| The Importance of Good Behavior | | | | an ordinary classroom, you will be needing extra care |
| As parents, we all struggle to engage cooperation | | | | and special attention from the child's teachers and |
| from our children. A search on the terms "child | | | | educators. In order to receive this care, the teachers |
| behavior" results in many different programs that claim | | | | have to be motivated to go the extra mile. Your child's |
| to bring out good behavior from your children. But with | | | | first-rate behavior is, of course, a superb motivator. |
| your hearing impaired child, good behavior is not just a | | | | Perri Hecht, a Speech Therapist and Audiologist from |
| bonus. Your child's cooperative spirit and pleasant | | | | New York with many years of experience with |
| demeanor from the outset is crucial for your child to | | | | cochlear implants and hearing impaired children, puts it |
| be successful in their development. | | | | this way. "Being a good parent and teaching your |
| This is true for a number of reasons: | | | | hearing impaired child to be well-behaved is just as |
| First, let's face it, your child does have a disability. In | | | | important as good speech therapy for the child's |
| order for them to overcome it, they must struggle over | | | | success. The first thing I tell parents when I meet them |
| many hurdles that other children don't have to. If they | | | | for the first time is, 'Your child better be well-behaved if |
| are well behaved, it is a lot easier for them to | | | | he/she is to succeed." |
| accomplish the hard work that is necessary for them | | | | How to Encourage Good Behavior |
| to be successful. | | | | Now that we've discussed the importance of good |
| Second, their good self-esteem is extra important | | | | behavior, what steps can you as a parent do to |
| when having to deal with a hearing impairment. When | | | | ensure that your child is well behaved? |
| they are well-behaved, they are more likely to have a | | | | According to Perri Hecht, parents should learn as much |
| strong self-esteem from doing what is right. However, | | | | as they can on the subject, by reading books and |
| if they are always getting into trouble and constantly | | | | taking parenting classes. If the parents are truly serious |
| fighting with parents, siblings, and peers will result in a | | | | about the matter, they will invest the time and energy |
| severe lack of confidence. | | | | needed in order to learn how to become better |
| Third, your child will be sitting through countless therapy | | | | parents, which will ultimately bring about the desired |
| and mapping sessions. Their full cooperation is | | | | results. |
| absolutely necessary for these sessions to be | | | | Ultimately, good behavior comes your being good role |
| productive. In addition, your therapist needs to love your | | | | models for your child, and from the way you interact |
| child. Your child's good behavior allows them to | | | | with them. If you treat your child the right way, you will |
| thoroughly enjoy the time spent together. If your child is | | | | find the task a lot easier and smoother, and succeed in |
| mean spirited and uncooperative, your therapist will | | | | raising a well-behaved child, who will have the skills |
| likely not enjoy the sessions, resulting in a tremendous | | | | necessary to develop proper auditory and language |
| decrease in their productivity. | | | | skills. |
| Fourth, when your child is ultimately mainstreamed into | | | | |