Special Victories Can Your Day

What is a victory? Is it making the football team? Is it winning the Spelling Bee?  Is it Getting a 100 on your Spelling Test?  These are the types of things parents and teachers think about when they have yet to begin their adventures with special needs children.  When dealing with these amazing kids, we have different victories.  Our victories happen when we least expect them and may seem trivial to others, but to us and those who understand these victories are just as amazing if not more so than making the football team or scoring a homerun.

   It is very important to celebrate the small victories with our kids.  At school, when my students master a new concept they have been working on for a while, we make a big deal out of it.  They get to pick special stickers, the class congratulates them, and they get to choose an adult from the school they want to show off their achievement to.  These achievements vary from student to student depending on their abilities:  learning to add single digit numbers using a number line or touch points, mastering 5 times tables, or maybe reading a short paragraph independently.  The important thing is to allow the children to be proud of their learning and achievement.

  Not all celebrations and victories are academic.  With special need children there are so many goals we as caregivers and teachers are working on daily. It can be exhausting.  Do not forget to see the progress.  A high five is a wonderful form of acknowledgement for your child because it is shared between both of you.  You have worked together so celebrate together.  When a child spontaneously says hello, comes out of the restroom with clothes straightened independently, uses a calming technique without a cue, or asks for help spontaneously give praise and a high five.  Take a moment to bask in the moment that the child has grown, and do a little victory dance!  If a tear falls, know you are not alone in knowing that these moments are hard earned and those who are members of the “in group” share in your pride.

  This is where communication between teachers and parents is so important.  It is important for the parent to share the victories at home with the teacher so the school can support them.  It is important for the teacher to share them with home so the parents can see the progress and share in the victories of their child.  We are so lucky to be in the age of email.  It only takes a moment to send a quick email and say,” I am so proud, she did such and such today.  We took her paper to Mr. Smith to share. She was so proud of her work.” What is great about this is you can also read it aloud to the student and it is another form of affirmation.  With all the correction and redoing our kids have to do, there is never too much praise and affirmation for a job well done!

  Take time to enjoy the small victories that happen.  They add up.  I always say,” baby steps, baby steps,” it may be slower, but if you keep moving you will get where you need to be. Do not forget to take pride in your child’s achievements no matter how small or great!

For more information you may want to start here:

Inspirational Message