. More
so because, every child is unique from the other and has distinctive needs. Understanding
these needs of a child without any medical complication is tough, but the job
becomes tougher when parents deal with children with special needs. While it’s
not possible to lay down a set of guidelines for special children without
proper therapeutic counseling, here we present a general guideline for dealing
with these children successfully.
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1. Communication is the master key – Communication is the master key to
begin an amicable relationship with any adult and child. And for a child with
special needs, it holds higher level of importance. It’s not always required to
have a verbal communication with the child. Depending on the child’s needs, touching
his/her hands or face, while interacting can be effective. A tap on the
shoulder or affectionate pat on the back when he/she completes a task
successfully can melt down the ice little by little.
2. Observe behavior to address the child’s needs – A child with
special needs perceive sensory signals differently than a child without any neurological
complication. These children may also find it difficult to express discomfort
or anxiety. Therefore the parents, therapists and teachers are needs to be
extra attentive and be always cautious of any change in their behavior. It’s
important to keep in mind that behavior is an important form of communication
and for a child with special needs change in behavior is perhaps the most
significant form of expressing his/her feelings.
3. Praise every now and then – Children love it when we cheer for
them. When the child does something perfectly, compliment immediately. It does
not only make them feel good, but also assuring. They sometimes fail to
understand instructions and try to find signals to ensure if they are meeting expectations.
You applaud makes them feel secured.
4. Repeat over and over – Even we often can’t remember every
instruction given to us. When it’s a special child, remembering rules and lessons
can be more difficult. Being a parent or special children’s instructor, it’s
important for you to understand that the child will take time longer than usual
to learn. The key is patience. Decide a set of rules and lesson plans and stick
to them. These rules and plans are needed to be repeated every day. It may take
1 or 2 months for the kids to memorize them. Have patience and you will see the
children will be able to identify when they follow or break the rules.
5. Adopt a strategy for behavior modification – Children understand rewards,
with or without medical complications. When your child shows positive behavior,
give him/her a special star or pointer. Take away the reward when there is a
negative behavior. Give them special tasks and whoever completes the task
successfully give him/her a prize.
Dealing with a special child calls for utmost
attention and compassion. There is no easy way to recovery. It takes time, patience
and an expert hand to support. If your child is going through this difficult
phase, don’t lose hope and contact Society for Welfare of Children for careful
guidance from expert therapists.
