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Riverside County Family Child Care Association>
Child Care for Children with Special Needs
June 19, 2007
Child Care for Children with Special Needs
It's all about inclusion...
Many children, including those with disabilities and
special needs, spend some time in a child care environment.
Inclusive child care means bringing all children together
regardless of ability or disability instead of keeping them
apart.
FOR FAMILIES
What is Inclusive Child Care?
An inclusive child care program is dedicated to giving the
best early care and education possible to ALL children by
making sure every child, including children with special
needs, feels welcome and important. Inclusion teaches
children and adults some great life lessons in accepting
others and ourselves as unique individuals with unique
strengths and needs.
How Do I Find a Child Care Program That Meets My Child's
Needs?
You can call CCCC at (661) 861-5200 or (877) 861-5200(Toll
free) for help finding a suitable program. You can also
search on your own, just as you would for any type of child
care program:
Ask about the provider's training, education and
experience.
Observe the caregiver interact with the children in the
program. Does she or he seem warm and friendly, patient and
involved?
Look at the children in the program. Do they seem happy and
involved?
Ask to see a current license. Find out if the staff have
been screened for child abuse/neglect.
Ask about the number of caregivers in the program. Are
there enough adults to care for the number and ages of the
children?
Ask about the program. Is a schedule posted? Is there time
for children to work in small groups, play alone and rest?
Visit more than one program. Look at the facility. Is it
clean, well lighted and cheerful? Are exits unblocked and
are there fire and smoke detectors?
Click here for more information on choosing quality child
care for a child with special needs.
How Do I Talk with My Own or Potential Providers?
Talk clearly about your child's strengths and unique
qualities.
Tell the child care provider about your child, his or her
routine, likes, dislikes, what makes him or her happy or
sad.
Be honest about what your child needs, including any
special assistance or equipment.
Be willing to help your provider solve problems that might
come up.
Remember that you know your child better than anyone else.
Stand up for your child's rights and trust your knowledge
and your ability to share what you have learned about your
child.
How Will Other Children React to a Child with Special
Needs?
Young children are very accepting. When they watch adults
who are warm and accepting they will display warmth and
acceptance. Rejection of children with special needs is
unusual. In fact, one of the benefits of inclusive child
care is increased sensitivity toward individual
differences.
FOR CHILD CARE PROVIDERS
What Kinds of Special Needs Might I Encounter?
Children with special needs include children of all
abilities, cultures, races, and backgrounds. Like all
children, they have individual interests, likes, and
dislikes. Some children with special needs have physical
disabilities, speech or other developmental delays, or
difficulty interacting with other children or adults.
Special needs may be mild to moderate to severe in range.
Whatever the range of need, children with disabilities are
more like other children than they are different--as they
play, make friends, feel pleasure or sadness, and
nurturing.
The families need the same things all families need:
respect, support and reassurance. Those with very young
children may still be learning how to best care for their
child. You can be a major source of support and information
for them.
Do Providers Need Special Skills or Equipment to Accept
Children with Special Needs into Their Programs?
Caring for children with special needs requires the same
basic skills (patience, empathy, and acceptance of each
child as an individual) that are need to care for any
child. It means providing a developmentally appropriate
environment for this child as well as all the children in
the program. Some children with special needs use
specialized equipment (wheelchairs, walkers, communication
devices, hearing aids, etc.), but many do not. Most toys
and activities are appropriate or can be easily adapted if
necessary. Look to the child's family for information and
guidance on the use of any special equipment.
How Do I Get Started?
When the family of a child with special needs approaches
you, listen carefully. The parents or guardian are usually
the best source of information on the needs and care of
their child. Some questions you may wish to ask when you
meet the family are:
Tell me about your child.
What is his or her daily routine?
What toys and activities does your child enjoy?
What makes your child happy or sad? How does he or she
convey those feelings? How is he or she best comforted?
What are your child's greatest strengths? What are his or
her greatest challenges?
Are there any special things we will need to do as we get
acquainted?
Does your child require special equipment, medication, or
therapy that I should know about?
CCCC has services for providers caring for children with
special needs including:
Toys and equipment for children with Special Needs
Inclusion Training Project, a special training for child
care providers caring for children with special needs
CARING FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS: RESOURCES FOR
INCLUSION BY SPECIAL NEED (NNCC)
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