How to Talk to Children About Down Syndrome

If you have a child with Down syndrome in the family, there may come a time when you need to address the issue, either by explaining it to the child himself or to his brothers or sisters. As you get ready to talk to children about Down syndrome, it's important to keep in mind certain considerations and to make sure you approach the issue delicately but also clearly. Read on to learn how to talk to children about Down syndrome.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Inform yourself. Get all the facts directly from your doctor or therapist before you sit down to talk to your children. If you know other families in the same situation, talk to them to see how they have dealt with the issue, or search online for ideas on how to approach the topic.
2. Ask a therapist. If your child has a family therapist or psychologist, or if you know somebody who deals with Down syndrome children on a regular basis, ask for advice. An expert can help you choose the right wording and make sure you understand how a child's mind works, so you know what to expect from her.
3. Keep it simple. Medical terms or technical explanations are not needed at this age, and most children won't be interested anyway. Instead, focus on what Down syndrome really means and how it makes a child different, so kids can understand what to expect and how to deal with it.
4. Treat children with respect. You would be surprised to know how much they truly understand and how they can deal with serious issues appropriately if given the chance. Don't use condescending language to talk down to a child just because you think she is too young to understand.
5. Approach the issue of bullying and discrimination. This is something Down syndrome children will have to deal with at some point in their lives. Give them the tools needed to understand what makes them different and how to defend themselves.
6. Make the talk age appropriate. Children of different ages will have to deal with different things when it comes to understanding Down syndrome. If you start talking about it early on, you can do it one step at a time, moving on to more complex issues as the years go by and kids become more mature and able to understand things that were too difficult before.

Tips & Warnings

• Reinforce the issues often. If you are dealing with very young children, you may have to have certain talks more than once to make sure your children understand the importance of the conversation.