4 Steps to Fostering Independence in Children with Special Needs

I once heard a woman talk about the hand she had craved all her life: the hand that would hold her through challenges, direct her out of misery, walk her over to her pile of success, and bang open the door of opportunity. Sadly, this hand was elusive, despite her desperate search over her lifetime. Then one day, she realized that the hand that she had craved, imagined, and dreamed about was the one that was attached to her body. Let’s face it. As parents, finding a comfortable position when watching our children navigate a challenge can be tricky. We may want to occasionally hold their hand, intermittently grasp their hand, or steadily provide the loyal shadow of our supportive hand. The research on resilience can leave us further uncertain of our parental stance. There is research to support the benefits of demonstrating parental assistance on children’s social, emotional, behavioral, and language development. There is also a strong body of research that supports the importance of nurturing independence in children, even from a young age. It builds their self-esteem and their ability to become self-reliant. In my years of working as a speech language pathologist while raising my own children, I aimed to offer my clients techniques that would balance independence while integrating parental involvement. In my recent children’s book on perfectionism and anxiety, Pearla and Her Unpredictably Perfect Day, I incorporated a guide for parents along with discussion questions to foster this relationship. In this inspiring tale, Pearla learns to undergo nervous and painful feelings by herself. She learns to question her own perfection, come up with viable solutions, and take risks. These feelings eventually bring her increased self-confidence, clarity, and peace of mind. Yes, Pearla’s father is right behind her, a position in which we parents often find ourselves. However, in this unique story her support came from right in front of her, her own hand. This was Pearla’s triumph. To bring about that same independence for your child, consider the following strategies.

 

 

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(https://www.friendshipcircle.org/blog/2017/03/03/fostering-independence-in-children-with-special-needs)

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