Helping a child with a disability with everyday activities

If you have a child with a disability, you can help improve their communication and movement by encouraging them to take part in everyday activities. Routine tasks like getting dressed and having a bath are great opportunities to support your child’s development and have fun together. Children learn a great deal in the first three years, so it helps to start as early as possible.

Encouraging communication#

Children often use their own facial expressions, sounds and body language to communicate. For example, they may use their eyes to point to people or objects. Nearly every sound and action your child makes is meaningful.

All children communicate differently, and it can take time and patience to work out what your child is trying to tell you. It helps to make communication fun. Use bright colours and noisy toys to attract your child’s attention.

You can also:

• watch and interpret facial expressions such as smiling, frowning or pouting
• respond to babbling, laughing and crying
• recognise gestures, such as turning their head away to mean “no”
• act confidently when you know what they want
• respond to all of your child’s sounds and actions
• place yourself face-to-face and level with your child
• imitate any sounds your child makes and copy any words they say
• keep your sentences short and simple

Holding and carrying your child#

Talk to your child’s healthcare professionals about the most suitable positions and daily activities for your child. Try to hold your child in a way that lets them develop their own strength and balance and allows them to look around.

You can:

• hold your child’s body against you, but leave their arms and legs free to move
• make a “chair” out of your arms for your child to sit in

Making getting dressed easier#

Positions that may make dressing easier include:

• standing your child between your legs
• lying your child on their stomach, side or back
• sitting them on a chair or on your lap

Changing nappies#

Nappy changing can be difficult if your child’s legs are stiff. To help, you can:

• place a small pillow under their head
• gently bend their knees to separate their legs

Building strength through different positions#

Sitting and lying in different positions helps develop strength. For example:

• lying on their side lets a child use their hands and feet
• lying on their stomach strengthens back, neck and arm muscles
• sitting on the floor with their legs straight stretches leg muscles
• sitting on a chair develops upper body strength – make sure their feet are flat on the floor or a footrest

Encouraging standing and movement#

Regular standing and movement help build muscle strength and keep bones and joints healthy. You can help your child by:

• placing a favourite toy just out of reach to encourage them to roll, crawl or walk
• using a standing frame if your child is unable to stand independently

Support services#

A range of early childhood and disability support services can help children with a disability or developmental delay, and their families, from birth until the child starts school. Ask your child’s healthcare professionals about the early intervention and support services available in your area.

Where to get help#