Saturday, March 9, 2013

Special Education Saturday - Lesson 2 from Temple Grandin

Another thing emphasized by Temple Grandin in a recent talk was consistency between home and school rules. Keeping similar rules in both locations benefits children with special needs in many ways, including:
  • It's comforting to have consistent behavioral expectations. There are fewer surprises for adults and children this way. 
  • School rules won't seem unfamiliar and scary if they're similar to home rules. Families with parents who regularly curse at each other have children who are stunned to discover they can't curse at their teachers. 
  • Home rules that are similar to school rules, such as how to speak to each other, teach career skills. 
There are also a few drawbacks, like:
  • Everything can't be the same. For example, you dress in a variety of ways at home, and the school dress code is more rigid. 
  • Situations at home and in the school will not be the same, so some rules will be unique to each place. 
How do we do this?
  • As you make rules for your family, make them consistent with behavioral expectations for your community (e.g. table manners). 
  • Teach your children that family expectations for behavior will be enforced even if the inappropriate actions took place outside of the home. 
  • Reinforce the golden rule and encourage your children to treat others as they would like to be treated. 
  • Try to remember that the standards you set are preparing your child for future relationships, school success, and career planning. Learning how to live harmoniously with others is crucial for a happy life. 
How have you taught rules at home and enforced school expectations at home? 

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