Relationship Rescue: Expressing Feelings Appropriately

Question: “How do I assist my special needs teen/adult to express their feelings appropriately”?

Advice: Not an easy answer to say the least. I have found that, typically, the parent/adult modeling appropriate behaviors helps significantly.

Providing facial expression charts can help. They can be purchased in any educational store for kids. In addition, communicating what is correct and incorrect is also key. I can remember my children and I attending church one Sunday and my daughter was unable to contain her laughter and smirking. I didn’t admonish her then, but, afterwards, I discussed with her that if something was that funny that she needed to excuse herself and go to the restroom. Important cues between you and your child are essential. My son knows that when mom says “put it away” that means that he needs to cease and desist his perseverating. I have mentioned before in my previous articles that a token system truly works. If my children behave and communicate appropriately, then they earn tokens so that they can save them to get things. An example of this is having movies all day Sunday because they earned them.

We have to remember that we are the most important role models our children will ever have. Leading by example is the key!

God Bless,

Robin Newman LCSW PC

Have a question for “Relationship Rescue”. Send an email to [email protected]. Please make sure to put “Ask Robin” in email subject line.

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This post originally appeared on our January/February 2013 Magazine