A New Springtime

Down Syndrome and Speech/ A Parental Approach

  I try not to fear the challenges we face as a family when it comes to our son with Down Syndrome. He is already doing so well and I know that repetition and modeling are  the keys to success in his life. Having the larger family is an advantage for him because he naturally gets both.

 I try to take each stage of development he goes through one at a time. It is a bit easier for me knowing what a child's development "should " be like due to the fact that I have had seven other children. I know his development is much slower but i do not let it bother me because I see a progression even if it is slower. That is basically the norm with kids with DS.

 I don't want to say that I don't have expectations but I try to watch with a realistic eye. By this I mean; I know the delays and I do not fear them. I accentuate the positive and look for the smallest progress. Because even something small is big to him and to us!

 Our son thrives on encouragement, as we all do but for him, that is his world! To see his family excited, ecstatic about the slightest of feats makes him thrive! Before anyone  with degrees in speech or special ed. it was simply humble parents who raised and trusted that their children were worthy and they nurtured them without professions to their highest potentials.  I am not knocking these therapists, their services can be very valuable and should be considered. At the same time as a parent we need to be confident that we can also pray, research and help our children to thrive in these areas.

 

 

Summer "To Do Contest"

 

In order to limit and discourage t.v. and x/box time this summer, I have come up with a summer " To Do Contest" There will be a 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize to encourage participation.

• 1st prize- $20.00 gift cert. to Barnes & Nobles, A to Z Science & Learning Store,  Game Stop or  a sport's store
• 2nd prize- $10.00 gift cert. to any of above places
• 3rd prize- $5.00 gift cert. to any of above places    

This is our summer bookshelf, this year we have added some new things. Mariner's Tale ($5 @ Ocean State Job Lot) looked quite interesting, it comes with a compass, a spy glass to make, a ship to build, and several maps.

                                                      The Rules:

  #1 The kids can earn a  paper sea creature for doing any kind of activity listed below:(has to be at least 1/2 of an hour)

 #2 They have to write on the paper sea creature their name, date,  and what they did

 #3  Next, Color it and Pin it on the buttetin board

#4 Whoever has the most sea cratures at the end of the summer comes in first place, and so on.

  Above: World Travelers Magnetic Dress Up Dolls ( there are also Mermaids and Pirates), and the  Sticky Dolphin Mosaics are by The Orb Factory.( many others to choose from)

Here are some of the things they can do:

• do a craft
• read a book
• write something
• draw or paint a picture
• sticker books
• maze book
• find a something in nature
• board games
• mosaics
• crayola color explosion
• bike ride
• basketball
• bake something
• read a book to a sibling

    

 In other words, anything that does not include electronic devices.                                                                                                                     

 

My son,who just turned 12, recieved this " DK Ocean Sticker Book" for his Birthday. I was afraid tha the would think he was beyond it but he liked it right away and he hasbeenusingit regularly. A box or basket of shells can be looked at a whole different way with a magnifying glass nearby.

 I found this little book called, "Baby Turtle's Tale", last year on vacation. It has movable pictures in on each page called animotion, kind of a neat thing.

So with all of these hands-on activities and  our contest I am hoping the electronics don't have as much of an appeal. We started today and I can already see a difference. Sometimes a little competition can be good.