Why is it important for children with spinal cord injuries to set their own rehabilitation goals? - Patricia Mucia, RN

It’s important for anyone to set goals in rehabilitation to be an active participant. For children, they’re often told what to do, and how to do it, and not allowed to be an active participant. And they’re going to feel more like they’re in control of their life, or that they have some say-so in their life, if they’re encouraged to set their own goals, and work with their own goals. A small child may want to dress himself, or brush his own teeth. A small child may want to get up and down a curb in their wheelchair, so that mommy doesn’t have to push them into the classroom in the morning. They may want to learn how to transfer down to the floor, so that they can play with their siblings on the floor, successfully. An older child may not care if they dress themselves, and may need more encouragement. It’s interesting that you would think the small child would need more, but an older child may need just a little more push to do it themselves. But, they may want to go to the movies with their friends, and so they may need to learn how to cath themselves, so that they can go to the movies, and then go out to dinner. So, those are some of the goals that are set.