When children suffer from cerebral palsy, they have special needs. The therapists and doctors will do much of the treatment, but this does not mean the parent does not have a role in everything. Unfortunately, cerebral palsy will affect different people in different ways. This is why you have to know as much as possible about the condition and the things below will help you to take the right steps as you try to help your child.
The child is, most likely, going to see several health care providers. In the event that there was some sort of medical malpractice that led to the condition, a Washington DC cerebral palsy lawyer might also get involved. All of this is very stressful for the child and it is up to the parent to stay on top of literally everything regarding care.
Be A Therapist At Home
Therapy time can continue at home, with help from the physical therapists, doctors, and all health care professionals who help your child get better. It is not that difficult to learn how to properly help continue the therapy at home. You can easily help the child stretch, reduce pain, and build balance. Some parents even learn how to do massage since this helps with muscle spasms.
Help The Child Stay Active
Obviously, the child cannot be as good at sports as their peers. However, this does not mean you should not help them to move as much as possible. You can help them play, walk, and be as active as possible.
Parents can help children suffering from cerebral palsy by teaching them something new. Staying active strengthens muscles and can reduce spasms.
Help The Child Exercise Their Mind
The child can broaden their world a lot at home with the help of a parent. You can help them by doing things like:
- Going to the museum.
- Working on some art projects.
- Listening to different songs from different genres.
- Playing games together. You can even create your very own games so the child can be more comfortable.
The main thing here is to let the child become more active as new things are attempted. This helps with learning something new, increased self-esteem, and finding new solutions for new problems.
Don’t Forget About The Diet
Try to always serve healthy food. This helps to strengthen muscles and bones. There are many children suffering from cerebral palsy who have weaker bones. This is specifically the case with children who cannot walk. The doctor will prescribe some medicine. However, bone strength can be increased more with calcium-rich foods.
Stay Positive
There are many things the child cannot do and they will realize it. Also, you, as the parent, can get upset. Unfortunately, this can only lead to focusing on limits. Instead of doing this, the much better thing is to help the child to realize what they can actually do. Staying positive helps both you and the child. The child remains positive. If this does not happen, make sure to look for appropriate mental health care as soon as possible.