Here are ways to counteract negative statements that may hurt the self esteem of people with developmental disabilities. If you are running a home sometimes it is hard to focus on niceties. Here are a few negative statements you should watch out for and try to counteract.

Do not say:

1. Stop being so rude.

2. Everyone needs to stop talking now.

3. Why aren’t you listening to me Billy, I already told you when the movie starts!

4. I am not going to tell you again Billy!

5. When will you ever learn.

6. You Just don’t care

Try to counteract negative statements like the ones above with positive statements:

1.“Remember Billy, we can all watch the movie together at 5.”

2.“Why don’t we all get ready to watch the movie and have some quiet time.”

3. Start a conversation, figure out why the person is being rude and try to fix the problem.

4.Try to stay away from negating what they have to say.

5. Try not to undermine their wants and needs as not being important.

6. Do not tell them how they should feel.

Sometimes things do not go as planned when it comes to meal times, and a person with impulsive behavior may act in unforeseen ways, including refusing to eat. Here are five steps to take in case a food refusal crisis occurs,

1. Rule out any medical conditions that may cause the client to not have an appetite
2. Try to accommodate any food needs, sometimes a request may be simple
3. Try to have a positive attitude and atmosphere during mealtimes
4. Give clients a choice, so they feel in control of their food decisions
5. When a food refusal crisis occurs have options in mind and steps to take that will work specifically for the client in question

Keep these tips in mind for the next time a client refuses to eat. Always go into refusal issues like this with a positive mindset.