How to Discipline a Child With Special Needs
Special needs children are still children and they require the same firm structure and guidance as their peers. While the form and degree of the discipline may differ, the basic rules still apply. Behaviors must be addressed as they happen. Consequences must be meaningful, effective, and the parent or caregiver must follow through each time. This requires planning and communication between both caregivers and children before an incident occurs. Consistent application of methods over time will produce better behavior with less effort.
Instructions
Develop a plan of action before a behavioral incident occurs. Consider possible settings where you may face an outburst, your reaction, the child's needs and response, and the punishments you may use to stop or alter the behavior. Special needs children may have unusual behavioral triggers, so it is important to know the child in question when developing your plan and to be flexible in your approach. Communicate your expectations. Before you enter a store, transition from one activity to another, or approach a situation where behavior may deteriorate, discuss with the child what will happen, review your family rules, and remind the child of the consequences (good and bad) of misbehavior. For special needs children, this information may need to be broken down into a few very simple instructions and repeated often. Reward good behavior as well as punishing bad behavior. Give equal attention to positive, expected outcomes as you give to negative behaviors. This will help the child recognize what to do as well as what not to do. For special needs children, it is even more important that the consequence or reward immediately follow the behavior to have the greatest effect and opportunity to teach. Choose a method of discipline appropriate to the level of the outburst and to the child in question. Planned ignoring, giving a time-out, and removing privileges or activities important to the child are all potential options. Special needs children may require a shorter time-out period and consequences given in smaller doses, especially where their attention spans are affected by their disability. Be patient and consistent. Due to developmental delays, children with special needs may require more exposure to discipline before they begin to understand expectations. You must follow through and apply discipline each time there is an incident in order to effectively send your message. Previous:How to Use a Star Chart for Kid(s)
