Advice to families for Down syndrome

Having a child with Down syndrome can bring some challenges for families. First of all, they have a different child from other families. A child with different understanding, learning and speaking skills may not be easily accepted by parents at first. They are aware that a difficult process awaits them.



However, children with Down Syndrome, like other children, need love and affection in a peaceful family environment. It is the parents who will provide them with this. Here are some suggestions for them to be more supportive of their children:

• Accept your child. He needs more support than other children, and only you can provide it.
• In order to support your child, you must be physically and mentally healthy. Therefore, take care of yourself. Get psychological support if needed. Take time for yourself whenever you can. Try to stay away from your normal life as much as possible and spend time with your loved ones and your favorite habits.
• Contact other families who have a child with Down syndrome. It will make you feel that you are not alone. Sharing experiences and good practice examples will help you.
• You are your child’s greatest educator. The games you play, the songs you sing, the shopping you do together are the best educational tools for your child.
• Your child’s vocabulary will be shaped by you. He will learn colors, items, vehicles, toy names, emergency numbers from you.
• Answer their questions. Answer patiently, even if he or she asks the same question over and over.
• Don’t be overprotective of your child. Let him communicate with other children, go out to the street, play games. Take it with you to the park, shopping, visiting neighbors.
• Take care of your child’s hygiene. It needs more protection against diseases. Do not neglect childhood vaccinations, pneumonia, flu vaccines.
• Give him responsibilities, appreciate the good things he does, build self-confidence.
• Show him your love. Just meeting his physical needs is not enough for his psychological development. Hug, caress, hug.
• Give them the opportunity to showcase their skills. Let him do things alone. Show that you can achieve something.
• Do not compare your child with normal children or other Down syndrome children. Each child’s ability to understand may be different. Don’t expect as much responsibility from him as normal kids.
• If you want to teach about something, don’t expect him to learn the whole thing right away. Teach little by little. For example, teach hand washing first for personal hygiene training. Teach her to brush her teeth when she learns.
• Repeat the things you teach from time to time. The elapsed time may cause him to forget and make mistakes. Do not hesitate to repeat.
• Get support for your child. The support of experts on how you can help your child more will make your job even easier.
• Spend lots of time with your child. Spending time with him is very important for his development.
• Discover his strengths and point him in that direction.
• Teach him social life, how to behave, how to relate to people, how to greet, how to say goodbye.
• Do not neglect your child’s health checks. His heart, oral and dental health, hearing and vision checks are important.
• Take care of your child’s education. Evaluate pre-school education and special education options with experts. Hurry to start the training that is suitable for him, do not delay.