Children with Down Syndrome Learn Through Play

Providing the Stepping Stones for Future Development

Jan 12, 2009 Kimberley Powell

Even as newborns children learn through play. Growth and development take place through play. This is true for kids with special needs as well as any other kids.

All children learn through play. Sometimes children with learning difficulties need some help to learn to find out what toys do and how to play with them, therefore it is important to play with babies and infants with Down syndrome. Taking turns with the baby is often a good way to show her how to do something, or having two toys, so that both partners can shake the rattle, for example. In the natural learning situations, parents, teachers, brothers and sisters and grandparents use modeling, imitation and scaffolding, to show children how to do things and all these strategies will help children with Down syndrome. In addition, structured teaching will provide simplified and repeated opportunities to learn particular things, which can then be practiced and mastered when they occur in everyday contexts.

Children with Down Syndrome Require Lots of Stimulus

Children with Down syndrome benefit from lots of stimulation through many types of experiences with different people, places, toys, sounds, feelings, etc. These experiences help your child's development. Children are also learning during all their everyday activities at home, when out shopping or at the park, and in playschool.

During daily activities, play and structured teaching sessions, adults can scaffold children's learning, that is they can help children to reach the next step in their play and in understanding the task, by modeling - showing them what to do and by explaining - talking about what to do. At first, children with Down Syndrome may have a difficult time getting started with play.

Play is invaluable in fostering an atmosphere in which a child with Down syndrome will prosper

Parents and family members are instrumental in baby and child play. For example, handing the baby a toy, setting the toys in front of him and demonstrating what the toy can do (rattling a rattle, squeezing a squeaky toy to make noise, etc.). The first few times you may have to guide your baby’s hands in moving so the toy creates the desired effect. As a child learns to play independently, the parent should back off a little and let the baby take the lead.

There are a variety of ways in which adults can help children to learn, starting with play, planned games and then structured teaching. Parents need to understand that activities may have to be repeated many times before the child can do it well. Movement and exploration should be encouraged. Also, the child should be encouraged to play with toys of different sizes and textures. Every child will develop at his/her own speed and in his/her own way.

By three years of age, children with Down syndrome should be able to join mainstream playgroups, preschools or kindergarten. They will benefit greatly from the role models for social behaviour, play and language provided by the other children. They should be expected to conform to the routines and to behave as well as their peers.

Children with Down syndrome can begin to learn all the same things, if at a slower pace. In order to learn, children have to attend to information in their world, usually by looking or listening or touching, and they have to attend long enough to take in the information and to remember it. All learning involves being a novice and making mistakes, becoming successful at the task but only with thought and effort, and then mastering the task through practice until it becomes quick and easy to do successfully. Practice also continues to increase the skill and efficiency with which the task can be carried out. Play is invaluable in fostering the kind of accepting and helpful atmosphere a child with Down syndrome will prosper in.

The copyright of the article Children with Down Syndrome Learn Through Play in Disabilities is owned by Kimberley Powell. Permission to republish Children with Down Syndrome Learn Through Play in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Child Playing