August 12, 2019
Enabling a child with Down syndrome to be independent and
self-reliant comes with many challenges. Keeping the child safe is a major
concern for instance. Here are some tips and life lessons for parents on how
to raise your child to be empowered.
Catch them young. This is true for encouraging talents and skills in all kids
and no different for a child with Down syndrome. The condition brings with it
some challenges but with the right training, patience and support, kids with
Down syndrome grow up to become enabled and self-aware.
For starters, get informed. Find out as much as you can about the condition.
Don’t just rely on the Internet. Talk to experts, join support groups and
maybe check out responsible online programmes and resources.
Talking to other parents with children with Down syndrome helps a lot but
remember every child is different so don’t get impatient or discouraged. Work
with therapists, special educators and doctors in order to ensure that your
child gets the best.
Chitra Shah, Founder, Satya Special School
in Puducherry, works closely with children with Down syndrome. She says
parents need to be extremely involved with their child’s upbringing.
Children with Down syndrome are the easiest to handle. They are very
friendly and can pick up a lot of skills, especially if they are verbal.
With the right training, they can enter mainstream as well. Parents have to
be patient throughout and try to understand the child. A Down syndrome
child will often have health issues. So that needs to be constantly
monitored. With a smile, these innocent kids can win hearts. Chitra
Shah, Founder, Satya Special School.
Here are some parenting tips to think about:
Manohar Tejam has a 26-year-old son Sameer
Tejam with Down syndrome and she puts patience way above everything
else. “A parent who has a child with Down syndrome must be very understanding
and patient. Just like any other child, their behaviour starts changing when
they grow up. Parents must understand that”.
Take this as an opportunity to discover your child’s strengths and enable it.
ALSO READ: Check out these awesome recreational activities for children with
Down syndrome!
Source: https://newzhook.com/story/some-parenting-tips-when-you-have-a-child-with-down-syndrome
