Children With Down Syndrome: Keys To A Successful Education
For a successful education of children with Down syndrome, it is advisable to practice activities that develop and stimulate their abilities.
Children with Down syndrome have the same needs and should be treated like any other child. Good communication from parents, paying attention to their health and nutrition and, above all, the support of the whole family is essential in the education of these little ones.
In case you have a child with this condition, also try to do some activity to develop their skills and exploit their talents.
What is Down syndrome?
Down syndrome is a genetic disorder that is the result of an extra copy of chromosome 21 being produced. The anomaly occurs in 1 in 1100 births and is considered one of the most common worldwide.
The causes of Down syndrome are not very clear. There is a percentage of cases of children with Down syndrome that are inherited and there are also other cases that are associated with the age of the mother. Beyond that, there is no specific cause for this syndrome.
Physically, children with Down syndrome share certain characteristics. The almond-shaped eyes, the mouth, the lips and the small ears are some of its features.
However, these children can have completely different personalities. Their way of learning and their sense of humor may also differ. What is certain is that these children have great emotional intelligence and like to express affection.
How to treat children with Down syndrome?
Being parents of children with Down syndrome is quite a positive adventure. However, it can be a bit unsettling for some people in the absence of information regarding this topic.
If your child has this alteration, do not be afraid. Your little one’s upbringing can be completely conventional, especially if it’s guided by affection for you and your family.
There are many tips on how to treat children with Down syndrome. The fundamental thing that you should know is to understand that they are totally normal and, therefore, should be treated as such. To do this, you need to have the best attitude and the greatest understanding. As always, the idea is that you transmit to your son all that love you feel for him.
Parent communication
Good communication from parents to children is extremely important. In the event that you have children with Down syndrome, you should pay more attention to your expression.
Children with this disorder generally take longer to acquire language, as noted in this study published in the Journal of Research in Speech Therapy . Similarly, they may have language and communication problems. However, you should not despair. Try to be patient and find ways to understand yourself with your child in an effective way.
Interaction with siblings and other children
Children with Down syndrome have developmental stages that arrive at different times. But that does not determine how the interaction should be. Interacting with his siblings and other children will even make him develop more fully and satisfactorily.
Make sure that he also interacts with adults, especially with those around him. Getting a child with Down syndrome in contact with other people, sharing ideas, and communicating will make them feel good. At the same time, it will be a way for your close circle to become familiar with the situation.
Attend conventional or special schools?
There is no impediment for a child with Down syndrome to attend a regular school. In fact, it is recommended to achieve social integration with other children with the same disorder and without it. This will give you self-esteem, confidence, and help you bond.
In education, children with Down syndrome are likely to fare differently from other children in their class. However, this could be solved with the help of the teacher and mom and dad at home. Do not forget that these little ones live the stages of growth in a particular way.
The practice of different activities
We all have some talent or skill. Children with Down syndrome can develop a special ability to excel in certain areas. These little ones can do any activity effectively. It’s just a matter of encouraging the practice of activities that make your child exploit all their abilities.
1. The arts
Painting, music, dance, and other arts can be very helpful in developing the emotional intelligence of children with Down syndrome. If you have a child with this disorder, it is recommended that you enroll him in activities such as dancing, singing or acting. Your child will be able to let his imagination run wild while educating himself and learning.
2. Sports
Sports activities also bring benefits to children with Down syndrome, as evidenced by this article published in EF Sports magazine .
They help improve your physical condition, teamwork and achievement. Sports are very beneficial, especially those of short duration in which there are frequent breaks. Some of the most recommended sports are
- Swimming.
- Football.
- Rhythmic gymnastics.
- Basketball.
- Table tennis.
- Martial Arts.
3. The games
Every child needs recreation and entertainment for optimal development. It is important for children with Down syndrome to have spaces for games and toys. Through these, you can teach them everything you want and it will be a valuable tool to stimulate motivation in the child.
Is it advisable to pay more attention to your diet?
Nutrition in children with Down syndrome must be cared for at all stages of growth. Children with this disorder generally take longer to learn to drink breast milk or a bottle while they are babies. This will make you need patience and more stimuli so that the child adapts to his way of feeding.
During childhood, it is crucial that the little one has a balanced diet that includes all the food groups. They may be prone to overweight problems due to their shorter stature and their physical activity tends to be less than average.
The health of children with Down syndrome
A significant percentage of children with Down syndrome can suffer from heart problems. According to the Spanish Heart Foundation, it is estimated that 45% of these children suffer from heart disease. Similarly, children with Down syndrome tend to suffer from the lungs, which is why they catch colds easily.
Hearing impairments are other common health problems among children with Down syndrome. Visual abnormalities, such as cataracts, myopia, or strabismus are also common. Stomach diseases can be recurrent because some babies are born with intestinal malformations.
Although they seem like many pathologies, there is nothing to worry about, since they all have medical treatment. The main thing is prevention and care. Therefore, if you are the mother or father of a child with Down syndrome, it is recommended that you be very attentive to your child’s health and consult your doctor regularly.
Ultimately, the education and upbringing of a child with Down syndrome can be considered a challenge by some families. However, this is just a different process that some parents must go through.
There is nothing that a good dose of love cannot solve. You just have to remember and apply each of these recommendations and that way you will make your child have optimal growth and full development.
However, if you have any questions about it, it is best to consult a health professional so that they can help you solve any problem that may arise.
