BEHAVIOR: TREAT AS A NORMAL REGULAR child, adjusting for age developmentally. Time-out initially. Then as older developmentally, the child loses something for the day (something child really enjoys). Helps to have a behavior chart at school. Gets a smile (overall OK or good) or frown (bad day, aggressive behavior, etc.) from teacher end of the day. If child comes home with smile, great. If a frown, the child loses something major (i.e., all electronics) for the rest of the day. Start fresh the next day. (Note: No daily bribery, but like for any child, if a week or two of smiles, something extra will be done for them that they like)
Eating: Offer what you feel is a healthy meal with a little starch. If child eats starch and walks away, that’s fine. No discussion. But when child comes back one hour later hungry, play dumb and serve the leftover food. When not eating well, don’t let child snack or have juice in between meals. They need X amount of calories per day no matter where they get it.
Education: If in a special-needs class, try to have some time in a regular class for “normal” role models. Learn to use the computer academically. Work with child fifteen to twenty minutes on computer, then the child can have thirty to forty minutes to do something they enjoy. The computer (and age-appropriate programs) can be a wonderful tool to review developmental steps orderly, logically, but is best if integrated into steps to help a child generalize (whatever is being taught on the computer, etc.), fill in, and understand the gaps they missed.
Speech: Need speech pathologist who can redevelop skills that were missed and who also is familiar with oral apraxia. Think of a stressed/ injured brain (like that of a stroke victim) that needs rehabilitation.
Sleep: If child has trouble sleeping or falling asleep, talk to the child and explain that when it is dark outside, they need to stay in bed, let their brain rest. Even if you can’t sleep, you need to lie there and rest. If child comes out of his or her room, you then need a control point;, i.e,: lock on the outside of the door, no nightlight, etc. If child will stay in room, then nightlight will be allowed to stay on, etc. Goal is for child to stay in bed and rest (will usually fall asleep) even if they can’t sleep.
Siblings: Try to help a brother or sister understand their brother / sister has been ill, and they can become a part of helping them get better. Siblings can be the best therapists.