Helping your child with disabilities thrive
Tips for parents and caregivers to support children with disabilities to reach their full potential
As a parent or a caregiver, we are always ready to move mountains to give our child the best care, education and opportunities to succeed.
For those raising a child with any form of disability, parenthood can seem much more challenging and demanding. You often fear for your child’s future – how will they thrive in a world where they may face barriers and stigma?
As a parent or a caregiver, there may be moments when you feel helpless. We understand.
Children with disabilities are capable of amazing things – and there are many things you can do to support your child to learn, develop and thrive to their fullest potential. Early childhood (the first 6 years) is a critical window to shape your child’s growth and development. During this time, your child develops cognitively, socially, emotionally and physically and begins learning the foundations to build an independent and self-reliant life.
We developed this article in conversation with our UNICEF experts to support you in meeting your child’s unique needs during these years and help them learn and thrive.
The power of playtime
Play is how children learn in their early years. Through play, children can learn to solve problems and try new things they may have never thought of doing.
Young children learn better when you incorporate singing, reading, dancing and playing games.
You can adapt play-based learning activities to your child’s specific needs. For example, if you have a child with visual impairment, you can help them learn about objects and shapes using different textures of objects. Or if for a child with visual and hearing impairment, you can introduce playtime activities that involve smelling and tasting wherein they can classify items based on them being salty, sweet or sour.
Here are some examples of play activities you can try:
Feely bag: For a child with visual impairment, take a bag and fill it with different objects. Then support your child to match similar objects together based on texture, weight, or smell.
Glue yarn, thread or string onto cards or paper to form different shapes. You can then encourage your child to feel the shapes to match cards with the same shapes.
Teaching everyday activities
Simple daily activities such as brushing your teeth, getting dressed and eating may feel challenging for your child. Helping to boost your child’s confidence to carry out these routine activities and chores can help them become more self-reliant.
Let your child know that it is okay to make mistakes and to never be afraid to ask questions or ask for help, however frustrated they may feel.
Take things slowly, one day at a time. Let your child try out different skills and activities. It is essential to focus first on completing a given activity, even if it is not done perfectly, as this will help build your child’s confidence.
Here are some ways you can work learning into everyday activities.
Getting dressed
- Put your child’s clothing away in a set place. This is especially crucial for children with visual impairments. This way they can easily find things they need.
- Choose clothing that is easy to put on and take off, such as clothing with zippers, Velcro or large buttons and clothes that have obvious fronts and backs. Collars, logos, fastenings and labels help in identifying the front and back of clothes.
- As your child gets older, help them identify different clothing they need for different occasions or activities (school uniforms, night suits, etc). Help them to understand the purpose or need to dress up differently for separate occasions. Before dressing up, ask questions like, “You are going to school. What should you wear?.”
- Many parents say teaching their child to tie their shoelaces is the toughest. If your child is interested to learn, you can use your hand to guide your child’s hand and together go over each step slowly. Be patient and they will catch on soon.
- There are many fun ways to help your child learn to wear shoes. For instance, you can paint or print each half of an animal on either shoe. Or colour code them. Your child can learn to match the correct shoe by putting the pictures together or matching the colours.
Bath time
- Water can be terrifying for some children. If your child is afraid of water, let them touch the water in a mug first and ask, “Is your hand touching the water?.” Then put some water on the child’s back while telling them what you are doing, “I am putting water on your back.”
- Know how your child likes their bath water temperatures. Another way to make bath time fun is by bringing along their favourite toys. Familiar faces and objects will help them feel comfortable.
- Bath time is also an excellent opportunity to help your child recognize and learn about body parts. Point to different body parts and name them while bathing and drying the child. This way should there be a need, your child will be able to describe where he or she feels discomfort.
Oral hygiene
- Introduce the idea of brushing teeth by encouraging your child to imitate you or others in the house brushing, rinsing, and spitting as a fun activity. Give your child ample time to learn the basics and praise their efforts.
- Brush together, play songs, and buy the toothpaste flavour your child loves. All these will keep the experience positive and encouraging.
- Once your child finishes brushing, you can step in and brush your child’s teeth as well, if needed, to ensure all the teeth are brushed properly. This support can be reduced gradually as your child learns to brush properly on their own.
- Gently hold your child’s neck as she/he bends to spit so that they do not swallow the toothpaste. Show your child the proper way to rinse their mouth in the sink.
- Showing oral hygiene videos, especially if there is one starring their favourite characters, can also motivate your child to brush correctly and consistently.
Eating
- Your child may prefer one food over another. That is okay. Many children are fussy eaters. Take time to understand what your child likes.
- At the same time, a nutritious and healthy diet is essential to make sure your child receives the nutrients they need to grow physically and mentally. Never force them to eat. Instead, reason with them, encourage them and even explore creative recipes to make the food appealing and delicious.
- While your child learns to eat more independently, cover the eating area and floor with a plastic sheet or newspaper.
- Start with feeding, and then slowly transition to guiding your child’s hand from their plate to their mouth. Gradually reduce your involvement once your child starts eating independently.
- Pick plates and bowls with a rim that your child can easily grasp. Likewise, use utensils that don’t tip over or break easily.
Transforming your home into a safe learning haven
Young children thrive when they are allowed opportunities to explore, play and develop in nurturing environments — and home is a crucial learning space!
There are different things you can do to provide an accessible, inclusive and supportive environment that helps your child learn and develop, and which responds to their learning needs.
For children with physical impairments
- Clear out areas and create open spaces within and outside the house so your child can move around safely or use mobility equipment.
- Smoothen and level flooring surfaces as much as possible so that there are few bumps or changes in surface levels.
- Provide a variety of seating options (floor, chair, side table, blanket, pillow) so they can sit easily and comfortably.
For children with hearing impairments
- Visually communicate with your child, using sign language and gestures. Face your child and seat them so that they can easily see you and the activities you carry out.
- Reduce background noises and distractions when playing with or teaching your child. For example, turn off the television, mobile phones and radio unless they are being used for learning purposes. This will make it much easier for them to focus and use any hearing they might have.
- Point to objects or pictures when reading or talking about a topic.
- Paste labels on objects throughout the house, to help your child learn the names of things.
For children with visual impairments
- Arrange furniture in a way that gives your child something to hold onto. Alternatively, you could place a rope along the wall to help your child while walking around the house.
- Help your child feel and handle objects of different textures, shapes, sizes and weights. For example, you can give jute, wool and cotton and let her/him feel and match similar objects.
- Place toys and learning materials in a space where your child can easily reach them and remove unnecessary objects from the play area.
- Reduce noise, when preparing for play and learning.
- If your child has low vision, use large pictures or contrasting colours to help them distinguish different areas, e.g., doors from walls. Avoid glare as much as possible by drawing curtains, pulling down window blinds or covering the windows with cloth.
For children with speech and language impairments
- When giving directions, use simple language, break down directions into single steps or small sentences, speaking slowly and clearly. Repeat directions or explanations.
- Frequently check for understanding by having your child repeat or explain what you said.
- When teaching vocabulary, show your child the related object either in front of them or using pictures and use eye contact and gestures.
- Be patient when your child is speaking; rushing them may result in frustration.
- Develop a procedure for your child to ask for help. For example, showing pictures or using signs or cues.
For children with difficulty in social skills and self-regulation
- Minimize distractions by switching off the radio, mobile phones and TV when not in use. Reduce overstimulation, such as avoiding cartoons with a lot of noise.
- Provide an interesting and appealing range of sensory materials for learning, like sand or water, as available in and around the home.
- If a child becomes overstimulated or fatigued, use soothing materials like herbs or mint to smell.
For children with cognitive or intellectual impairments
- Carry out activities that accommodate varied attention levels – some short activities and some longer – and allow your child to take breaks if concentrating for too long.
For more fun playtime activities, parenting tips and more, download ‘Supporting learning and well-being of young children with disabilities at home.’
Preparing for preschool and beyond
A positive and happy preschool experience will encourage your child to continue learning.
You know your child best. Sharing your insights about your child’s interests, their strengths and the challenges they face can help the teachers better support your child’s learning and development.
The insights about your child’s needs and behaviours are equally critical in making sure your child doesn’t feel overwhelmed in their new environment, surrounded by a sea of unknown faces.
- Get involved from the beginning and offer to collaborate with the teachers to support your child’s learning and development.
- Provide suggestions, but also be ready to listen to the experts, and work together towards meeting your child’s existing and emerging needs.
Every day after school, sit down with your child and talk about their day. Ask them what they liked, what they didn’t, what they learned and what fun activities they did. Express your excitement and see if they want to replicate any of these activities with you.
You can continually work with your child’s teacher to provide a supportive learning environment at home, while also reinforcing what they are learning at school, and making sure they develop a range of key foundational skills – social, emotional, physical, cognitive, and language skills.
Focusing on your child’s abilities and what they can do best, will help your child to feel supported and encouraged to reach their full potential.
