Does anyone have a Down Syndrome child? ?

Question

Can you give me tips and advices as to how to treat them, deal with tantrums, stubbornness, and bad behavior. How do I help her talk, potty train and social skills?

Answer 1

My son with DS is 3 and I have another son almost 2. I treat them the same, although there r subtle differences because they have such different personalities.

Tantrums - I like to try and find out what triggers it. With my son it is quite often frustration because he cant communicate as well as we wants to, so I try to help him by giving him a lot more time to try to tell me what it is that is wrong or that he wants. Otherwise if he is just being naughty, he goes in time out like any other kid, and it works really well!

Stubbornness - Quite often, when my son seems to be being stubborn, he is actually just using avoidance strategies because what ever I am asking him to do seems to much of a challenge to him. He resists new things and things he doesn't understand. Also he lacks the communication skills to be able to negotiate with me, so therefore when I tell him to do something, because he can't say anything like ' Yeah... I'll do it later!', he will just say 'No!'. And similarly, I may be trying to make him do something while he was trying to do something else, and he can't make himself understood.

Bad behavior - My son likes a good daily routine. If I let him know what we r doing and have fun with him in the process, his behavior stays really good. Ofcourse he and his brother fight over things, but I make sure I am there to help them get the idea of turn taking and sharing.

Talking - A Speech therapist will help u there. All our kids can be at very different levels with this.

Potty training - My son likes doing things when he want to, rather then when I want him to, but potty training is something he has wanted to do from quite a young age, and it has been my inconsistency that has let us down. So in my oppinion, just like any other kid, consistency is the key, but it will still probably take a bit, if not a lot longer than normal.

Social skills - Generally kids with DS r very social. My son was great with adults, but didn't really know what to do with other kids, so when he turned 3 he started 1 day a week at child care to learn a bit about interacting with other kids. It is going really well.

Early intervention is great if there is a Down syndrome association somewhere near u that holds one. U will get all the info and support u need there through the association and the other families.

Good luck, and I hope this has helped :o)

Answer 2

hi...my son has DS and is almost 5 yrs old. we treat him as we do our other boys...down syndrome for us doesn't mean he is allowed to get away with everything (though I do admit I am a bit more protective) when he is naughty he gets time outs that are appropriate for his developmental level, as an example:  if he hauls off and hits his older brother he will get a time out for 3 minutes (most of the time he knows he is naughty and automatically goes in the corner...lol) then he has to apologize to his brother with a hug . he is non verbal meaning he doesn't speak as much as he should so we have been using sign language with him since he was an infant. that helps with less frustration on his part when trying to get something he wants (and those glorious temper tantrums) and it is also helping with potty training. (we are still working on that). he also sees a speech therapist every week and we do a lot of reading and trying to get him to repeat what we say...so far it is working....he is up to quite a few words now. as for stubbornness...when you find out how to deal with that one let me know! lol my son is so stubborn some days .  social skills are easy for kids with down syndrome, but it doesn't mean they do not have their shy periods. just try and get your daughter involved in a lot of activities with peers her own age and keep her out there in society.

Answer 3

You should not treat your child any different from other children who do not have Down Syndrome. If you treat your child different, your child is going to realize that they are different from other children who do not have Down Syndrome. Mainstream Society looks at PWDs (Persons With Disabilities) as being "different" in which PWDs find offensive.    

Your child IS exactly like other children who do not have Down Syndrome. Your child plays, eats, sleeps, cries, walks, runs, laughs, talks, has parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings, and friends. All of these that I have mentioned, people without Down Syndrome also do and have. If by chance people ask you if your child is "normal", you tell them "YES, my child IS "normal" because my child plays, eats, sleeps, cries, walks, runs, laughs, talks, has parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings, and friends just like people without Down Syndrome do and have".    

Answer 4

You should contact your local school district. If you have a child born with down syndrome he or she will automatically qualify for special education services. Once you contact the school, they will send a qualified teacher out to assess your child. They will be able to work closely with your child, and give you advice on these issues. They also will work on ensuring that your child stays on track developmentally. I highly advise you do so, if you have not already.

Answer 5

With regards to behavior:  You should treat you daughter just as you would if your child didn't have downs.  Coddling her will only spoil her.

Seeks physical and speech therapy through your county.  

IMHO, Downs kids have wonderful social skills :)  They are loving individuals and are loved by many.