Children with special needs is a term used for children who require assistance for their disabilities. These disabilities can be medical, mental or psychological. In this article, children with disabilities are my main focus and how dads can take care of them. Disabilities could range from autism, dyslexia, cerebral palsy, blindness, deafness, Down syndrome, dyscalculia, dyspraxia, cystic fibrosis, dysgraphia and ADHD.

Being a dad is something to look forward to but having a child or children with special needs can be overwhelming. Additionally, taking care of children is a tasking job, and having to include a child or children with special needs to that lot is more demanding. Whether you are the biological father, foster father or grandfather of the child with special needs, you need to brace yourself for several inconveniences. Remember that these children are largely dependent on you because of their disabilities, and so, you must be ready to give them additional support so that they don’t experience lack of love and care which can negatively impact their already difficult condition. This said, I will be sharing five helpful tips you can adopt in taking care of your child with special needs.

1. All children need love

The ground rule for you as a father is to know that children generally whether with disabilities or not, need love. Children with disabilities don’t have a say in how they are. They could have chosen to come out from their mother’s wombs as normal children if they have that power. Hence, don’t nurse any bitterness against them.

2. Acceptance

No father prays to father a child with special needs. Every father prays for healthy babies. However, when nature sees it otherwise, you need to embrace your new status as a father with a child with a disability and focus on making the best of his or her life.

3. Focus on his abilities

You could be tempted to focus primarily on your child’s disabilities rather than on his abilities. Most times, children with disabilities have special skills despite their medical, mental or psychological challenges. I once watched a documentary of a very talented American teenage boy suffering from autism. This boy could draw very complex and beautiful drawings on a sand beach before the waves washed them off. His mother noticed this gift quite early, and she encouraged him by taking him to the beach. So, when you notice that your child is drawn to colors or to paintings or to any other thing, that is the time to help them reach their peak in that area.

4. Play with him

Just like I noted earlier, children generally need love. If there is any child who needs more care and attention, it is a child with special needs. You can tickle him, laugh with him, sing to him, make him laugh or make toys available for him. Make him feel like an important member of the family. Doing this will make him respond in kind and if it is something he doesn’t enjoy, he will make it known whether with a sad expression, a frown or a cry of discontent especially if he belongs to the category of those lacking verbal communication ability.

5. Talk with him

Avoid the temptation of sidelining him as an odd member of the family. Talking with him can make him feel like a normal child. If you are writing on a paper or washing the plates or even doing laundry, you can tell him what you are doing so that he can cognitively differentiate between one action from the other.

Conclusion

Having a child with special needs requires special dedication and attention from you. Showing care, talking to them, embracing the situation are some of the things required of you as a father. Failing in this area means you are guilty of fatherhood.

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