Planning ahead or worrying too much?

We all know as parents of children with additional needs that planning is everything to ensure the best outcomes. However, this isn't always accepted by professionals who seem to be very much living in the present.

I was talking to a parent recently, and they were discussing their child's move to their next education phase. Understandably, the parent was expressing concerns that they had regarding things that their child may struggle with. Such forsight, in my mind, is a sign of diligent parenting. Putting things in place to prevent your child from struggling.

The professional disregarded everything that the parent had said in the meeting and told them that what they were doing was the equivalent of "taking a parcetamol today for a headache they may have next week."

They had spoken to other parents who were told similar things by professionals. There is obviously no crystal ball to know how a child is going to cope in a given situation but it is only natural that the people that know and love that child the most are going to want to ensure that the child isn't put into situations unsupported which are likely to be challenging to them. This is obviously good parenting and having a plan of interventions and support in place that can be implemented if and when they are needed.

You might not take a paracetamol today for a headache that you may have next week, but you may well make sure you have some available in case you have a headache in the future!