Top 3 Considerations When Choosing a Caregiver Program for My Child

Parents with children who have special needs often worry when it comes time to choose a caregiver program for their precious child. There are some factors that parents should consider during this important process. It is smart to consider your child's opinion at the appropriate times, and parents should also consider a childcare program's reviews by other parents. The bottom line all parents should be on the lookout for involves whether the childcare program seems able to meet each child's unique needs. Always ask yourself whether the children being cared for in any childcare program look happy, safe and engaged in activities suited for their age and skill level throughout their day spent at the program.

Consider Your Child’s Opinion

When considering a new caregiver program for your special need’s child, try to involve your child in some of the decisions if possible. It is important for children living with disabilities to feel that their lives and opinions matter. Change can be a scary time for any child, and kids with disabilities often have major difficulties in dealing with even small changes in their everyday routines. That said, there are times when your child's opinion regarding a new caregiver program should not be your only consideration. All kids need parents who can balance what the child wants with what the child needs on an everyday basis. A child who would rather play instead of putting their efforts into schoolwork might have a bad opinion of the new classroom, teacher or educational format.

Parents can balance what their child desires with more important needs decisions by giving in on less important areas. Perhaps going to an all-inclusive playground as an incentive for doing school lessons would be a beneficial decision parent and child can all agree on. Parents should also be aware of their child's tendency to develop close emotional bonds with their caregivers throughout their developmental years. A disabled teen-aged boy who has a crush on their pretty female teacher could be a distraction rather than an incentive when it comes to schoolwork lessons. Likewise, a caregiver who has a more motherly or fatherly style of dealing with your child might not be the best candidate to teach your growing child to be self-reliant as they become older.

Reviews From Other Parents

Another important component of choosing the right caregiver program for your disabled child involves seeking out reviews from other parents who are also raising disabled children. This can be a valuable indicator of how a specific caregiver program operates and functions on a longer-term basis. Many caregiver programs have websites that post parent and child reviews using a simple picture format like stars to indicate certain category levels. Reviews with pictures inform customers about the way the business is run. Many disabled children can still understand simpler review models like the number of stars or various emotional faces used to score the program's different components.

Having a method of communication that your child can readily understand can help to promote your child's own sense of empowerment and decision-making skills. A child who lacks the ability to hold a meaningful conversation can still be involved by using pictures and symbols as a communication method that all can feel comfortable participating in. When attempting to understand your child's unique needs, it is helpful to remember to ask about the underlying emotions that the child may be experiencing to ensure that your child is being fully heard and more importantly understood.

Are the Children Happy & Engaged in Activities?

Before deciding on a certain caregiver program for your disabled kid, be sure to evaluate whether the caregiver's environment can meet your child's personal physical activity and play needs that all children have regardless of their disabilities. A good cue that a learning environment may be beneficial for your child is an inclusive attitude among the staff or caregiver that includes every child in whatever activity is going on. Parents of disabled children often feel anxious regarding childhood playground settings and regular outdoor physical activities common with younger children. Watch to see if the children are all happy and engaged positively in activities throughout the day. This is often the best indicator of determining if a program will provide your child with some of the normal fun and outdoor pursuits that all children tend to enjoy. Simply being outside in a natural setting can be healing for every child regardless of their abilities. There are many ways to adapt typical childcare fun and adventures to ensure that a disabled child can join in the activities and simply enjoy being a child. In fact, many childcare and educational programs are welcoming of children who have disabilities, because they recognize the many positive benefits that this kind of normal interaction can give the entire group.

Alternatively, parents should watch for some common indicators that a disabled child might not fit into a caregiver and/or learning environment. Ask staff members and other parents how they ensure that every child is challenged and encouraged to participate in some of the traditional childhood pleasures like getting outside for recess or taking part in a childhood group game like dodgeball or hide and seek. If there are kids sadly watching from the sidelines, this could indicate that the program might not be best suited for a child with a physical, emotional or learning disability. However, many people in childcare and education jobs might be willing to adapt some of their program's activities to be inclusive for kids with special needs. Parents should remember that a caregiver with a positive mindset and a willingness to change can truly enhance the experiences of every child in the group whether disabled or not.

When choosing an appropriate caregiver program for your disabled child, parents should consider several important factors before making that final decision. Consider your child's opinion without being overly protective. Get other parent reviews and ensure that a program is inclusive and will meet your child's disability and normal childcare needs.

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