Tips for Parenting Child With Down Syndrome

Quite a number of kids suffer from Down syndrome. It is basically a chromosomal abnormality. Down syndrome occurs because in 21^st chromosome of the baby, an extra copy of genetic material is present. This factor leads to several physical as well as mental disorders. Physical abnormality is a common side effect of this syndrome. Apart from that, problems like esophageal complication, gastro-intestinal anomalies, mental retardation and congenital heart defects are other problems occurring from Down syndrome. Children afflicted with Down syndrome are not supposed to have a normal life but there are exceptions. It has been found that if parents devote themselves to these unfortunate kids, there are chances that kids will be able to lead normal lives.

The first thing parents need to understand and accept is these kids are not liability. Yes, it’s true that they grow a slow pace but they do grow. It’s up to the parents to raise them in best possible way. Such children often face trauma in several spheres’ of life. Parents must give them proper love and care. Children with Down syndrome have specific talents and capabilities like other children. It is the job of the parents to nurture such talents and bring out the best in them. The results will be very positive if parents can push themselves. Kids affected by Down syndrome must be fed with anti-oxidants diet. It is very beneficial for them. Yoga is another good idea to improve the health of such kids.

Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence is a strong buzzword in households and schools. Parents are generally responsible for taking care of child’s physical and emotional well being. Like grown up human beings, a kid also seek to gain autonomy. By autonomy, I mean choosing what to do and independence. With the passage of time, a kid develops self-awareness and self expression. These new attributes that a child acquires as he grows up, he starts facing emotional issues also. It’s very hard for a child to take ‘no’. It is also quite normal for a child to use frequent words like no, mine, me to, never etc. such problems are handled by tackling the subject of emotional intelligence.

To help the kids, parents must listen closely and see the challenges from your child’s perspective. You will son find out his needs and requirements. It also helps if parents accept child’s feelings and emotions, howsoever conflicting they may appear. Parents need to convey their acceptance through body language and actions. Parents really need to behave the way they want their child to follow. Remember, your child is going to follow how you behave and how you act.

Provide safe and protective environment to your kid for his emotional growth. Peace of mind is of utmost importance for any child. Finally, always express appreciation for howsoever so small things. It will help in enhancing his self-esteem and feel good factor.

Being patient with kids

Patience is a quality that is essential to be inculcated in childrenright from the early age. It is the quality that becomes the strongestweapon to fight against many situations and problems in life. Theworld is moving rapidly and it forces people to run along, making themimpatient individuals.

It is a rare sight to see someone calm and patient in an age where everything has quick fix solutions. Hence even in families, parentsare seen to b more and more impatient with their kids. Patience isnecessary to make a family happy and at peace. As parents, it isnecessary that you be role models to your children. If parents startbecoming impatient, what are children learning and picking up at thisyoung age?

Try and spend some time alone keeping all the pending work and theto-do lists aside. I know that workaholics might feel a littledifficult to do that but it is essential. Force yourself into thishabit where you spend ten to fifteen minutes alone when your child hasgone to school. Think about things that make you feel happy. Mothers,especially house wives often lose their own self in giving themselvesto their families. Think of something that you always wanted to do. Itmay be paragliding or even scuba-diving. Imagine you are actuallyperforming the activity. It may help you to feel lighter. Other commonways to feel at peace are meditation, prayer and yoga along withbreathings exercises.

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Teaching Money Management to Your Child

Money management is one subject we need to master in life as we progress towards better and bigger goals. As we grow older, different responsibilities come to us and we need to rake care of those things. Whether, buying a new house, car or looking after our parents, family, and kids’ education or in worse case some unfortunate incidents, money management plays a crucial role in all these situations. We are not always taught to master money management. Few tricks, we learn on our own as we face real situations. Experiences make you wiser but why to wait for such experiences in case of your children.

What we learned late can be instilled in our kids at an early age. So often we are generous with our children and give them what they need and what they want. But that situation is far from ideal. Kids are needed to be taught value of money. Who better than you parents to teach such important thing? You can start by giving them a certain budget and ensuring that they manage with that. You can also teach them how to handle money. Other things that can be taught are teaching them about balancing a cheque book. Talk to them about vices of overspending and how it might affect their basic needs.

Parents can also arrange for few money games between children and give prize to one who best saves and manages the money. Parents are definitely the best ones to teach this basic thing of money management. Go for it and contribute in development of your child.

Teaching Interpersonal Skills to your Child

Interpersonal skills are extremely important in anyone’s life leave alone children. We humans are designed to meet new people, find new acquaintances, interact with them and as it happens quite often deal with conflicts. These things have eternal presence in our lives. We, as parents have acquired such skills over years that come very handy while dealing with such situations. The least we can do is to pass on this hard earned knowledge to out children. Very few things in life are as important as getting along with others. Knowing to deal with difficult people is an art that must be imbibed in our kids if want them successful in business, career and marriage.

These skills are better taught at homes. Passing your wisdom to your child is kind of gifting one priceless skill. Children will keep having diverse experiences during their stay at school and colleges. So rather than relying on nature and experience we can start with teaching them the wonderful art of interpersonal skills.

Health, nutrition and fitness play such important role in our lives. Not many course subjects include nutrition as a separate discipline. Just a chapter or two is dedicated to this crucial topic. With onslaught of fast food culture and widespread problem of obesity, it is suggested that parents should take initiative in this matter. They should make the child learn about benefits of fitness and proper nutrition. Talk to the kids about harmful consequences of sedate lifestyle and try to teach them by presenting yourself as an example. Of course that will require you to be more disciplined towards health in general but that is not such a tough ask when seen from your child’s education point of view. Lead by example and find your child fit and healthy for life.

Teach Your Children

We attend school from age of 4-5 to 18 in normal cases. Many of us have continued studies way beyond that age mostly to pursue advance studies. So in that case, it is very likely that we have learned all that was needed. Right? No, wrong! There are several things that miss from school education and chances are quite bright that such essential thing would be missing from kids’ education as well. The point I am trying to make is some of the most needed skills are not taught by schools. These skills are either developed on their own as and when need arises or taught by parents.

The school curriculum focuses more on theoretical and ideal methodology and subjects. However, many schools have started to design the course curriculum keeping in mind the practical aspects of life yet few things are left to the parents to be provided to their shining stars. For example, career choices. Schooling education teaches children number of subjects and about several other aspects that need to be read and written about. But I doubt career choices is one of those aspects. Schools don’t teach what to do with what the kids have learned. There is a set method that has been followed religiously by almost all the schools. In such cases parents’ role are very important. They need to guide the kids about different career choices and how to proceed towards them. Waiting for higher education so that kids will understand and figure out on their own is not such a good idea. So parents’ should take the initiative here.

Parents’ role in shaping child’s career

Parents’ role in shaping child’s career can not be undermined. That explains why we normally witness the sons and daughters entering into the professional arenas of their parents. Whether it is politics, business, or services many wads have been found to be doing what is considered as carrying the torch of family legacy. For few it’s by choice but for many others it’s by design. The thing to be noticed here is whether these new generation kids are happy doing what is expected of them or it will be more better for them and society in general that they are given ample freedom to choose what they desire?

It all starts with childhood. Often parents compare heir wards to other kids in the same class or group. If X is doing well then so should Y forgetting that Y is more adept at doing some other work. Your daughter may be enrolled in dancing classes but probably she is more inclined towards singing and that’s why her performance in dancing class is not up to the mark. Such factors are often ignored by the overly eager parents. Needless to say, this is detrimental to child’s prospects in field of his/her choice.

Allow your child and show him/her a list of hobbies by taking him out and by providing him an environment. Child will demonstrate his tastes and aptitude and parents need to observe that. Life offers us several professional choices. These days many of those choices are offbeat. Allowing your children to realize their true potential without putting any unwanted pressure is one of the best things parents can do for their kids.