How to Treat Special Children and Slow Learners
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Not all children are alike as our fingers differ from their sizes and forms. Not only that each finger has its own role to make a hand functional but each serves for the wholeness of the hand.
Just like our fingers, special children and slow learners have special places in this world. It is not an easy role to mother or father such children with limitations or below ordinary abilities. It is definitely a challenge.
Special children and slow learners are oftentimes treated differently by others. They are not treated well or fair by other children and even by adults because they are not like most of the children. Prejudice oftentimes set in and these children are ostracized.
If you are a parent to one special child or a slow learner, consider the following to make the world a better place for your child:
1. Understand what the child has been going through. Put yourself in his or her shoes. Bear in mind that the child did not choose the condition, or that he or she did not choose to be born like that.
2. Respect them as you respect other normal children but do not spoil them. Doing so will just aggravate his or her condition. Giving more and giving less than what should be is just the same because it could aggravate the condition.
3. If you cannot truly accept the child, or if the situation is really difficult for you, it is better that the child be far from you. Let someone take care of him or her, until such time you are able to accept the truth. Your lack of sympathy will make matters worse.
4. As the parent, do not mock or ridicule or laugh at your child except when he or she really intends to make you laugh. It is your role to be the first to appreciate.
5. Show the special child or the slow learner that you are also interested in what they do, or in their little achievements. This could help them develop their confidence.
6. Make some research on the child’s condition. You will discover that you also have some of their traits which are manifested in some other forms because of their condition.
Just like how our fingers may not look like that of a goddess but are accepted because they are part of what we are, or that they are part of how we are defined as a person, the special child or the slow learner also define their parent. How they are treated spells the kind of parent that they have.
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Very True. I love No 2. The child might be young but they still deserve respect from us. A lot of patience is also needed. Cheers.
Thank you for this hub. I am the mother of a special needs child and it was hard for me to accept. Thankfully, I have an amazing husband who stayed home with her (while I worked)until I could come to terms with her disability. Now our roles are reversed, I am home with my daughter and she is the light of my life!
it's a sad thing but true, not all parents pass these tests, misthaven. :-(
some parents tend to forget that we also have to respect our children, too, Lady_E.
i am glad that you had already accepted the situation, Cari. i understand that some parents really need some time off to realize the situation. i thank you, too, for sharing your thoughts.
bingskee, this is a wonderful reminder to us all how special children are, regardless if what they may or may not have, they are little people to be loved.
Do you know that some parents do not even want their kids to associate with special kids or slow learners for fear that they might be "contaminated." It's pretty sad and I wish people would show more compassion. Thanks for this hub. I hope many get to read it.
i agree very much, ladybird!
such shallowness, di ba, ripplemaker? and i had seen some adults doing that.
I guess fear does that. Let's keep on showing a different perspective and perhaps in time more and more will view it from another angle and respond more positively. :) Keep sharing your light! :) Ingat...
i agree, ripplemaker. some parents are truly not ready faced with such situations resulting to negative reactions.
Wonderful information. We're all alike--just trying to live and learn, love and laugh. No matter how quickly we understand the world or our emotions, if at all, there is still a life force to respect and cherish within.
i look at it with a perspective that there is still life to cherish and celebrate, ixxy. :-) how are you?
To know the road ahead'one must ask those traveling back.I am a slow traveler still traveling a rough road.These kids need a good map to travel by,you are that map.Believe me,self esteem plays a key role.Kids that are slow may not be able to pick and chose their friends as well,and this can lead to all sorts of problems,like self medicating.There is much more to life than just being smart.Teach the slow traveler to have self respect.Encourage a healthy diet and exercise.Program yourself to seek support with loving people any way you can.there are many roads one can travel in life,the fastest one is not always the best,choose the one with the best scenery and enjoy the ride.
Wonderful information. Thank you.
my child just cannpt write sentences so fed up.
As a mother to be and a teacher in the future its a very big reminder to me that i should cherish and love my kids nurture and mold them for a better future.
Your comments are true and to the point.I have been a special ed.teacher for 15 years before I retired and they are precious kids who each have his/her own gift to give. I have known some wonderful and strong parents also who are heros to and for their children.
A lovely,informative hub.We as parents,are not given skills of parenting special children,and sometimes have to deal with a situation when we are barely more than children ourselves.The best thing is to support these parents whenever we can.Let them know they are not alone with this hard job.
'the fastest one is not always the best'. i have to agree. i believe that each child is a gift no matter what, and that they have their own gifts to share.
you are lucky to have experienced being with these kids. must be a wonderful experience. although i must say it is also a challenging one.
MistHaven 2 years ago
Raising children with any kind of disability requires a special characteristic that not everyone has. It's just like how not everyone can be a teacher. That is the definition of parenthood, being able to love a child no matter what.