Daily maintenance Tips for Mentally Disabled Children

Most children with mental disabilities can eventually get to the point of where they can take care of themselves. But this isn't the case when the child is younger. You may have to play a more hands-on role in providing support than if the child had a normal intelligence. You should try and make your daily tasks as routine and manageable as possible. Here are a few suggestions that can help you out.

Meals

Anyone who has raised an mentally challenged child knows that meal times can be tough. The key is to not let your child monopolize their meal time. It is important to keep stressing to your child and yourself that you are a family and that the child is a part of the family, not the center of the family.

For most mentally disabled children, they are slow to develop the skills that accompany independent feeding. If this is the case, you will have to spend more time assisting your child eating than normal. While doing this, your goals should be to have your child take part in the process and become independent in doing so as soon as possible. If you don't want your child to have bad eating habits, like eating with their fingers out in public, then don't allow them to do it at home. Have them master the skill of using eating utensils as soon as possible.

As you will see repeated time and time again, you can speed the learning process by rewarding your child every time they do their task right. Give them an abundance of praise and it will put them in the right direction.

Potty Training

More than likely, it will take longer to toilet train your child than a normal child. There is no set time for this. It really depends on the level of the child's mental disability and the understanding of certain sensations within their body.

As with regular potty training, you want to introduce your child to what a potty is and what it is used for. You can begin training as early as 2 years old and will follow the same format that you would for any child. Get your child comfortable sitting on the potty chair and have them sit on the chair at specific times of the day (waking up, right after a meal, before she goes to bed).

Never force or scold your child into toilet training. It must be understood that their learning and identifying qualities may not be developed as much as a normal child so a great level of patience will be needed in all faces of rearing.

Bath Time

Mostly all children enjoy bath time, and unless your child is deftly afraid of water, yours should be no different. One thing you can do to make bath time more enjoyable for your child is to have them assist in the preparation of the bath. Gathering the bubble bath, turning the water on, putting a soap in a "special" place can all assist in creating a fun environment for your child bathing.

Always gradually let your child get use to the water in the tub. Never force them in. It may take only one bad experience for them not to like the bath tub, so show caution. Ease them in and out of the tub and make the tub be a gentle place for them.

Review these tips to help you in your daily maintenance of any child that has mental disabilities.