Many people can help do these activities

This content is from
pages 24 to 26 of Helping Children Who Are Deaf

Though children need the care and love of both their parents, parents do not have to be a child's only teachers. Let friends, neighbors, and other family members help. Make sure a deaf child plays with other children. Get to know deaf people who use the local sign language. It is especially important for the child who is deaf or cannot hear well to have many people doing activities with him because:

it will help him learn to communicate with many people including other deaf people.
he will learn to get along with different people.
other people will learn how to interact with deaf people.

I don't have much time to help Mira since my husband had to go away to work. I have to take care of our fields, as well as the house and the children.

My neighbor's eldest daughter is helping our
son learn to speak every afternoon. Maybe she could teach Mira at the same time.

That's a good
idea! We are also very busy, but we showed my mother-in-law ways to help our daughter.

Parents who have children who are deaf or do not hear well can work together to solve problems.

Some people, sometimes even close family members, may not want to spend time with deaf children. Other people, even if they want to help, do not know how. You can help them learn about deafness and how being deaf makes it more difficult for someone to learn a language. They may become more comfortable if they know what to do.

Share what you have learned about hearing problems, the activities you and your child are working on, and the reasons for doing these activities.

Talk with your family

Everyone in a family plays a role in a child's life. Each person caring for a child, especially one with a disability, may have different ideas about the best way to raise and help that child. It is important for all those who care for the

Let me watch
Thuy for the weekend so
you can get some rest.

child to find time to talk together and understand each others' ideas. And if one of you is feeling tired or discouraged, the others may be able to help.

Ask others for help

When I was little, my parents used to take me to the market with them.

Mariama is explaining how her parents would bring her to the market...

Parents can ask other community members and neighbors to help care for the deaf child.

Meet the deaf people in your community. Deaf adults remember what it felt like to be deaf children. They will probably be happy to help your family and your child.

Hearing people who use sign language can help you communicate with deaf adults if you do not know sign language.

Talk to a health worker or school teacher, or someone that teaches children who are deaf. This is especially helpful if your child does not seem to be learning new skills after several months.

I will write to Mrs. Patel. She is a deaf teacher in the city.

Children can help with these activities

Older children are often natural teachers, and enjoy doing activities with younger children.

Children can be very helpful. Usually brothers, sisters, and other friends of a deaf child learn sign language very quickly. As much as possible, let children take part in these activities.

Younger children can join the activities and older children can be teachers if you show them what to do. They can also teach a deaf child other skills and include him in their play. This will help him make friends and learn how to behave with others. This will also help the children who can hear learn about deafness and how to communicate with deaf children.

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This page was updated:04 Sep 2024

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