Here are some tips for establishing a healthy level of discipline when raising your child with special needs.
Discipline and punishment are very controversial topics when it comes to raising children, especially those who have special needs. It is important to teach your child that there are certain rules that need to be followed in life, and consequences when those rules are broken. When done right, discipline is beneficial for children with special needs because it helps them grow and improve. Here are some tips for establishing a healthy level of discipline when raising your child with special needs.
Clear Communication
When you are a single parent, raising a child with special needs can be challenging. However, one benefit is that you have control over the rules of the house. On the other hand, when you are raising a child with your spouse, you will need to have a discussion about what discipline measures to take. Communication with your partner is important to make sure that you agree on what are the rules for behavior and the consequences for disobeying. Also, for all parents, you should have this conversation with your child. Giving your child clear expectations will teach them to be accountable and it will help eliminate frustration later. Setting healthy boundaries has been shown to make children feel safe and it improves the emotional environment of your home.
Levels of Discipline
The biggest worry you might have as a parent punishing your child is whether or not you are too harsh. It is safe to say that you should never inflict corporal punishment (spanking or hitting) on your child. After all, you would never want to potentially harm them. Instead, a good place to start when determining a punishment is giving one that will help your child learn to correct their behavior, and this will depend on their age. For example, with older children you can take away privileges, like no TV for a week, because they will understand that it is a direct consequence of their actions. Toddlers, however, who can’t control impulses, will not; if they misbehave it’s better to have them in supervised time out in order to remove them from the situation. With any aged child, you should talk to them about why what they did was wrong.
The Connections Therapy Center
The Connections Therapy Center serves families of children and adolescents with disabilities and special needs. We are a team of experts in the fields of pediatric speech, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, and behavioral sciences. As a team, we offer intensive hands-on therapy for children and adolescents, as well as informative and useful resources for families. If you are interested in learning more about what we can do to help your family, visit us online or give us a call at (301) 577-4333. Want to get more information on how to help your child thrive? Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.