If you are a parent of a child with a neurobehavioral disability, you know just how important every little milestone can be. When your child shows progress, this indicates that you as a family are taking a step in the right direction towards helping them live a life that is more in their control. You know that even the smallest wins did not come without countless challenges.
In this article, we will explore the best ways to celebrate neurobehavioral milestones with your child because every little success deserves a celebration.
Allow Your Child to Share Their Wins Independently
One of the best things you can do to help your child become an advocate for themselves is to allow them to share their successes and challenges themselves. For example, the next time you visit your child’s pediatrician or therapist, allow them to share the good news on their own. Instead of informing your child’s team on their behalf, allow them to speak up for themselves and celebrate the work that went into achieving this milestone.
Define How Your Child Was Able To Achieve This Success
The most important part of creating a productive treatment plan for your child is understanding what works and what does not. When your child is able to achieve a milestone, try to look for patterns and their behavior over the past few weeks that may have contributed to this win. The more you are able to do this, the easier it will be for your child to figure out what works so that they can achieve more success in the future. (1)
Don’t Give Up
If your child is struggling with her neurobehavioral disability, you know this can be an extremely long journey. Just because you have achieved success in their treatment does not mean it is time to push on the brakes. There’s no doubt that it takes a lot of energy, discipline, and trial and error to finally have a breakthrough. Be sure to celebrate your child’s accomplishment and then quickly transition to working towards their next goal so that you both do not let up on the momentum that you have.(2)
Celebrate Privately
Some children prefer to celebrate their neurobehavioral wins in private. This means that as their parent, it is your job to respect their privacy and keep the celebration in your family. Try to avoid posting on social media, talking to friends, or sharing the news with extended family, unless your child gives you permission to do so.
We hope this article helped you better understand how to appropriately celebrate your child’s neurobehavioral successes. For more helpful information and resources, contact Neurobehavioral Associates!
- Is It ADHD? – the CDC
- Neurodevelopmental and Neurobehavioral Disorders in Children – Translational Pediatrics
