How to Interact with Special Needs Children
It may be hard to figure out how to interact with someone that has special needs. All individuals are complex and children with special needs are just more complex in different ways than you and me. If you are a peer, teacher, parent, or have any part in a special needs child's life here are some tips on ways to interact with them and even some fun activities to do with them.
I have split up ways to interact with them into 3 categories, Fun Activities to do with them, How to interact when they are unhappy, and lastly when they are happy. All of these things might not necessarily work for everyone but I want to give you some ideas.
Activities to do with Special Needs Children
Ways to Interact with Special Needs Children When they are Unhappy
It can be hard to figure out what they want when they are unhappy. The biggest thing for us to do is stay patient. If you are inpatient it may end up making them even more upset. If they are upset, you want to calm them down. I have a few ways that might work calming them down. Also not all of these things will work for everybody. One easy thing to possibly calm them down is 5 2 5 breathing. 5 2 5 breathing is when you inhale for 5 seconds through your nose, hold it for 2 seconds, and then exhale for 5 seconds. Another thing that you could do is ground your senses. Grounding your senses is when you think about 5 things that you can see, 4 things that you can touch, 3 things that you can hear, 2 things that you can smell, and 1 thing that you can taste. This strategies work for the majority of the people but for others doesn't. Another great way to interact with children and students with special needs when they are mad is to try to be a good friend. Just like if your best friend is mad you would want to calm them down you would want to do the same for them. For some children fidget toys can help them focus and even calm them down when they are mad. It will help take their mind off of the problem. If you give them a fidget toy when they are unhappy, that might be a good option.
Ways to Interact with Special Needs Children When They are Happy
Children are really fun to hang out with when they are happy. It goes the same for special needs children. Interacting with special needs children and teens may be awkward at first because the child might be shy because they don't know you. Other children may want to know everything in the world about you, and want to meet you. If this is the case that they are outgoing and bubbly and want to talk to them. A good way to interact with them is ask questions about themselves. Another thing that you could do is treat them like a typical child. Lastly but most importantly Treat them the way you want to be treated.