maximizes your child’s potential. One way to achieve this is by ensuring your child receives the necessary medical attention.
Regular checkups are critical as are supplementary medical visits with specialists, such as speech therapists, physical therapists, and occupational therapists. As your child progresses through school, you’ll also work alongside special educators who can help identify and address learning difficulties.
With a caring team around your child, you’ll be surprised how quickly your little one can develop.
4. Look After Yourself!
As you know, having a child with Down syndrome comes with its good days and its bad days. Whatever happens, don’t beat yourself up! Take time for yourself when you can. You deserve it and your child deserves it. Talk to friends and family, consult with care providers, and remind yourself to enjoy the journey. Don’t be afraid to lean on your support system when you need them.
Life can be crazy sometimes, but at the end of the day, there are blessings all around us.
5. Let Your Kid Be a Kid
For all their unique quirks and characteristics, children with Down syndrome just want to be treated like everyone else. As a parent, there are many ways to provide that sense of ‘normalcy.’ You can give your child decision-making powers (within reason) over things such as what breakfast cereal to eat, what clothes to wear, what game to play, etc.
If your child comes to you with problems from school or somewhere else, be a voice of reason. Allow your kid to talk through the issues, and offer rational solutions. Be a guiding light and show your little one how to approach challenges without getting overly emotional.
The trick is balancing your parental control with your child’s personal responsibility. While difficult at first, you’ll get the hang of it in due time!
6. Educate Others
As you learn more about Down syndrome and your child’s particular strengths and weaknesses, share the wealth. Spread knowledge and awareness online, talk to your child’s peers about the disability, and generally be a force for compassion and understanding.
With time, you’ll learn how to help others and make their lives better too.
Children with Down syndrome have a lot to offer the world, and with your guidance, their potential can be fully realized.