Children with physical or mental disabilities, medical issues, or behavioural problems require specialised support to help them adapt better to their environment. It is therefore important to identify early on if a child has special needs so that they can be provided with proper care and interventions necessary for their development path.
If you’re a parent of a special needs child or suspect that your child is one, then here are important care interventions that you should be giving them.
Take Your Child to a Paediatric Consultation
When it comes to children with special needs, early diagnosis is crucial in determining what kind of care they should receive. If you’ve observed something different in the way your child behaves or interacts with their peers and environment, consider taking them to an appropriate paediatric clinic for a developmental and behavioural assessment. Here, a professional can determine whether your child is perhaps exhibiting signs of developmental delays, behavioural or learning difficulties, disabilities, or other conditions. During these visits, make sure to always stay by your child’s side to support them and lessen their anxiety or avoid tantrums.
If you receive a diagnosis confirming that your child has special needs, this can then become your guide in learning and researching what kind of care they require. Your paediatrician would also be able to prescribe suitable interventions and give recommendations on how you can better attend to your child’s day-to-day needs.
Make Your Home a Safe Place
Depending on your child’s special needs, you and your family will have to make lifestyle changes. In particular, you need to make your home as safe an environment as possible. One crucial step to take is to protect electric outlets by installing outlet covers that aren’t easily tampered. If at all possible, consider changing the placement of these outlets so that they’re out of reach of children. Children are naturally curious and while they can usually be told why something shouldn’t be touched, your special needs child may not heed or remember your warnings.
Your choice of furniture should also take your child into consideration. For example, it’s better to get round tables rather than ones with sharp edges to avoid your child getting hurt. Likewise, children with special mobility needs may prefer chairs with cushions for added comfort. In addition, make sure there’s ample lighting in your home to lessen untoward accidents.
Provide Medical Intervention as Needed
As a parent, you should be well informed about the medications you can give your child to help make things more comfortable for them. If they’re diagnosed with an illness, always monitor their condition and see to it that they’re able to take their medicine. If they have severe asthma, for example, it’s crucial to learn how to properly assist them in using their inhaler if needed.
Medical intervention can also include taking them to therapy as recommended by their paediatrician.
This could entail occupational therapy to refine their motor skills, speech therapy to help with their speaking and also in practising eating and drinking motions such as chewing or swallowing, or psychological therapy to guide them in managing their emotions and behaviour, among others.
Guide Them in Socialisation
Children with special needs can at times find it hard to socialise with others, either because of behaviour difficulties or simply due to feeling like they don’t belong. However, making friends and playing is an important part in any child’s development. Hence, consider exposing them to environments where they can meet kids their age while guiding them as they interact with others. Your support can be comforting, allowing your child to adjust better and make them feel more confident as they try to reach out to others.
Choose a School That Caters to Their Special Needs
Your choice of school for your special-needs child is also a crucial part of your intervention. Look up whether the school can adequately cater to unique medical and behavioural needs. Talk with school staff and see if they have the appropriate facilities and training; also, inquire if classes are composed of children with and without special needs as this setup can help your child enhance their social skills.
Finally, consider the school’s location to make sure it’s accessible to you and your child. Being close to a clinic or hospital can be a plus, particularly if your child has a condition that may require immediate medical attention if or when it is triggered.
Every child deserves to feel loved and supported. By providing the right care intervention for your child who has special needs, you give them a chance to enjoy a happy childhood and ensure they’re able to build strong connections with family and peers.
