Physical needs of children with learning disabilities in a pre-school environment
- Created by: orlamaisie
- Created on: 28-03-22 12:21
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- Physical needs of children with learning disabilities in a pre-school environment
- Exercise - encouraging child to be active e.g. bring them to the park, providing age appropriate activities etc
- Mobility (Gross Motor) - daily outdoor place e.g. tricycles, appropraite climbing frames, swings, balls and pedal cars help to encourage physical activity
- Mobility (Fine Motor) - triangular pencils provided to support correct pencil grip ('hand over hand' support provided)
- Specific scissors given to support child e.g. spring scissors open on their own after every snip
- Beading/ threading activities promote fine motor development (if a child has difficulty with co-ordination e.g. Cerebral Palsy thicker beads can be provided or thread beads onto a pipe cleaner)
- Activities can be adapted to suit children with a LD e.g. reducing numbers in a team to reduce noise
- Mobility (Fine Motor) - triangular pencils provided to support correct pencil grip ('hand over hand' support provided)
- Nutrition -provide a balanced diet. Cut up or puree foods for children who has difficulty with swallowing e.g. Down's Syndrome
- Children with Cerebral Palsy may have oral motor dysfunction and may require to be tube fed, so nursery staff can be trained in how to use/feed children through the feeding tube, allowing the nutritional needs of these service users can be met
- Children with Autism may suffer from sensory processing disorders/ sensitivity to food textures, so staff can provide a variety of textures/ choices to prevent sensory issues being triggered
- Safe environment - providing suitable play equipment, safe entry and exit and safe garden (very important to ensure the child doesn't wander off)
- There may also be policies for the collection of children
- Hygiene - encourage appropriate toileting behaviour e.g. proper hand washing and assisting with personal hygiene where necessary. Use picture charts e.g. steps on how to wash hands to help develop their understanding
- A child with Cerebral Palsy will have difficulty with movement, posture and co-ordination which may make it difficult to unbutton trousers and undo zips. Therefore, policies are put in place to assist the child with toileting difficulties and meet their need for hygiene
- Warmth - ensuring the pre-school is warm and that suitable outdoor clothes are provided and worn by the child
- Specialist equipment - staff should ensure any specialist equipment, like hearing aids or glasses etc, are worn by the child when necessary
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