Parenting Tips

Raising Special Kids is Changing to My Special Kids

Raising Special Kids site is coming down soon - by the end of the month, but don't worry, I am putting together a brand new site from Raising Special Kids - and because that brand is already in use by www.raisingspecialkids.org, I am changing my site to www.my-special-kids.com. I will have the index page up and will rewrite and post the pages as I go along, updating and adding new information and experiences. Stay tuned

Are there Secret Parenting Tips for Raising Special Needs Children?

Parenting Tips

Is there a secret to parenting special needs children? Where can you find some down-to-earth parenting tips for raising special kids?

OMG! Are you kidding? Is there a secret to parenting special needs children? I can barely make it through the day! How on earth am I supposed to parent my special needs child?

First, you need to know that you can do this. There is hope and you can make this work.

Great. How? Magic?

No, unfortunately there is no magic. Just as your child didn't come with an instruction manual either. (OK - mine didn't)

Raising special kids does not mean you can't have a happy and productive family life. It does not have to mean a life of misery and sacrifice. Or one of guilt replaced occasionally by one or more of the stages of grief (Not MY child...).

Your child is first of all just that - your child. Do not define your child (or yourself) by your child's disability. My daughter tells people "My name is Cosette and I have Autism - that means I am very imaginative".

So true.

Parenting tips for special needs children are a some practical ways you can use to keep life calmer and more enjoyable using positive parenting approaches.

Find the positive, find their strengths; nurture and encourage them. Find something positive everyday (EVERYDAY) about your child and yourself. This one little exercise can make all the difference. The more you do this, the easier it will be.

Find out as much as you can about your child's disability. Knowledge is strength. This will be the foundation to parenting special needs children.

Find and surround yourself with people who support you, your child, and your family. These are called "natural supports" and will be the structure that helps you raising special kids to get through each and every day.

Starting Your Journey Raising Special Kids

Find out as much information as you can on parenting, especially parenting special needs children. Trust me, the more that you can learn from others mistakes, the less trial and error you will have to experience for yourself.

Yes, I know. Each child is unique and different so that something that worked for one parent may not work for you - or you may have to modify the technique for your child. It is still much easier, not to mention faster, than trying to figure it all out on your own.

More Parenting Tips
You can never learn enough about raising kids, and parenting kids with special needs definitely increases that learning curve. The links below will help you to get started learning more about parenting special needs kids.

For some good ideas if your little ones are still infants, Heather has a great site on early childhood designed especially for mothers. Parenthood starts here!
Go to Ayling's Great Baby Company

Parenting kidsResources advice and activities to keep your kids busy and active.Homeschooling worksheets, games, puzzles, recipes, tips on gardening with kids, pets, scavenger hunts and more.
Go to www.parenting-our-kids.com

Patricia has a wonderful site about the raising creative kids that helps put a new perspective on parenting. There are some great ideas here that may be helpful for parents of children with autism spectrum disorder, attention disorders, bipolar and other diagnosis where the child has an abundance of creativity, but lacks the skills to communicate or demonstrate their strengths.
Go to www.the-creative-kid.com

Parenting kids, especially special needs kids, can really be a challenge, so the thing you need to help keep it all together is way to organize. That is just what Deborah is helping you do with her site:
Organize Our Family.com

A great site by a work at home mom (WAHM) to help educate, support and promote mom's who are working at home, or who want to be a WAHM. Check out this site today:
Mission Mommy for Work At Home Moms

Send us your parenting tips and experiences. What works for you? OK, what doesn't work? That is what this site is all about.
Questions? Comments? Ideas? Tell us what is on your mind and how you are dealing with raising special kids! Contact Us