| It is the first week of February 2010, January is all | | | | or her passion, this build self-confidence. We have a |
| gone! I feel this year 2010, is a very special year! It is | | | | separate podcast with Brian Ainscough-Larry's |
| start of a new decade! So even if it is February it is | | | | favorite soccer coach. You can see Larry's passion |
| not too late to make New Year's resolutions or set | | | | and the respect and support he got from this coach. |
| goals. | | | | So 2010 is a time to renew your efforts with making |
| If you recently found out your child is deaf, do not | | | | sure your child gets all they deserve. |
| despair! Welcome to an interesting life, one of | | | | If your child is a teenager, here are some tips: |
| challenges and rewards! | | | | #1: Well all your previous communication efforts should |
| This may be difficult to believe now but it is true. Here | | | | be paying off now! You can have in-depth |
| are a couple of tips on what you can get started on: | | | | conversations with your child. Keep on learning |
| #1: Meet Deaf adults! This will ease your despair and | | | | American Sign Language; I was happy we continued |
| show you there is hope and your child has a bright | | | | learning American Sign Language while Larry was a |
| future. We remember when we went to the Summer | | | | teenager. Communication is so important in those |
| Learning Vacation at Gallaudet University. We met so | | | | teenage years and believe me teens use different |
| much Deaf professionals and parents that we started | | | | terms friends. Teens start getting impatient if you |
| and continued communicating with. | | | | cannot communicate fluently. |
| #2: One of the goals you should be, start learning sign | | | | #2: Proactively monitor your child's education. Make |
| language as soon as possible! You need to | | | | sure adequate progress is being made and start |
| communicate with your child as much as possible, just | | | | discussing with your child what they will like to do post |
| the same as you would communicate with your | | | | high school. It is a good time to have their school start |
| hearing child. | | | | introducing your child's class to deaf professionals. |
| #3: Treat your child as normal as possible. Your child is | | | | #3: Fathers get involved! All children need guidance |
| normal; you just need to use a different method of | | | | from both parents. I remember parents at TLC will ask |
| communication! | | | | me how Larry and I had such a great relationship. I told |
| So no more despair, let's get started on an interesting | | | | them it was communication. I did a podcast entitled "I |
| and rewarding journey. | | | | will Not Trade Him For The World". Please, fathers, do |
| If you child is less than 10 years old. Here are a couple | | | | not abandon your deaf child, it can be the best thing |
| of tips that you use: | | | | that happened to you. |
| #1: Continue that communication. Learn more signs, | | | | It is never too late to start! |
| preferably American Sign Language. As your child | | | | For us at Deaf Parenting our resolution is to provide |
| gets older, their interest changes, you need to be able | | | | information that can give you hope and help you with |
| to communicate on these new topics. | | | | the challenges and joys of parenting a special needs |
| #2: Make sure you are proactively doing your best to | | | | child. Let us know which topics you will like to hear |
| nurture your child's interest in reading. | | | | more about by entering a comment or sending us |
| #3: What is your child's passion? Is it soccer, basketball, | | | | email. |
| gymnastics or swimming? Support your child with his | | | | |