280 chapter 32
Care of children with Down and other forms of mental slowness
Mental slowness in children with Down syndrome can be mild, moderate, or severe.
Some children never learn to speak. Others talk (and often love to talk). Many can
learn to read and write. Most of these boys and girls are very friendly and affectionate,
and behave well with people who treat them well. Even those who have more severe
mental slowness, with help and good teaching usually learn to take care of their
basic needs, and to help out with simple work. They can live fairly normally with their
families and communities.
In rural areas particularly, they can learn
to do many important jobs. Sometimes
they do repetitive jobs as well or better
than other people.
But their physical and mental
development is slower than normal. So
parents and all those who take care of
these children must be very patient with
them and from a very early age do all they
can to help them develop their mental
and physical capabilities. To avoid or solve
behavior problems, parents need to be very
consistent in how they treat their children
and in what they expect of them. The child
needs a lot of praise and encouragement
for things he does well (see Chapter 40).
In one village, a young man with Down
Some children with Down syndrome
works hauling water from the river, a job he
is happy and proud to do.
can go to school, but they will need extra
help. It is important that teachers understand their problem and help other children to
treat the mentally slow child with respect. Unless the child is given understanding and
extra help at school, in rural areas it may sometimes be better for the child with Down
syndrome to be educated at home through helping his family around the house and in
the fields.
There are 3 main concerns in caring for a
child with Down syndrome:
1. Help the child to develop her or his
mental and physical abilities.
2. Protect the child from infectious
diseases.
3. Prevent or correct deformities.
Here we will discuss the last 2 concerns.
The first we will cover in other chapters.
IMPORTANT: For a child who has
Down syndrome, or is mentally slow,
be sure to read all the chapters on
early child development and learning
basic skills. Chapters 33 to 41.
A child with Down syndrome learns to remove pegs
from a pegboard. Later she will learn to place the pegs.
Photo from Teaching Your Down’s Syndrome Infant
by Marci J. Hanson.
Disabled village Children