If you are a parent to one special child or a slow learner, consider the following to make the world a better place for your child:
Understand what the child has been going through. Put yourself in his or her shoes. Bear in mind that the child did not choose the condition, or that he or she did not choose to be born like that.
Respect them as you respect other normal children but do not spoil them. Doing so will just aggravate his or her condition. Giving more and giving less than what should be is just the same because it could aggravate the condition.
If you cannot truly accept the child, or if the situation is really difficult for you, it is better that the child be far from you. Let someone take care of him or her, until such time you are able to accept the truth. Your lack of sympathy will make matters worse.
As the parent, do not mock or ridicule or laugh at your child except when he or she really intends to make you laugh. It is your role to be the first to appreciate.
Show the special child or the slow learner that you are also interested in what they do, or in their little achievements. This could help them develop their confidence.
Make some research on the child’s condition. You will discover that you also have some of their traits which are manifested in some other forms because of their condition.
7 Tips for Disciplining the Children with Special Needs
Watch the child closely before taking disciplinary actions. Needless to say that special need children need closer watching, with great care and attention. It should not frighten them in any way. Rather it should be built upon affection and concern.
Disciplining the special need children requires much planning. The caregiver should develop a plan of action before a behavioral incident your reaction, the child’s needs and response, and the punishments you may use to stop or alter the behavior.
Special need children may have unusual behavioral triggers, so it is important to know the child well in advance how he will react and how you should develop your plan to be flexible in your approach.
While you reward good behavior you should have a positive approach in punishing. That does not mean you must be lenient. You have to react but positively so as to make your child realize his mistake. This will help the child recognize what to do as well as to avoid what the wrong. For special need children, it is even more important that the consequence or reward should follow immediately the behavior to have the greater effect and opportunity to teach.
Patience and consistency are very important in discipline the special need children. Since the normal development of the special need children is delayed, they may require more exposure to discipline before they begin to understand expectations. It needs a lot of patience and consistency from the parent and caregiver.
Disciplining should be executed through proper communication. The parent or caregiver should communicate clearly to make the child understand. Special need children need to be instructed in very simple and repeated sentences.
The child specialist or therapist should be consulted as much as possible to take effective discipline which fit your child’s needs, skills and developmental level. Without consulting him ever restrict food, water, medicine or other requirements vital to sustaining life.