If after getting divorced you are not the primary custodial parent of your child, you may be limited in the amount of time you are allotted for visitation. If such is the case, you may be worried about maintaining and strengthening your bond with your child, especially if he or she has special needs.
If your child’s condition includes difficulty communicating, you will have to put in some extra work during your time together. Helping the child learn to interact with others is vital to encouraging him or her develop relationships. And as a parent, there are some things you can do to aid in the process.
To encourage the child to verbally communicate you can create situations where he or she has to do so. Rather than anticipating the child’s needs or wants, provide options. For example, have the child verbally express whether spaghetti or hot dogs would be best for dinner.
You can also force the issue a bit by hiding a favorite toy, which leaves the child having to ask where it is. While the point of such exercises is to challenge the child to develop communication skills, it can also serve to develop your ability to communicate with the child.
But it will take time to develop the knack for helping and learning from your special needs child. As such, when you sit down to work on your parenting plan, you want to make sure that it contains custody terms that work in both your child’s and your best interests. And an attorney who is well versed in the challenges faced by parents of special needs children can help you craft a sensible plan.