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With a network of loved ones, friends, educators, and medical professionals, children with Down's syndrome can thrive and lead full lives. Guild has come a long way in how children with this condition are treated, although misconceptions even so be. Larn what steps y'all can have to assist a child with Down syndrome.

  1. 1

    Learn what Down syndrome is. Downwardly syndrome is a genetic disorder. Information technology happens when someone is built-in with an extra copy of chromosome 21. This extra genetic material affects a person's development.[one]

    • Downwardly syndrome causes changes in physical development. People with Down's syndrome may exist more prone to medical weather similar heart or respiratory issues. Lower muscle tone, smaller stature, and flat facial features besides affect some people with Down syndrome.[2]
    • People with Down syndrome typically take some sort of intellectual disability. This means they develop at a slower step or take longer to acquire new information. For example, a child with Down syndrome may larn to walk later than most children. An adult with Down syndrome may need extra help learning a new chore.
    • Every person with Down syndrome is an individual. Concrete and intellectual development varies greatly from person-to-person. Most issues affecting development are mild to moderate. With modern medical care, people with Down syndrome accept an average life expectancy of 60 years.[3]

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    Recognize the abilities and talents of children with Down syndrome. Children with Downwards syndrome lead rich and fulfilling lives. Their personalities and talents are just equally varied as any other child's. They accept a full range of emotions, from pride and happiness to fear and disappointment.[4]

    • Many children with Down syndrome are in regular education classrooms. They may get actress support for certain subjects like reading or math. With the correct back up, almost children learn to read and write. Eventually they can become vocational training, hold jobs, and some even go to college.
    • Merely like other children, children with Down syndrome have different talents and strengths. Some beloved music and fine art while others similar to play sports. Some are shy and timid while others are outgoing and assuming.

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    Be enlightened of misconceptions about Downwardly Syndrome. In the not too afar past, children with Down syndrome were treated poorly by society. They were sent away to institutions and denied appropriate medical care and learning support. Unfortunately, negative perceptions still be. Society is non always accepting of people with Down syndrome. [5]

    • Adults and children may tease, taunt, and avert children with Down's syndrome. Those with Down's syndrome experience pain and hurt just like any other person. Social rejection damages their self-esteem.
    • As they get older, they may be passed over for a chore because of their status. It's a misconception that people with Down syndrome can't piece of work or take care of themselves. Most people with this condition abound into productive adults who can contribute to society.[6]
    • Children with Downwardly syndrome confront hurdles like discrimination and lack of acceptance. They need actress support from their loved ones and caregivers so they tin can overcome these obstacles.

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  1. i

    Get medical support for your child. Brand sure your loved ane has all the back up they demand to succeed at home and at schoolhouse. Since every child with Down's syndrome is unique, they each need a personalized programme to aid them accomplish their full potential.

    • Discover a pediatrician or primary care provider that you trust. The pediatrician should accept strong communication skills and experience with Down syndrome, or be willing to learn about the condition. A pediatrician helps you coordinate your kid's medical care.[7] [8]
    • Connect with your local early intervention services. They tin help babies and toddlers with developmental delays and learning disabilities. Services similar occupational, physical and oral communication therapy are frequently depression cost or gratis. Contact the Early Childhood Technical Assist Eye in your state: http://ectacenter.org/contact/ptccoord.asp. Tell them you lot want early on intervention services and need to schedule an evaluation.[9]

  2. 2

    Get educational support for your kid. Partner with your child'due south school. You need to piece of work as a team with teachers and school counselors to make sure your child is getting all the academic and social back up they need.[10]

    • Many children do good from inclusion, which is attending regular education classes, with actress support. Others benefit from attending special pedagogy classes, or a combination of regular and special education.[eleven] [12]
    • By police, children with Down syndrome who attend public school are entitled to an Individualized Pedagogy Plan or IEP. This is a plan you create with the school that addresses your child'due south specific learning needs. It is reviewed each year.[13]
    • Contact the school counselor and say yous want to set up an IEP. The school will schedule an evaluation and and so you'll attend meetings to create and corroborate the IEP.[14]

  3. 3

    Teach your kid how to make friends. Children with Downwardly syndrome benefit from practicing social skills. Making friends can exist a challenge for whatever child. Children with this condition sometimes have a harder time dealing with peers.[15]

    • Talk about friendly and unfriendly deportment and who makes a adept friend. Kids who are smiling and employ kind words are good new friends. Kids who ignore yous, walk abroad, or say hateful things are people to avoid.
    • Practice how to starting time a conversation. Once your child learns near who to approach and who to stay away from, practice what to say to a new friend. Work on how to introduce yourself. For example, "Hi! My name is Anna. What's your name? What's your favorite game to play?" Take turns rehearsing different conversation starters with your child.
    • Teach your child how to bargain with mean or hurtful behavior. Talk to your child nigh what they tin can practise if someone is unkind or hateful. For example, tell the person to cease, go help from a instructor, or walk away.
    • Schedule play dates. Get to know other parents and help your child interact with their new friends.

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    Accept a break. You may be a parent, sibling, grandparent or a caregiver of a child with Down syndrome. Helping a child with special needs can exist hard at times. When you feel like you're burnt out or your patience is running low, go assistance. Take a break and share responsibilities with others. You take to take care of yourself first before you can have care of someone else.[16]

    • Make time for yourself. Fifty-fifty if you just have five minutes, spend it doing something relaxing. Accept a walk, read, or stretch. Brief breaks tin can help you recharge.
    • Create a caregiver or helper schedule. For example, an older sibling helps with homework, a friend practices baseball, and yous aid with bedtime.
    • Consider respite services. Each land has respite services for caregivers of children with special needs. Respite care gives you a interruption while a professional care provider watches your child. The ARCH National Respite Network has a state-past-state locator tool: http://archrespite.org/us-map.

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  1. ane

    Model accepting and kind behavior. Equally a friend or loved i of a child with Downwards syndrome, you tin show others that having Downward syndrome doesn't arrive the style of living a total life. By having fun, playing, and hanging out with a child with Down syndrome, you're showing the earth how they should treat children with special needs — with caring, kindness, and respect, like whatsoever other child.

    • Talk to your child's school well-nigh how they promote acceptance. Enquire what they practice to educate children nearly diverseness and accepting differences. How do they promote and model respect? If your schoolhouse doesn't accept variety and acceptance programs, recommend they create some.

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    Create a support network. Connect with people in the Down syndrome community to help yourself, your child, and other families. In that location are online and in-person groups for parents and caregivers, siblings, and people with Down syndrome.[17]

    • Many local groups take community outreach activities to raise sensation and funding for Downward syndrome. Contact the National Down Syndrome Society Helpline to find groups and resources in your surface area: http://www.ndss.org/Resources/Helpline/.

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    Go involved. Join local organizations that advocate for children with Down's syndrome. Past becoming a member, donor, or volunteer, yous are taking steps to educate the public near this status. Education dispels myths about Down syndrome and helps build a more accepting gild.

    • The Special Olympics helps people with intellectual disabilities build their conviction and abilities through sports.
    • The Government Affairs Committee works to better public policy and laws for those with Down's syndrome and intellectual special needs. Bring together or beginning a National Down's syndrome Society Government Affairs Commission.

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