Every child needs love, attention and care from the time they are born. Special needs kids just require a whole lot more of love and attention. Loving care starting from parents and siblings to a good support system of therapists and doctors is what a child with special needs requires to live a relatively normal life. Dealing with Special kids is a handful job and the primary caregiver – parents or teachers require certain traits themselves:
– Acceptance
– Tolerance
– Patience
– Organization
– Time for oneself

While teachers at schools for special needs kids are trained to develop these qualities, it is parents who need to get them first. Sometimes parents will know before a baby is to be born that he or she will be a child with special needs – e.g. Cerebral palsy, at other times, they will only discover a special need after the child is a few months old – e.g. hearing impairment. Whenever the discovery is made, parents must first learn to accept the fact that their child is different from his siblings or other kids. Acceptance is important for both parent and child to deal with the special needs.

A parent who cannot accept this fact will become angry and demonstrate this towards the child too. Another important trait to have is tolerance towards your child, partner and other siblings. If you are unable to accept the special need, then your feelings of resentment and frustration will be taken out on the rest of the family which will lead to an unhappy home. At times you will feel the whole situation so overwhelming and tolerance will help you cope with these feelings of depression.

Raising kids requires a lot of patience and this is just multiplied with taking care of a child with special needs. While a normal child will eat and dress on their own, a special needs child will need to be fed slowly and dressed. Parents need a lot of patience in doing every day simple tasks. At these times, it will be good if older siblings are taught to help take care of their sister or brother with special needs. Being organized around a special child is required as much as with all other tasks.

If they require therapy, medication or doctors visits, make a chart of dates and times so that you can save time and be able to cope with other everyday activities too. Dealing with a special child saps the energy out of the father or mother who is the primary caregiver. Hence they must find time for themselves – even an hour or two every day will do. This can be spent going for a walk, having a long bath, reading or watching television. This gives the parent time to rejuvenate and prepare for another arduous day ahead. Once in a way you can even try and take a day off to go out with friends and relax leaving your child is the proper care of a special needs nanny or grandparents.

Apart from developing the above traits, parents with special needs kids will have to be trained in some special skills to take care of their kids. For example, if you have a child with hearing impairment, you may have to learn sign language. It will be good if other family members also do so, for then the child will not feel shut out, but be part of the family conversations. This will help the child to grow as normally as possible.

Apart from education yourself with home therapies, consult a pediatrician who understands special needs and will guide you in the most effective way to help your child develop his capabilities. The greater the special need, the more help will be required from counselors, speech therapists, physiotherapists and others. Having a professional support group is essential to coping with special needs kids.

Apart from professional support team, a personal one for families to cope is also needed. Have a wide circle of family and friends to help you, so you do not have to cope alone. Do not compare your child with others, for this will create stress in you and your child. Accept your child for what he is and his limited capabilities. Be proactive and positive when dealing with his or her special needs and your child will be able to develop as best he or she can and be a joy to everyone around.

Author Bio: Article by Kevin Corten of EPatioUmbrellas, who is also a specialist in parenting. For more information on patio umbrella and market umbrellas, visit his site today.

Category: Parenting
Keywords: Special Kids, kids, autism