Communicating with Special Needs Children- Nannies & Parents Palm Beach
Communicating with a child who may have ADD, ADHD, Aspergers, Autism, Sensory Integration, Oppositional Defiance, Anxiety Disorder, OCD and other learning or emotional disabilities, can be challenging at times. Many parents express frustrations over simply getting their child to slow down, pay attention and follow directions. It is important to understand that special needs children have very busy minds. A great analogy is to think of your child’s brain as a city with streets carrying information, impulses, sensory input, teacher’s lectures and your directions. But in their city, the traffic lights are not working, creating gridlock and chaos.
Effective Communication
It is essential that we communicate more effectively with our children. Kirk Martin, Executive Director of Celebrate!ADHD, an educational organization that provides training for educators, parents and children affected by ADD, ADHD, Aspergers, Autism, Sensory Integration, Oppositional Defiance, Anxiety Disorder, OCD and other learning or emotional disabilities, recommends parents and teachers the following:
- Give clear, specific directions.
- Try to break tasks into one or two steps so the child does not get overwhelmed.
- Give the child choices.
- Ask questions instead of making statements. This forces a child to stop and think about the alternatives.
- “Use interesting time limits and make it a challenge. Saying we are leaving in 5 minutes is meaningless,” explains Martin. Instead ask your child, “Do you think we can set a record by picking up all our Legos in 3 ½ minutes?”
Additionally, Martin encourages parents to speak softly and whisper at times. “It helps your child learn to listen more attentively.” He also warns parent not to fall into the trap of requiring a child to maintain eye contact. “Instead, let your child play with something in his hands (such as textured objects) or move while you are speaking. This will actually increase attention and retention,” explains Martin.
Sometimes we talk until we are blue in the face and children simply don’t listen. They tune us out instead. Adults can use visual and auditory reminders to keep a child on task.
The Dreaded Temper Tantrum
Many parents express uncertainty over how to handle the dreaded temper tantrums that can occur when a child becomes extremely frustrated. Parents are encouraged to look at tantrums as an opportunity to prove their personal integrity. The sooner you show your child that their tantrums cannot control you, the sooner they will stop throwing them.
“Children with ADHD have great chaos inside, so they need order and structure on the outside,” explains Martin. “The most effective way to calm an emotional child is for us to be calm. When your child is having a meltdown, you need to be the calm rock in their life. No matter how much their world is spinning out of control, you need to show them that you, as the adult in their life, are in control and that everything is okay. And they need to recognize that you are so emotionally strong that even their wildest tantrum cannot move you.”
Martin explains that when we give in or try to bribe our children, they learn that they cannot count on us. They learn that we can be manipulated or embarrassed by screaming and crying. This causes even more insecurity and instability.
“So when your child loses it, seek first to control yourself and remain calm. Because your child has become emotional, he is irrational. And it is impossible to reason with an irrational person.” Martin counsels parents to draw the child into their calmness. “Sit down and begin to color with crayons, read a magazine, water your plants, cook. Invite him into your calm. This will freak him out at first, because he is used to seeing you get upset. What you are communicating, though, is (1) Your actions cannot control or manipulate me and (2) No matter how out of control you may feel, I am a rock you can count on.”
Parents may then calmly let their child know they are available when the screaming and acting out stops. Martin gives an example of what a parent may say: “When you are ready to talk, I’m all ears. But I can’t hear what you are screaming at me and your tantrum will not get what you want.”
Reference: CelebrateCalm
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