How to Celebrate Your Child's Talents

Each and every child and person are individuals with unique talents, personality, and characteristics that make them special. As we journey through life, we learn along the way what we are good at and what we enjoy doing with the hopes of using our talents to not only find our purpose, but also to help people, too. As a parent of a child with a developmental disability, your focus can be so intent on correcting behaviors and helping them gain social skills in order to make a positive contribution to society that you can forget to celebrate their talents.

Inland Respite offers in-home respite care in Southern California. Our team of caring and compassionate caregivers who have been thoroughly screened love coming into your home and lending a helping hand. It's important as a caregiver to take a break and allow another kind soul to help with your developmentally disabled child or adult. From providing companion care to assisting with daily living, our team can help. Below, we'll offer up tips on how to celebrate your child's talents. Contact us for the best in-home caregiver program today!

TIPS TO HELP CELEBRATE YOUR CHILD'S TALENTS

Be in the Moment

It can be so easy as parents to be thinking of a thousand things at once that we miss the small moments that matter, from our kids telling us about their days at school to the latest antics the family pet has performed. It's super important to be in the moment with your child. This will also allow you to celebrate the little moments that add up to the bigger moments. When your child brings you a stick drawing, hang it up with pride. Soon, that stick drawing will turn into a person who may eventually turn into a burgeoning art career. Talent always starts out raw; be a cheerleader so that the raw will turn into refinement.

Offer Praise

Children need to hear from their parents how awesome and amazing they are on an almost daily basis. The world is harsh and cruel, and your children need to know that there is at least one person in the world who believes in them and loves them no matter what. When they are young, having a reward chart or sticker board offers them a chance to visually see how amazing they are. You can categorize these rewards into different areas, including chores, but also in areas you feel they have talent, such as practicing the piano. Visualization is a powerful tool not to be ignored.

Make It a Special Occasion

When your child reaches certain milestones, especially ones that they have been working on for a while, make it extra special. For example, if your child finally learns how to tie their shoes on their own, celebrate by perhaps going to a special place that your child loves to go, such as a zoo or the movie theater. Go out to eat, or even have a small party with your family. This will not only show your child how much you love them and care, but it will also offer huge encouragement and motivation for them to complete their next milestone or develop their talent that they are aiming for.

Offer Encouragement

Never underestimate the value of a kind and positive word to anyone, but especially to a child who loves you. Encouragement shows that you believe in your child and that you know they can do it. It helps them have a better self-esteem, gives them hope to keep on pushing for their goals, and can instill confidence in performing the task. Having faith in your child can help them have faith in themselves. Many children with developmental disabilities doubt themselves. When you show unwavering faith, your child will take the steps and the risks necessary to achieve their goals, become independent, and learn to read, and a whole host of other goals. It will also have the added benefit of instilling confidence and fortitude in your child for future tasks a well.

Be Proud

Finally, be proud of your child. While all parents are proud of their children deep down, it can be hard to show it if their child has undesirable behaviors. With developmentally disabled children, it can take a lot longer to accomplish tasks other kids are good at, such as riding a bicycle. Instead, our in-home respite care team recommends that you find the talents that your child does exceptionally well, such as putting up the dishes at home without being asked, feeding and watering the family pet, or playing a song on a musical instrument, and be proud of those things. Brag about them to others where your child can hear. Let your child know in many ways just how much they mean to you.

CHOOSE INLAND RESPITE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TODAY

Life is too short not to celebrate the little moments in life. Celebrations offer us a chance to be happy with others and for others, and these little moments are what lead to great things. Your child will grow up and be an amazing individual despite having a developmental disability. Your job is to help foster that growth with encouragement, pride, praise, and love.

Inland Respite is dedicated to providing the highest quality in-home respite care for children and adults with developmental disabilities. Our companion caregivers have years of experience in relieving parents and others of the stressful job of daily care for loved ones. We make every effort to match you with someone who will make a great match for your loved one. They help to maintain a safe home environment, assist with daily tasks and routines, and help out in many non-medical ways so that you can take a well-deserved break. Caring for loved ones around the clock can be draining. Let our companion caregivers give you the time you need to recharge, so you'll be ready to encourage your child's talents to the fullest. Contact us for respite care in Southern California today!