Parenting+Children+with+Special+Needs

= Parenting Children with Autism: =

Autism is a disorder that affects the mental development of a child and inhibits their social and language abilities. Phyllis Heath listed several characteristics of children with autism in her text //Parent-Child Relations: Context, Research, and Application.// Any combination of the following attributes can affect children with autism: Children with autism can appear normal as they grow older, but when they are young, children might experience a longer-than-usual "infant-toddler stage" (Heath 289). This can lead to problems when the parents have to teach appropriate behavior and self-sufficiency.
 * 1) The inability to relate to other people in an ordinary message, including an absence of social smiling.
 * 2) Language deficits, including mutism, noncommunicative speech and immature grammar.
 * 3) Sensory impairment characterized by over- or under-responding to noise, touch and visual stimuli.
 * 4) Abnormal affect, including extreme or no fear reactions, tantrums and uncontrolled giggling and crying.
 * 5) Self-stimulation, including spinning self and objects, rocking and humming.
 * 6) Inappropriate play, including self-stimulation.
 * 7) Extreme resistance to environmental changes, food and familiar routes.

Parents of children with autism have several support systems and methods of treatment to help improve their children's cognitive and social skills. An article on the Autism Research Institute's Web site about parenting young children with autism discussed many options. One was applied behavior analysis, in which children are "taught skills in a simple step-by-step manner" (Adams 8). Over time, children with autism learn how to socialize in different environments. Speech therapy, physical therapy and occupational therapy were also suggested. The authors also suggested emphasizing friendship formation with peers. Because younger children with autism like to spend time alone, it is important to help them develop relationships with other children their age. Parents can help this by inviting children over to play or by collaborating with teachers to make them aware that the child might need some help in encouraging them to play with their peers.

Adams, James B., Stephen M. Edelson, Temple Grandin, and Bernard Rimland. //Advice for Parents of Young Autistic Children.// Autism Research Institute, 2008. Internet. Heath, Phyllis. //Parent-Child Relations: Context, Research, and Application.// New Jersey: Pearson Education, 2009. Print.

=**Parenting Children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder:**=

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According to Phyllis Heath, children with ADHD have a difficult time on focusing on one thing at a time, are easily distracted, and have behavior problems. An example of a child having ADHD is that they may not be able to sit at a table and do what they are suppose to be doing, when other children their age can. Also children are at risk in their relationships with parents, teachers, siblings, and peers (Health 291). Since children with this disorder have trouble paying attention and following directions they might be placed in special educations classes. There are ways to help decrease some of the symptoms, but parents would need to take the children to the doctor and then they would be subscribed to some medication.=====

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Parents who have children with ADHD often appear to be hostile and unresponsive to their children's needs and interests. This would be important for parents to learn more about because with out knowing this, the children won't be able to grow as a person. They are still young and need their parents to help them and pay attention to their needs. Something to help parents cope with their child's attention deficits is through reframing (Health). **Reframing** is thinking about problems as challenges that can be overcome. Parenting children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder need to have a lot of patience, they need to spend time with their child and help them learn what is right and how to control their emotions.=====

Heath, Phyllis. //Parent-Child Relations: Context, Research, and Application.// New Jersey: Pearson Education, 2009. Print.

=Parenting Children with Mental Impairments and Learning Disabilities=

According to Phyllis Heath in __Parent-Child Relations__, receiving a diagnosis of any sort of mental disability can raise many concerns for parents. Such concerns include how the child will receive the education that they need and that will meet their needs, how the relationship between siblings and family members might change, and the added stress to the family can cause problems as well. As a parent, they want to see their child explore and expand and to have friendships that will last forever and be beneficial for everybody involved, and many times, when a disability is diagnosed those things may not be able to be obtained.

Children with learning disabilities may have a hard time learning how to socialize with peers and have difficulty making friends. This is not only challenging for the child and their self-confidence but also for the parent. The best thing that parents can do at home for their child with learning disabilities is to provide a supportive and nurturing environment; they should be high in responsiveness and not have educational achievement be a large focus. As the child begins to understand their learning disability their sense of self and self-esteem may decrease and that is when the parents and professionals in the child's life need to make sure that they are encouraging the child and validating their hard work on activities or homework that may have come easily to the child's peers.

Heath, Phyllis. //Parent-Child Relations: Context, Research, and Application.// New Jersey: Pearson Education, 2009. Print.