Information for Parents and Carers of Children with - Dundee City ...

A CHILD I KNOW HAS ADDITIONAL NEEDS
HOW CAN I HELP?
A Guide for relatives and friends
When a child is diagnosed as having additional needs, the parents may face new emotional
and physical demands. In the beginning they have to learn to cope with the additional needs
of their child. Parents also have needs themselves which require understanding and support
from family and friends.
HOW CAN RELATIVES AND FRIENDS HELP?
Talking With The Family
Keeping an open relationship with friends and relatives is one of the most effective ways to
reduce the pressure on parents of a child with additional needs. The following suggestions
may help you to develop the type of communication that the family will appreciate.
Listen actively when you talk with the child’s parents (more than “hearing” what the
parents have said “think about what they tell you and what they may be trying to tell
you”)
Keep communication lines open. Be available to talk, to listen and to encourage the
child’s parents. For example, arrange a time for a coffee and a chat.
Be open and honest about your own feelings about the child when speaking to the
child’s parents, but do not offend them.
Ask questions. If you do not know what parents need from you, simply ask them.
Parents May:
Have feelings of being “trapped” because of the physical efforts and extra organisation
needed to go out (from simple family picnics to longer, planned holidays). Travelling for
all outings may require regular lifting of the child and of many pieces of equipment
(walking frame, pusher, wheelchair). There may be concerns about enough room in the
car, finding places with appropriate facilities, wheelchair access, toilets, difficulties
involved in lifting and positioning the child, accommodation, problems with eating out
and specially prepared foods. All of these factors make it difficult to plan long term and
makes the family less able to make a simple decision to go out.
Feel they have to put their own needs aside in order to cater for the extra needs of the
child and this can be stressful for the parents.
Information Pack – Children’s Services 7