As my son ages, I am starting to see the effects of limited social interaction and it’s quite heartbreaking. Being a mother of a nonverbal autistic child some challenges arise almost daily and that is to be expected given the diagnosis, but watching it and feeling those emotions are utterly gut-wrenching. Let me give you some context.
Currently, we are at the beach and I watched my son go up to a significantly older child. You could tell Ellis wanted to play with him but was unsure how to interact. God love him, he tried so hard to be social but you can tell that the odds are not in his favor because 1) he cannot talk and 2) he doesn’t know how to play. The older boy was nice but I almost felt like I had to run up and explain to Ellis which is something I hate doing. I hate having to explain my son. I know as you’re reading this that you’re probably saying, “But, Erica you do not have to explain anything to anyone”, and I get that. However, Ellis doesn’t have his voice, so I have to be.
I have to be the person to tell them that Ellis would love to play but he cannot talk, so please be understanding. I have to be the person who explains that sometimes he has a really hard time following multi step directions, but be kind and he will be too. I have to be the person to help them understand his wants and needs. I just cannot imagine the frustration of wanting to say so much but being physically unable to get it out to others. So, I will be that voice until he is ready. I have to be, it’s my duty as a mom.
Teach Your Child About Special Needs Children
However, as a parent, you need to be held responsible for teaching your children about differences that may encounter as they go through school and life. Today’s post is all about the thing we wish you would teach your children about children with special needs before they encounter them without context.
No everyone looks or acts the same. Explain to your children about a few diagnosis they may encounter as they get ready to go to school like autism, ADHD, Down’s Syndrome, Hearing Impaired, etc. Once you have explained those diagnoses then show pictures, interact, and engage with others.
Teach them how to interact. This one is difficult, but teaching kids that there are other ways to communicate is a start. Show them sign language, visual cards, AAC devices (talkers), brail, etc. Let them know that there are several different types of languages and several different ways to communicate those languages.
Help them find ways to include all kids. Again, I don’t have all the answers but helping them understand that playing looks different for different kids and it’s okay to try things different ways. A great example is jumping. Ellis loves to jump so maybe everyone can play “jump over the wave”.
Understand how to tell them your wants. Responding to a child with special needs may need more prompting. Telling them “no” one time may not get the point across, but reacting in a calm manner with appropriate responses will. Make sure that your child understands how to communicate and how to read the situation.
Don’t stare or make fun of others. This is a big one! Staring, making fun of others, pushing/pulling, practical jokes aren’t fun for anyone. Be kind!
Long story short, we, as speical needs moms, would really appreciate if you would teach your children about all the different types of people they will encounter in their lives. They will be able to understand the world better, interact with different minds, and be able to handle situations with kindness and respect.
Thank you!
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