Down syndrome is a chromosomal disorder. Life for down syndrome kids is not easy! Parents need to be aware that Down syndrome kids have special needs and require special care. From medication to physical therapy to speech correction therapy to motor training, parents have to be prepared to provide their child with extra care.
Children with Down syndrome are usually slow learners. But despite this, they can have a normal life, go to schools, make friends and get jobs when they are older. It all depends on the care they receive when they are young and the right teaching. Children with Down syndrome can live a robust and satisfying life if they are provided the right start.
1. Consider their IQ levels and IEPs before setting targets: Most children with Down syndrome have a lower IQ than other children. Teachers and parents should keep in mind that children with Down syndrome need to have realistic goals set out for them. Exposure to different subjects and hobbies is important and history has enough proof that many art and music prodigies were sufferers of Down syndrome.
2. Keep patient and give special attention : It is not easy teaching children with Down syndrome. Overcoming the challenges takes years of patience, but it's worth the struggle to provide them with a quality and accessible educational journey. Though many children with this condition go to regular schools and attend regular classes, they require special attention from their teachers. Special classes can help them in subjects that they find difficult to understand.
3. Involve them in activities that they enjoy : Parents can work together with teachers to formulate a plan to make the learning process easy for the child. Sports and leisure activities like music lessons and dance classes should not be ignored as most children with Down syndrome are happiest in such classes.
4. Pay special attention in the early age of development : While teaching children with Down syndrome, it is important to keep in mind that they may not be emotionally, socially and intellectually at par with other children. Initially this gap is narrow, but if proper attention is not given, this intellectual and emotional gap may widen with time.
5. Include the therapies required in the teaching process: Speech therapy forms an integral part of a child’s education here as most children with Down syndrome have a speech delay. There is also a delay in their motor skills and this can interfere with their cognitive development. As such, some might also require physical therapy, so make sure that inclusions like OT (occupational therapy) and PT(physical therapy) are followed in their IEP.
It can be mentioned here that no two people with Down syndrome are identical. Each person has their own personality, strengths and weaknesses. Hence, this condition means different things to different people. This makes it difficult to formulate a single policy of teaching children with Down syndrome. But the common requirements in all cases are love and patience.
Teachers can maximize the learning potential of a child with Down syndrome by early intervention, good education, higher expectations and encouragement.
Parents should know that because there is no cure, the goals of Down syndrome treatment are to control symptoms and manage resulting medical problems. Regular checkups and screenings, medications and surgery if required should be managed promptly. Counseling and support groups also help while teaching children with Down syndrome. This helps the child to cope with the emotional and practical aspects of Down syndrome.