When you have a special needs child, you want to protect her from everything that could cause her harm, even if that means protecting her from information that might be painful. But part of how you can protect her is to be open with her about her special needs.
Pediatric Nursing Care Key Biscayne FL – How Can You Talk to Your Child about Special Needs?
Don’t Avoid the Topic
You might feel tempted to gloss over the topic altogether. Unfortunately, that can backfire and make the situation much worse than it has to be. The worry here, of course, is that talking about your child’s special needs will just call attention to them and make them seem worse than they are. But this is a prime time for you to educate your child and make sure that she starts to understand her own needs, both now and in the future.
Be Open and Straightforward
Although it’s difficult to talk about painful topics with your child, it’s important to be as open and straightforward as you can. The key here is to acknowledge the situation for what it is without sugarcoating it. Use age-appropriate language to educate your child. Ultimately your goal is going to be ensuring that your child understands that this isn’t a secret or something to be ashamed of when other people bring it up.
Encourage Your Child to Ask Questions
When your child feels comfortable asking questions then she can clarify whatever she doesn’t understand. As your child learns that it’s okay to have questions and that you’ll answer them to the best of your ability, you’ll find that she understands even more about her health conditions. Let your child know that it’s perfectly okay to ask questions and that asking questions is one big way that everyone learns what they need to know.
Get Help for the More Difficult Descriptions
No matter how much you want to, you might not be able to answer every single question for your child. This might mean that other people in your child’s care team, such as physical therapists, pediatric nursing care providers, and doctors, help you to get the information that you need. As a team, you can handle just about any situation that pops up and that’s empowering for your child as she grows up.
The better your child understands the special needs she has the easier it will be for her to adapt when she needs to do so. Get help from your child’s medical team and other experts to put together a plan for your conversations with your child.
If you or a loved one are considering Pediatric Home Care Services in Key Biscayne FL, contact the caring staff at Providence Healthcare Services. We provide services in all of Miami Dade county and the Upper Keys. Call today (305) 220-1088.
