Homeschooling a child with special needs can be challenging. One reality is that you are often faced with behavior issues that can put your entire day, week, month, year out of kilter. Finding one or two Special Education Homeschool Resources can help you in multiple ways.
- You, the parent, will know that you are not alone in dealing with outbursts, shut-downs and tantrums.
- You might find a parent you can really relate to and follow their lead on what works and what does not work.
- Reading about and talking to others who have led their child down this path will give you hope that you, too, can do this.
1. Know Your Child’s “Triggers;”
For many kids certain situations will send them into “panic” mode. Your job is to gradually identify those triggers and find ways to diffuse situations. It takes a lot of patience and time until you find what works for each child. Once you’ve identified the “triggers” you can work on “talking them down” ahead of any situation, and helping your child find a solution that will allow them to function without a meltdown.
2. Evaluate Your Child’s Diet;
For many kids, behavioral issues are directly tied to their diet. Eliminating wheat, dairy, soy and/or sugar from your child’s diet might reveal dramatic personality changes. Even if you have had your child tested for allergies, eliminating these four ingredients for a few weeks and slowly reintroducing them one at a time might help you find out if diet is part of the problem. If you know your child has ADHD or even if you just suspect it, put the whole family on the Feingold diet for a month. Some people notice an immediate change, others remain “iffy” at the end of the month. As you gradually add foods back into your child’s diet, keep notes regarding their behavior, sleep habits, skin and general disposition. Sometimes it really IS as simple as eliminating one food from your child’s diet.
3. Give An Honest Look At Your Child And Their Schooling Situation;
If you are on the fence about homeschooling your child, give Adrienne’s blog a good read. Like you, she never planned to homeschool. She is open and honest about bringing her son home and having to convince him that he COULD learn, that he WAS NOT a BAD kid and that he had exceptional skills and talents. Unfortunately, many parents wait until things get desperate before opting to homeschool.
4. Make Some Imaginary Friends;
The internet is an amazing way to connect with other families going through similar things. Practice searches, test different forums – you will find a match or at least a close match! If you are parenting a child with neuro-behavioral issues, take a look at this relatively new Facebook group. All of the parents here KNOW your struggles. There is a nice representation of ages (kids and parents). Read and learn from those who have gone before.
5. You Are Only One Person;
You cannot be everywhere at once. You have a family, a homeschool and a life. Buzzing around from homeschool convention to homeschool convention is not a possibility. But, this website, one of the best special education homeschool resources to date, is ready when you have the time. Listen to lectures from some of the best homeschooling authorities and get answers to your foremost questions. The great part of this website (aside from it being free) is the chance to rewind and/or revisit as you need.
6. Look At Yourself;
If behavior is an issue, start with a good look at yourself. What is your initial reaction when your child is acting up? Sometimes it is just as simple as changing your reaction. Sometimes it’s not, but start with the easy and work up. Try changing things up – both your approach and reactions. It’s hard to make changes but the results can be worth it.
7. Get The Most Bang For Your Buck;
If you are homeschooling a child with special needs, time is your most precious commodity. Fortunately, the Home Education Council of America gets it. Each year they host a Homeschooling Special Needs Conference. The 2014 conference was held in December. If you missed it, good news, with membership to HECOA you can watch all the talks held at that year’s convention. You even have the option to watch on your phone or your computer. The Diet and Behavior discussions might be especially helpful.
8. Sometimes You Just Needs Someone To Talk You Down;
If behavior is constant problem, look into some of the special education homeschool resources offered in this article. Many of them are common sense suggestions but, let’s face it some days common sense is not an over-stressed homeschooling parent’s strongest trait. Take a look at the rest of the site, there are several Homeschool Resources available to help many aspects of your daily life!
9. Add Some New Special Education Homeschool Resources To Your Arsenal;
Gina at the Friendship Circle has some great suggestions if you are struggling in your homeschool.
Special Education Tutoring has exploded in popularity over the past decade. Many homeschool parents of children with special needs, find it helpful to have a special education tutor work with their child on a regular basis. One-on-one special education tutoring no longer requires trips to public places, or even allowing a stranger into your home. Online options are available and have proven to be even more successful than traditional methods with today’s technologically advanced youth.
With a quick google search for Special Education Resources, millions of articles, blogs and websites instantly appear. When first starting out as a homeschool parent to a child with special needs, it’s helpful to set aside time everyday to peruse the internet for helpful gold!
10. Go International;
Virtually cross the pond and meet some new friends and possible mentors at Scope. At Scope, you’ll have a chance to interact with other parents of children with special needs, as well as a chance to contact professional opinions.
Homeschooling your child with special needs is often the best, sometimes the only, choice. However, it can be taxing and leave you feeling very alone. Use these special education homeschool resources to alleviate some of that aloneness. Often just reading about someone in a situation similar to yours can make you feel better. Follow through on links in the links. Bookmark anything you find useful for now or that might be useful in the future. Join in and speak up. Leave a question or comment on a blog. Ask a question on a forum. You’ll be surprised at how many kind, helpful people are out there with support and advice.