How to Discipline Your Special-Needs Child

Raising and disciplining a special-needs child sometimes brings out the worst in you. Parenting is a very challenging job especially when you are dealing with a differently-able child. You may even develop a feeling of frustration and lose your patience if you are not well-equipped of how to handle your child. It is very important that you learn the ways of inculcating discipline to this type of child before everything goes out of control. Through these learning, your child will be able to cope up with his or her emotional and intellectual development. You will also feel the triumph when you see your child growing in the way that he or she should be. Here are some simple ways on how you can discipline your child with special needs.

Don’t compare your child with other children. You should not compare your child with other children of the same age. You will tend to focus on what your child is missing rather than what he or she has. You will tend to focus on his disability rather than finding ways on how to improve him or her.

Change your standards or level of expectation. If you have set something on your mind about what your child will be like, then you will end up being frustrated. You should accept the fact that you have a child with special needs. Acceptance is the key factor in order for you to find a solution to your problem. Be happy of what your child is and encourage him or her in whatever interests or talents he or she may have.

If your child is different, it doesn’t mean he or she is inferior. If your child is developmentally delayed than others, it doesn’t mean that he or she is inferior. Your child may have special skills and talents that other child doesn’t have. You should always remind your child that he or she is doing well. There is a tendency for your child to measure his or her self-worth by what others perceive of him or her.

If your child is different, it doesn’t mean he or she is fragile.You don’t have to lower your level of discipline for your special-needs child. Your child should be corrected if he or she has done something wrong. You should not tolerate his or her bad behavior. Imposing discipline should start early on because when you wait too long, it would be much harder to train your child.

You should avoid over attachment of the child. When you and your child are too much attached with each other, then it would be very hard for your child to be flexible. There is a tendency that he or she will not listen to other people. Your child should not feel that his or her life should only revolve around you. You should teach your child on how to trust and love other people around him or her.

You should consider behaviors as signals of needs. You should observe your child’s reactions and behaviors to different situations. Your child’s behavior may tell something of what he or she needs. Instead of scolding your child, you should be patient enough to bring him or her in quiet place and have a one-on-one conversation on what he or she really wants.

You should value your child. Do not focus on your child’s disability. Be as open-minded as you can. When your child feels loved and cared, he or she will be able to cope up and follow the discipline that you are teaching him or her. Discipline your child in a way that it would be beneficial to him or her and not focusing only on your needs and wants.

Teach your child to be responsible. You can start with giving your child simple instructions that he or she can follow. Avoid doing all the things for your child for it may teach him or her to be over dependent. When your child has accomplished something, he or she will feel his or her self-worth. This will help your child to value what he or she has learned.

A developmentally-delayed child will eventually be ready to take in bigger responsibilities if you learn to trust your child.


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