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Parenting a child with additional needs

  1. Fun things to try with special needs kids (by special needs parents)

    • Texture book - Make a texture book using different textures – like wall paper, sand paper, bubble wrap, washing scourers, foam wash cloth etc 
    • Smell tour - Take a ‘Smell tour’ past places like the fishmongers, fish and chip shop, the body shop/Lush soap shop, pet shop, etc 
    • Borrow equipment - If you need equipment during the holidays, ask your school/college or day centre if you can borrow equipment from them, rather than hiring it. 
    • Disability friendly park equipment - Many public parks offer special integrated play equipment. There is a wheelchair-friendly roundabout, Called the Mobility Whirl, in over 200 British parks. To find out more, call: 01248...
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  2. How to get a good night’s sleep when you’re a special needs parent (by special needs parents)

     

    • Sleep tight - We had 12 years of Andrew waking during the night.  A health professional suggested we wrap a quilt cover over the bed and tuck it in tightly either side under the mattress, so his bedding doesn't come off, and he feels snug and tightly tucked in. It worked instantly, and he has slept better ever since. 
    • Back to front - Put footless all-in-one sleep suits on back to front to stop nappy escapologists/ diggers at night.
    • Night wanders - My daughter wanders during the night, and has set the burglar alarm off many times. We bought a 99p plastic door hook to go over the top of her door and put a mobile that jangles on it. It has never failed us. We use this in...
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  3. Tips for special needs parents (by special needs parents)

    • There is a difference 
      Don't listen to parents of other children who say, ‘Oh, all children are fussy/obsessional/stubborn/lose things etc.’ It will drive you mad.  Yes, all children do display these same characteristics but it's about the DEGREE to which they do it that makes the difference and is so hard to explain.
    • Make time for others
      Don’t be a ‘disabled family’.  It’s hard not to 'bore' all friends and family with your special needs life stories - try to make time for them as well sometimes.
    • It's OK to ask for help...
      Don’t be concerned about asking for help – to my surprise I have found that friends and family don’t offer to help but are very happy to help if asked (I don’t...
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  4. Disability

    This has been written with Contact A Family (CAF) specifically for parents of disabled children. Please click here to download the full version. With thanks to all the parents of disabled children who helped us develop this content. You may useful information on general tips and how to get support in other sections of this website. We know that children are more likely to be bullied when they are vulnerable in some way. Research suggests that disabled children are three times more likely than their peers to be bullied. A recent survey by Mencap discovered that eight out of ten children with a learning disability have been bullied. People’s assumptions and...

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  5. Childcare for children with disabilities

    Quality childcare is important for all families – and disabled children or those with special educational needs can benefit from being around their peers and people outside of their family network, as they often don’t have as many opportunities to interact with other children, and can start to feel isolated. Also, sometimes families just need a break from their caring duties to spend time with the rest of their family. The right childcare can help with all these needs. To find out what is available contact ChildcareLink on 0800 096 0296 or visit their website www.childcarelink.gov.uk

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