Faith Heart Magazine Prophetess Trish M. | Page 11
discouraged, as many of them are aware of
their limitations. Therefore, providing verbal
praise such as “Good job, I’m proud of you” can
go a long way. It's essential for the child to
feel significant so s/he will look forward to
attending your activities.
Rule #3:
Be a Guiding Light
Work diligently to include the child in various
conversations and social groups is essential.
Lead by example. When others see your efforts
for inclusion, they will follow suit. Thus, you are
trending and cultivating the atmosphere on
how to appropriately treat the child/children
with special needs. This love will radiate in
your group encounters on a reg ular basis. No
longer will your group conjugate and allow the
child with special needs to sit alone.
Rule #4:
Communicate with the Child’s
Parents
Ask the parents questions concerning the
child’s safety, fears, and relevant contents of
their IEPs (Individualized Education Plan) from
school that can help you when interacting with
their child/children. This will show the parents
that you are invested in the progress and well-
being of their child/children. Additionally, this
opens the door for effective communication in
understanding how their child/children learn
and comprehend the world around them.
National Board Certified Educator for Children with
Rule #5:
Create a Sensory Conducive
Environment
Special Needs | Speech-Language Pathologist
Email: [email protected]
Many children with special needs can be over
and/or under-stimulated by several
environmental factors. These factors could
include sound, light, movement, etc. Therefore,
creating a calm environment can be an
essential ingredient to the child’s success. Too
much noise can stimulate their vestibular
system, causing crying, screaming, yelling, and
crawling under the tables - just to name a few.
Flashing lights have been known to trigger
seizures. Traffic noise, alarms, sirens can
hinder a child’s attention span and their ability
to focus. Once you have learned the specifics,
you can then alter the group’s environment to
make it more conducive to the child/children
with special needs.
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