-Keep in mind that not every family with a child with special needs is going to be comfortable leaving their child with strangers in a children's church setting or a special needs classroom, etc. Some will either feel the need to keep their child with them or will be more comfortable with that, especially at the beginning of their time of attendance.
- If a parent looks to be overwhelmed, let them know, during a greeting time, that there is a class that would be happy to have their son attend if they would like to utilize it, and offer to help them go and be registered if they would like to. If they would like to keep their child with them, encourage them that it is ok for them to do so. Sometimes, parents need someone to say "there is somewhere EVEN THOUGH your child has special needs. They won't presume that anything is available and don't want to burden a program that isn't ready, since that wouldn't be a good fit for their child or the volunteers.
- If a child with special needs is having a meltdown, instead of walking by and looking or ignoring that it's happening, you can always address the parent to ask if they need assistance. Sometimes there may be a simple fix but often it is more complicated. Knowing that they aren't being judged in the church for their child's special needs will answer a big question in many parents' minds
-If a child with special needs has difficulty when left in a children's program, texting the parent for suggestions is a great start, allowing the child to go to a place they can do something that might be more in line with their needs or desires is a possibility, but only after asking the parents unless it is an emergency. Parents often have ideas of what will take care of a specific situation with their child.
- If a parent looks to be overwhelmed, let them know, during a greeting time, that there is a class that would be happy to have their son attend if they would like to utilize it, and offer to help them go and be registered if they would like to. If they would like to keep their child with them, encourage them that it is ok for them to do so. Sometimes, parents need someone to say "there is somewhere EVEN THOUGH your child has special needs. They won't presume that anything is available and don't want to burden a program that isn't ready, since that wouldn't be a good fit for their child or the volunteers.
- If a child with special needs is having a meltdown, instead of walking by and looking or ignoring that it's happening, you can always address the parent to ask if they need assistance. Sometimes there may be a simple fix but often it is more complicated. Knowing that they aren't being judged in the church for their child's special needs will answer a big question in many parents' minds
-If a child with special needs has difficulty when left in a children's program, texting the parent for suggestions is a great start, allowing the child to go to a place they can do something that might be more in line with their needs or desires is a possibility, but only after asking the parents unless it is an emergency. Parents often have ideas of what will take care of a specific situation with their child.