Down Syndrome Parenting Tips

If you’re the proud parent of a child who was born with down syndrome, it’s well worth researching useful parenting tips which will help you raise a healthy, happy child. As there are a few tips and tricks listed below which you might find useful.

Down syndrome parenting tips:

Encourage your child to spend time with children who have down syndrome:

It’s a great idea to attend a group for children who have down syndrome and their parents as your child will get a chance to interact with children who are going through similar experiences to themselves. One bonus of joining a special needs support group is that you’ll also have an opportunity to share parenting advice and support with other parents of special needs children.

Just remember to ensure that your child also spends time with children who haven’t been diagnosed with down syndrome, so that your child learns how to interact with kids who are different to them.

Make sure to schedule regular alone time:

While parenting a child with down syndrome may seem like a full time job, it’s important to schedule regular alone time for yourself. Spending alone time alone, in order to relax and rejuvenate is a great idea as it will also benefit your child. As if you’re relaxed, you’ll be calmer with your child especially when they’re exhibiting challenging behavior. Some activities which you may enjoy include reading, enjoying a hot bath, going for a walk or practicing yoga. You may even want to use your free time alone to nap.

Take note of what works:

It’s well worth taking note of the parenting techniques which work as some techniques may prove ineffective with children who have been diagnosed wth special needs.

Don’t raise your voice:

While children with down syndrome may exhibit challenging behavior such as lashing out when they have communication issues or making a mess when they eat, you should never raise your voice when talking to your child. As they are likely to become distressed and to exhibit more concerning behavior. Instead calmly speak to your child and aim to get them to calm down instead.

Give simple clear instructions:

As a parent of a child with down syndrome you should aim to give clear, specific instructions that are easy for your child to process. As most individuals with down syndrome have trouble with communication. As an example, you may want to tell your child to brush their teeth instead of telling them to go upstairs and brush their teeth before getting ready for bed. Remember to be as direct and clear as possible.

Research down syndrome:

It’s important to spend time researching the symptoms of down syndrome so that you’ll be able to handle any situation which you find yourself in. If you’re searching for detailed information on down syndrome it’s well worth searching for an article on down syndrome from magazines.

So if you want to raise a happy, healthy and independent adult, it’s well worth following some of the parenting tips which have been listed above. Especially if you’re a first time parent of a child who was born with down syndrome.