Tips for raising a child with Down Syndrome

         Here are a few resources and tips to parents blessed with a child who  has Down Syndrome


1. Find  a support group

Parents may  feel over whelmed , may be even depressed, when they first learn their baby has DS. It usually helps to talk to other parents who are in the same situation. They can help  give  you tips and point you to doctors , therapists and resources that may be help of you.

2. Bond you with your child through attachment parenting.

When parents respond  to their baby's emotional cues, they  can better sense what  he or she needs,  even when he or she can't tell you. Make sure too that you involve  other family members in raising your child with DS. You will soon find out how blessed you are to have such a child in the family.

3.  seek out good medical practitioners 

When  looking for a pedia, make sure that he or she is familiar with  DS,  or better yet. has experience relating with patients with DS. People with Down Syndrome are usually at risk for varied medical problems, most common  of which are heart defects , vision and  hearing impairment . Your child needs to  be screened by cardiologists, opthalmologists and audiologists.

4. Avail of  early intervention services right  after birth.

Children with DS may need physical ans speech therapy if delays  in these  areas are present. Some kids may also exhibit some degree of mental retardation .

5. Ask professionals to teach you what you can do at home  to  help your child develop

Kids with DS usually have weak muscle tone and will  benefit a lot from movement therapy, or perhaps even music and movement classes such as those given by Gymboree, Kindermusik or Musikgarten. You may also want to  teach  your little one sign language to help compansate for speech delays . Lastly but most importantly.

6. Love your child and enjoy the gift of life you  have been given through him or her

 Parenting in itself is a daunting task, so make sure you  embrace your  role  with faith , hope and love. Many parents  of kids with DS can testify that their kids are deeply affectionate and  seem to  approach life with great  joy . You  and your family and friends will realize how wonderful  life  is just by spending time with your child, or other people with DS.

        
                                                               

                                             

 
 

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Simple ways to prepare your child for preschool

Help your child reach his fullest potential early on with  these ways you can practise  at home
                                    In a world dominated by gadgets and constantly evolving technology , its still good to know that  centuries - old and traditional ways of imparting knowledge to your child are still effective.
                        In an article written by Jonschnur for TIME , he lists several ways that parents can unlock their childs academic potential ,without breaking the bank and  through some simple ways. We round up some of his most striking suggestions on making sure on your child  optimizes his development in preparation for school.

1. Read to  your child every day and expose him to books.

Before the iPad , video  games, and t.v were in existence, books were the  most ( if not only ) reliable source of news and information for everyone .
                 Similarly, the word spoken from books not only helps one practice reading and comprehension ; it also helps foster a bond between reader and the one being read to.
          This is why schnur recommends reading your child for at lest 20 minutes  daily. Try setting aside a portion of each day and  designate it as " Reading hour ". you'll discover just how relaxing and therapeutic the gift of reading can be.


Here are  just a few of the benefits of reading to your toddler :
-  Promotes longer attention span. Reading involves  more brain processing .
- Develops listening skills
- Stimulates the imagination
- Builds vocabulary
- Develops a love for  books and reading
- Can be done  at home or else where

Choose books  that capture your child's interests, and be encouraging when it comes to his pace in learning how to read,. let it be  a pressure free experience . Don't rush him.

2. Talk with your child as much as you can 

We cannot stress enough just hoe important it is to  develop open communication between you and your child . Not only will this help him  ti express  his feelings and interests, it also boosts his intelligence . The frequency of your  conversations with your has direct correlations to his future IQ

3. Increase his playtime  .

Sigrid Perez  of play universal , a coalition devoted to " enriching and cultivating the benefits of play at home , in school and in communities  ". says " We are speaking not only to educators and doctors but to fellow parents as well . We believe learning happens not only in a school setting when they study  lessons and pore over books . The goal is to get as many Filipino parents to embrace the thinking and become more involved in their children's plat activities ".
                Play reinforces the bonding and interaction between parent and child , let him assert his independence, allows your child to explore his capabilities at his own pace , develops their imagination , encourages socialization with peers, and even promote good health among other benefits. 




                                     

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Working Moms : Save Time !

 5 Quick tips to  be a super mom

 

  You're not a wonder mom - just a super mom who's balancing work and looking after the kids and running a home. Research has found that the biggest challenge that the working moms face is balancing the time - so here are 5 tips to help you save time and be a super mom

1. Have a system where every one - pitches in : get your family involved in house hold tasks and encourage your kids to do some of their own work on time - packing their school bags every night and having them near the door will make it easier to add the lunch box and water bottle and leave on time in the morning. Reward your kids for doing more work around the house , and you will have a bunch of eager helpers.

2. Clear the clutter : a messy house makes your blood pressure boil over. So buy some cheap storage bins and collect the  clutter during the week , and set aside a time every week when you clear it ( you can involve those helpers in the task too.  !)

3. Bumpy mornings ? no more : special attention to your mornings . Make mornings smoother by doing much as you can the night before ( setting out clothes , packing school bags ) wake up at lest one hour before your child does, and plan your time to arrive every where at lest 15 minutes early ( you never will , but planning to do so will help you cope with traffic and arrive on time ).

4. Prioritise events : As a working mom, your not going to be able to attend every cricket match, netball game or elocution recital . But prioritise the events you will attend , including PTA meetings, so that you will be there that matter the most .

5. Create special times : Carve out small time slots with your family - it may be a quick visit to an ice - cream shop or an afternoon at the beach. Don't spend hours planning , just do it on the spur of the moment . Give your family special memories that will make you feel  like the super mom you are !   



                                                  

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