Having a child with special needs has an impact on the whole family. Sisters and brothers of the child with special needs share in the support of their sibling and can wonder if they are as “important”. Here are three steps you can take to help children handle the challenges that come with having a sibling with special needs. 1. Talk openly about the situation It’s essential for parents to clearly explain what is going on to siblings and answer any questions they may have. “Some siblings may not fully understand what is happening with their brother or sister. They may feel guilty about it, that they somehow caused it. Or they may feel like they aren’t as important as their brother or sister
As families plan for summer fun and think ahead to the next school year, a common thread of consideration is behavior. Whether at home or at school, if a child’s behavior interferes with his/her availability to learn, the impact of that behavior affects everything planned or hoped to accomplish. As parents, we strive to establish behavioral expectations that guide our children toward the achievement of productive lives. As teachers, student behavior determines the climate and culture of the learning environment for ALL students. As caring adults, when behavior is seen as something that must be managed or controlled, we’ve missed valuable insights in how our children are functioning. To su
All educational experiences build foundational knowledge setting the stage for the future, but when learning is planned, future goals can be realized because they have been “purposely” built. These five tips can guide teachers and parents in how to prepare students for the future that lies ahead of them: 1. Teach the skills that support collaboration Being collaborative involves interpersonal skill development. Today’s students require new skills in order to be ready to collaborate with others. Whatever they do, we can expect their work to include finding creative solutions to emerging challenges. 2. Instruct students on the “process” of interpreting information New information is being
