Teaching children about Down Syndrome?

Question

My son is in the 1st grade with a little boy who has down syndrome. He is asking me questions that I don't know how to explain to a 7 year old. Can you recommend a book (or even just a way) that may be helpful in explaining it to him?

I have taught my son his entire life that different is not bad and people with handicaps or disabilities are just the same as everyone else. I know that he understands that aspect. I have explained that this little boy's brain does not work the same way my son's works and that he expresses himself differently but I really don't think my son understands why. My son has not noticed that he looks different, only that he acts different. The little boy is very aggressive.

My son goes to a very small school with only 36 children in the 1st grade and there are only 2 classes per grade. This little boy is on his soccer team & in his Boy Scout Troop...it is very important to me that my son respects & accepts this child. They will be spending at least the next 12 years in school together.

Suggestions?

Answer 1

It is wonderful that you are so welcoming to your son's classmate who has Down syndrome. However, I think your son's observations may be sharper than yours. Most children with Down syndrome are not aggressive.

Some students with DS have difficulties with transitions at school and it helps to have a schedule strip for them to refer to so they know what comes next; he might need an extra minute to prepare for a transition because it is hard for him to leave off what he was doing to go on to something else.

Your son's classmate's brain may be working more like his mainstream classmates' than it is different - he may be reflecting the aggression other boys are modeling. Sometimes our sons with Down syndrome are given fewer clues about how to moderate aggression just because they are boys.

In Pat Oelwein's book on Teaching Reading to Children with Down Syndrome she has a description of what look like cartoon strips that show a situation, responses to a situation, and what those responses would lead to in a positive and negative way. It's hard to describe but the book may be available at your local library.

More likely, he is using behavior as communication because he may have communication or articulation delays and does not have an alternate way to express himself.

Something as simple as index cards on a keychain ring, with words and pictures for important phrases like "It's my turn" "I want to play tag" "I need a break" "Someone pushed me" "Let's sit together" etc could be just what this child needs. Of course it is difficult to make these kinds of suggestions unless you are close friends with the other mother.

There is enough diversity in first grade so that your son will not understand that they other boy has Down syndrome and may have different challenges because of that.

So instead of talking about Down syndrome it might be more helpful to teach your son different ways to deal with any classmate who is aggressive or uses behavior rather than words to communicate. You should not teach your son that anyone has the right to be aggressive with him or hurt him - that would be unhelpful for his classmate with Down syndrome, too.

The National Down Syndrome Society has some good resources on teaching compassion and practicing inclusion in elementary school classrooms - try NDSS.org for more information. I find it perfectly charming and hopeful that it is important to you that your son respects and accepts his classmate with Down syndrome. I hope that the friendship that ensues will benefit them both well into their adult years.

Pam W

SE of Seattle

Boardmaker and PECS Communication Alternatives

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art5...

Using Behavior as Communication

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art3...

Explaining Down Syndrome to Children

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art5...

Educational Challenges Inclusion Study

http://www.altonweb.com/cs/downsyndrome/...  

Answer 2

This link describes a program and lists resources for disability awareness in the schools:

http://journal.naeyc.org/btj/200707/pdf/...

Answer 3

Here's an article I found on the issue:

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art5...

Answer 4

barnes and nobles/borders do have childrens books writtten about childrenwith disabilities

one book is Whats Wrong With Timmy by Maria Shriver

there is a whole shelf full--just ask an employee where to find them