The first step is to help your family understand your child’s diagnosis and health outlook. There are a number of resources that can help caregivers, family members, and the child with CP to learn about the diagnosis.

Some counseling starting points may include:

2. Helping your family understand what cerebral palsy is
3. Learning what having CP may mean for your child now and in the future
4. Offering helpful tips for supporting your child and becoming a CP family
5. Understanding how the CP diagnosis will impact your child’s life

Including the whole family in this discussion can help ease your responsibilities as their primary caregiver. It can also help your child feel more understood and supported by extended family and friends.

Children with CP may need various forms of therapy immediately after their diagnosis and into the future.

Cerebral palsy affects muscles, so getting treatment early on can be crucial for your child’s long-term movement abilities.

Some therapies your child with cerebral palsy may need include:

• Occupational therapy
• Physical therapy
• Speech therapy

It may also be important to consider finding mental health support for you and your child. These can be in-person or online and done in group settings or one-on-one.

These supportive networks allow you to work through complex emotions in safe environments while connecting you to additional caregiver resources.

It’s important to work with cerebral palsy specialists throughout your child’s development to help determine what types of specialized care your child needs.

A trusted CP doctor can recommend additional treatments. They will also have knowledge of emerging therapies or assistive devices for children with cerebral palsy.

Finding a CP specialist your child feels comfortable and safe with is important. Since your child may need ongoing care, you’ll want to find the right fit.

You should also trust the pediatrician your child sees, as they can help to recognize and treat any coexisting conditions, like ADHD or autism.

Between therapy, doctor appointments, and caregiving help, the cost of your child’s care can be overwhelming. We may be able to help you get financial aid.

You and your child may not be able to engage in the activities you envisioned due to the mobility limitations that the condition often involves. However, children with CP can do many things with the right support and encouragement.

We counsel you to encourage your child to realize their dreams without putting limits on their hopes. For example, you can create games that they’re capable of participating in, take photos together in similar poses, or encourage them to engage in your own interests with you.

Embracing your child’s abilities can help them reach for both realistic and hard-fought goals to live their best life.

Perhaps one of the hardest things about being a parent of a child with CP is that it can feel isolating.

Primary caregivers can sometimes feel cut off from the outside world or even family. Children with CP may feel frustrated, isolated, misunderstood, and at times helpless.

It’s important to keep an open line of communication with family, friends, and your child’s educators and doctors. This can allow your child to communicate their own needs, or when they are unable to, allow you to advocate on their behalf.

Create a safe environment to discuss how you’re feeling, and be sure to seek professional help in the form of mental health counseling if you need additional support.