How can I deal with these mentally disabled kids…?
Posted: August 24th, 2011 | Author: admin | Filed under: Camping | Tags: deal, disabled, Kids, mentally, these | 11 Comments »I’m helping run a day camp and in my group, I have two mentally disabled girls (not sure what condition they have) and they cling to me, making it very hard to lead games and interact with the other girls because they “need” me to be sitting with them, etc. The others girls won’t interact because it is really hard to understand what they say (I can understand reasonably well). The actual leader is no help and doesn’t really interact or lead (which is how most of the leaders are). What can I do to keep the disabled girls happy but off of me, so I can interact with the others?
Try to have them join into the fun or find something a little different for them to do. If you can ask what they like to do, ask them and see if its possible for them to be able to do that.
Mostly, all you can do is try to get them to join in the fun. I know it is not easy. I use to babysit a mentally disabled boy but I promise there are ways to get them involved. You just need to figure out what makes them want to join in the fun. For the girls that find it hard to understand her, explain to them to just allow them to join in the fun or encourage them to help the disabled girls to have fun.
Hope everything works out.
As for the person who said smack em around. You NEVER smack a child just for being disabled.
Try to get them involved in activities that they like.
Start by stopping thinking of them as “the mentally disabled kids” and think of them as part of the group. They cling to you because they haven’t made friends with other kids in their group. So figure out who might make a good match for each of them and help them establish a friendship with them. Help the group as a whole understand that friendship means being friends with people who are unlike you – from a different city a different part of the country – a different race – a different religion – or a different ability level. OR help them to do something independently with each other. Give them positive reinforcement when they can handle doing something independently for 5 minutes – then 10 minutes and so on. (Start with 1 or 3 minutes if 5 is too long.)
there just kids like any other so get them to help
I like that when I with new people. My mom just push me away. I feel bad for a few minutes than I am happy. It is easy to stay with my mom. But I ok now without my mom. I learned to be ok. I’m not a baby. They not baby. Don’t make them babies.
Try to get the girls to buddy up with another child and then try giving the girls little different task to do. Or is it possible to get each of the girls mothers to volunteer to help out. Or you could have a heart to heart with the actual leader of your group and let her know that you could use some help and it would be much appericated if she possibly could. If she says no then report her to her surperior.
Pictures or signing could be a good way to help them communicate and get their point across.
you may not time for you and them to learn enough signing so I would stick or draw picture on a scarp book and a few words for them to point to.
If there a reward sytem reward them points or what ever for joining in.
Take them by the hand as well and go throught the game with them.
sounds to me that you are not ready to be a leader if you cant handle certain kids.
Find them asmall job to do, one that will give them some focus and then get this so called leader aside and rattle her until she either quits or hands the job over to you.
You really need to try to get the other girls to interact with the disabled girls…If you don’t at least try to do this,then the other girls will always have ill feeling towards people that have mental problems or physical disability…
Play some games that all can do…How old of kids are you talking about..That would make a different in what you could do…
Lets us know if things get better……
Fantastic answer Teddy.Totally agree.