Parents and Family at Home

Children with developmental delays (DD) and intellectual disability (ID) will benefit from a supportive environment at home that helps them learn and develop. While therapies and interventions will be important for your child’s development, there are many ways you can support your child’s needs and development from home.

BUILDING A POSITIVE HOME ENVIRONMENT
EXAMPLES OF ACTIVITIES FOR PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS TO LEAD AT HOME
CONNECTING WITH OUTSIDE RESOURCES

BUILDING A POSITIVE HOME ENVIRONMENT

At home, you can create an environment that encourages creativity and the exploration of new skills. Starting with your child’s preferred activities and gradually expanding to other tasks as well as gradually increasing the task difficulty will maintain the child’s interest and build confidence, support positive self-esteem, and improve motivation to learn.

Consider the following tips to help build a positive, supportive environment at home:

Be patient

Allow your child to have additional time when solving problems or being presented with a difficult task
Break down difficult tasks into smaller steps
Be aware of your child’s needs, but also challenge them to grow
Modify expectations according to your child's individual skills and support progress, big or small
Increase expectations as your child masters one skill to the next

Be engaged in conversations and activities with your child

Talk and listen to your child
Ask for your child's thoughts and wait for the response
Teach instead of show
Follow the child’s lead when they initiate play with you

Create a positive environment

Focus on your child's strengths and interests, while supporting his or her weaknesses
Use unexpected events as a learning opportunity to teach your child new skills
Prioritize positive feedback when shaping your child’s development and behavior

EXAMPLES OF ACTIVITIES FOR PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS TO LEAD AT HOME

Here are some beneficial activities you can practice with your child at home:

Talk, read, sing songs and engage in interactive and imaginative play for language development
Encourage your child to draw, copy shapes, write and build with blocks, Legos or puzzles to improve hand function
Walk, run, jump, climb on playground equipment, dance, swim, do gymnastics, martial arts, or any sport to improve strength of large muscles of the body and movement coordination
Have interactive playdates with other children or siblings to teach your child to share their toys, help others, show compassion, and improve social skills
Teach your child eating and dressing skills, self-hygiene (brushing teeth, washing hands, and taking shower), and developmentally appropriate household tasks (cleaning toys, making the bed, setting the table, feeding the pet) for independence skills

Addressing sensory processing issues may reduce behavioral difficulties and anxiety and improve attention, learning, and social engagement. Here are some suggested interventions:

Wear noise cancelling headphones or avoid noisy environments may help children sensitive to noises
Children with short attention spans may benefit from a break during homework to allow them to jump or move around
Wear a weighted vest or providing a massage may calm a child who is anxious

Some examples of ways to help you improve your child learning new skills:

Teaching one skill at a time
Engaging the whole family in certain activities that will help the child learn
Rewarding and acknowledging the child’s progress
Employing different senses in the teaching approach such as hearing, seeing, and feeling.
Modelling desired behavior for your child

CONNECTING WITH OUTSIDE RESOURCES

Providing care for a loved one with DD/ID can sometimes be overwhelming. Many resources are available within your local school district, early intervention services, social work services, primary care physician, or local department of mental health.

There are several resources which may be helpful to you:

Early Intervention Programs

Organizations that coordinate services and support for those with developmental disabilities and provide case management (more information from CDC)

Respite Care

Temporary care options that give primary care providers a break
Options include in-home, out-of-home, adult day care, emergency respite, volunteer companion program
Locate your state's Respite providers and programs

Home-based Services

Medicaid mandates home health services which improve health conditions under the term “medical necessity”
Speak with physician, social worker, or patient advocates to identify and pay for essential health benefits

Patient Advocates

An individual or organization who helps patients navigate health systems, including insurance, appointments, and communication with medical professionals
Can be provided by insurance companies, hospitals, or independent organizations like Patient Advocate Foundation
For information about patient advocates, you can check with the local parent support group and the child’s primary care physician

Parent Mentors

Match with parents who have children with disability
Help new parents navigate support systems and resources for their child
For information about parent mentors, you can check with the local parent support group and the child’s primary care physician

Parent Training

Improve parents’ ability to teach and engage with their children
Technical Assistance Alliance for Parent Centers is a hub for parent technical assistance centers, which are funded under IDEA