Mrs. Joakim's KES Resource Room

Parents of children with disabilities often ask themselves how they can best prepare their child for life.  The National Center for Children with Learning Disabilities recommends the following:

The Power of Resilience: Achieving Balance, Confidence, and Personal Strength in Your Life, 2004, Contemporary Books. Dr. Robert Brooks and Dr. Sam Goldstein.  Brooks' and Goldstein's book offers these ten guideposts to help children develop the strength and skills to cope successfully with the stresses and challenges they face.

• Be empathetic. See the world through your child's eyes.
• Communicate with respect. Don't interrupt, or put them down. Answer their questions.
• Be flexible. If we want kids to be flexible we must model that behavior.
• Give undivided attention. Children feel loved when we spend one on one time with them.
• Accept your children for who they are. When children feel appreciated for who they are, they'll feel more secure reaching out to others and learning how to solve problems.
• Give children a chance to contribute. When we enlist children in helping others, we communicate our faith in their ability to handle a variety of tasks and give them a sense of responsibility.
• Treat mistakes as learning experiences. Children whose parents over-react to mistakes tend to avoid taking risks and end up blaming others for their problems.
• Stress your children's strengths. Their sense of accomplishment and pride gives them the confidence to persevere the next time they face a challenge.
• Let your children solve problems and make decisions. Instead of always telling children what to do encourage them to come up with solutions to problems.
• Discipline to teach. Do not discipline in a way that intimidates or humiliates your child.

Enjoy your child!  I sent my oldest off to college this year and can only hope that I have done my best to prepare her just as I'm sure you are hoping to prepare your child for the world.

Susan