The balancing act of keeping a busy family with special needs on track through school, therapy, doctors’ visits, and fun can feel like walking a tightrope during a hurricane. Parents are under exceptional pressure to maximize their children’s early years, which are thought to hold the greatest potential for rehabilitation and skill development.
Families of typical children are overwhelmed by today’s jam-packed schedules, but the addition of daily disability-specific demands especially requires parents and children to master the art of organization. By staying focused on priorities, tapping into resources for planning, and supporting each other with communication, families can successfully lead well-balanced lives.
There is no single solution to managing these hectic times, but providing a structured lifestyle can improve efficiency and relationships in the home. Children and parents benefit psychologically from predictability that allows everyone to play a role in accomplishing important household tasks. Knowing what to expect allows children to build confidence as they master routines.
More than 50 years of research confirms that even infants and preschoolers are healthier and exhibit better behavior when provided the security of routines. With decreased stress, family members of all ages can reap the benefits of a more relaxed home. The underlying message of setting and following a schedule as a unified group sends an important message: We are a family that works, learns, and plays together.
Implementing effective routines for children with disabilities requires parents to consider the 3 Cs: creativity, consistency, and commitment. Getting dressed, loading the car, and eating meals can take substantially more time for children with disabilities. Parents must integrate flexibility into family schedules to offer structure flavored with opportunities to practice independence. Traditional time allowances might not work for your family, but children can learn valuable benefits of teamwork and planning ahead to meet their goals. It’s never too late or too early to establish routines in the home, but many parents struggle with the challenge of consistency when calling order to the home.
Planning family schedules together and posting age-appropriate versions of routines allows everyone to present a united front against the unnerving prospect of chaos. Once structure has prevailed, allow at least a week before tweaking scheduling details. Children with disabilities and their parents can use their well-practiced skills of adaptation to convert readily available organization tools to meet more unique needs:
• Create a launching pad by the front door. Portable containers can corral medical equipment, backpacks, and medications for smooth transitions to and from the family vehicle.
• Inject fun and motivation for independence into activities of daily living by keeping kitchen timers near areas where children dress, put on prosthetics, or brush their teeth. Chart children individually to encourage improved efficiency and productivity.
A commitment to achieve structure in the home is the most essential key to unlocking the benefits of organization for the entire family. Too often parents are initially overwhelmed with the process of implementing a schedule, and routines fall by the wayside. With flexible diligence, parents of children with disabilities can lead families through the hectic hurricane of expectations to the realization of a fulfilling and well-balanced life.
Download and personalize this sample schedule to meet the unique needs of your family.
Related Web Resources:Top 10 Routine Builders5 Easy Steps to a Daily Family ScheduleCozi: A free online-shared calendar, color-coded for each family member
Photo by: Anotonio Omar Pinate
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