The Importance of Affection in Children with Disabilities

Therefore, in these cases, it’s especially important for parents to develop a healthy attachment with their children. In other words, families need to know how to cater to the special needs of their children, providing them with love, trust, and security.

The difficult situation of having a child with a disability

Disability, according to the World Health Organization, is a concept that encompasses:

• Deficiencies or alterations in the functioning of one’s body.
• Limitations when it comes to performing activities, actions, and everyday tasks. 
• Restrictions in one’s social participation.

• Cognitive. 
• Sensory.
• Motor.

When children with disabilities are born, their parents must go through a stage of mourning. This later allows them to accept the situation and face their worries, doubts, stress, difficulties, negative feeling, etc.

With that in mind, the experience of these families, especially at first, becomes complicated and complex. This is due to the fact that, besides having to take responsibility for their child’s basic needs, they must also learn to:

• Understand the behavior of their disabled child.
• Respond properly to the signs and demands of their child.

So, parents who have children with disabilities must possess the sensitivity required to adapt and establish a strongly bonded relationship.

In order to achieve this, Early Intervention programs are key. These services fulfill the function of intervening therapeutically in children who have, or may have, developmental delays. The programs work especially with children between the ages of 0 and 6.

At the same time, these services aim to tend to and cover the needs of these children’s family and environment. That way, children with disabilities can grow in a healthy environment that’s full of love.  

The importance of affection in children with disabilities

Establishing a caring and safe foundation is important for the development of any child. However, it’s especially important for children with disabilities. This is because, given their disabilities, they’re more vulnerable and need more help and attention throughout their lives.

In these cases, not receiving proper care and affection from their families can have negative repercussions in their development. It also negatively affects the way they adapt to different contexts.

In contrast, the effects are positive if one or both parents manage to establish a relationship of trust and respect. This relationship helps the child grow up harmoniously on a cognitive, emotional and social level .

In fact, it’s fundamental to provide little ones with the trust they need to overcome limitations, barriers, and problems that arise over the years. In this sense, strong attachment relationships can be a protective factor when it comes to the difficulties that children with disabilities face.

Therefore, it’s important to keep in mind that establishing this bond requires taking the time to know, understand, and accept children with disabilities.