When I began homeschooling a child with special needs, I thought that curriculum was the most critical tool in my toolbox as a homeschooling mom. I was wrong. Curriculum, books, games, and manipulatives are important for homeschooling any child, and especially a child with special needs. But, there are other things that are must-haves when you’re homeschooling a child with medical, learning, or neurodevelopmental challenges.
6 Essentials for Homeschooling with Special Needs
Patience
Homeschooling requires a great deal of patience anyway, but homeschooling a child with special needs requires an extra dose, and God is faithful to provide just enough for each day. There are days when you can’t believe your child can’t grasp the concept you’ve presented for the thousandth time, or days when your child’s inability to focus frustrates you, but patience will go a long way toward seeing you through the rough spots and helping you to get up the next day and try again.
A willing heart
Homeschooling a child with extra challenges is almost impossible if you’re doing it because you feel forced to. You need a willing heart to see you through the bad days and to help you remember that tomorrow can be better than today–and to recognize and appreciate the good things about today with gratitude and thanksgiving.
A purpose
Write down the reasons why you’ve chosen to homeschool your child with special needs. On the days when you’re trying to remember why you didn’t enroll your child in public school (and those days come around for almost everyone at one time or another), you’ll come back to this, take a deep breath, and make the decision to keep going.
Flexibility
Homeschooling a child with special needs means that no two days will be alike. A child with chronic health issues may have school days interrupted by illness or hospitalizations. A child with neurodevelopmental issues may need evaluations or therapy sessions. A child with learning challenges may need a school day broken up by frequent breaks and exercises to help with focus and concentration. And then tomorrow will be different. But that’s okay. Homeschooling allows you to go with the flow and do exactly what’s needed for that day.
A positive attitude
Being positive is critical when homeschooling a child with special needs. The ability to see the good in every situation, to be thankful for it, and to make plans to move forward instead of staying in the negativity of a particular moment, are necessary for homeschooling long-term, doing it well, and doing it with joy.
Support
Like any other homeschooling family, you’ll need support and lots of it. You can find support in a local homeschool support group (other families are homeschooling children with special needs too!), online through blogs, websites, and forums, through online friends who become actual friends when you discover you live closer than you thought, your church, and through organizations where your child receives therapy sessions, medical care, and other services.
Whether you’re just starting to homeschool a child with special needs, or you’ve been doing it for a while, double check your toolbox before starting the new school year to make sure these are in place. They will supplement your curriculum and make this year your best yet!
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