How to Improve Emotional and Social Development With Cerebral Palsy

If you are a parent of a child who suffers from cerebral palsy, you are probably concerned about his emotional and social development. No one has to tell you that your concerns are real. The biggest thing you need to know is how to address the issues. Thankfully, there are ways to tackle the emotional and social needs of your child so that his cerebral palsy doesn’t completely limit his life. It’s just a matter of being creative and facing your own fears.

Things You'll Need

• Therapist, Family Doctor

Show More

Instructions

• 1

  Place your child in social situations that will stimulate him socially and emotionally. Since you are the parent, you can limit the time and select the place. Good arenas are churches and family situations, in which people will be compassionate and loving despite your child’s conditions. This will allow him to become comfortable around other people and let you test his range of emotional and social skills.

• 2

  Join support groups for parents and children living with cerebral palsy. Support geared towards cerebral palsy will give your child a way to meet other kids living with this condition and interact with them emotionally and socially. It will also give you an opportunity to talk to parents and get ideas. Other parents with children who have cerebral palsy can tell you best how to expand your child’s world.

• 3

  Speak to your child’s doctor and ask for help. Your doctor is most familiar with your child’s emotional and social abilities. He will be able to help you find ways to expand them. Keep in mind that most doctors offer up the worst-case scenario so, if your doctor doesn’t sound very positive, don’t lose hope.

• 4

  Enlist the help of a therapist. You are probably already working with one. See if the therapist can further help you with the emotional and social development of your child. If it’s a physical therapist, he will probably direct you toward a different one that can focus on social skills, such as an occupational therapist. Either way, it is worth your effort in order to give your child the “best” life.

• 5

  Ask your child. Depending on the severity of your child’s cerebral palsy, it may limit his ability to communicate with you. However, if your child can communicate effectively with you, ask him what he’s interested in. His answer can help unlock the door to his social desires. If he wants to paint, sign him up for a class or get him a set of paints and invite over one of his friends.

• 6

  Don’t give up hope. Cerebral palsy doesn’t have to completely limit your child emotionally and socially. Work hard to give him the best life and develop him as a person.