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Today (3/21/19) is World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD), and I’m happy to participate by sharing this blog post! WDSD is all about advocating for the rights, inclusion and well being of people with Down syndrome. Please check out The World Down Syndrome Day website to find out more!
According to the CDC, Down Syndrome is the most common chromosomal disorder, with around 6,000 babies being born with Down syndrome each year. If you aren’t the parent of a child with Down Syndrome, you likely know someone who is.
Language Development in Kids with Down Syndrome
Parenting a child with Down Syndrome comes with its own unique challenges. One area that can be a particular struggle is communication. Typically, children with Down Syndrome have more difficulty learning to talk (expressive language) than with understanding what they hear (receptive language). On average, children start using words around 10 months. Children with Down Syndrome are about 6 months behind, not typically beginning to speak until around 16 months.
Before your child begins to speak, you can work on pre-language (non-verbal) skills, which are essentially the building blocks to learning development in kids with down syndrome. These include:
- Eye Contact
- Listening
- Joint Attention
- Turn Taking
- Pointing
- Social Gestures
- Babbling
- Symbolic Noises
5 Tips for Boosting Language Development in Kids with Down Syndrome
There are a lot of ways that you can support your child as they develop these important language skills. Children with Down Syndrome typically benefit greatly from the use of visual clues, so many of the tips that I’ve gathered use these.
Let’s take a look at my top five tips for boosting language development in children with Down Syndrome!
Using Cue Cards
Part of what we know about individuals with Down Syndrome is that they are typically far better visual than auditory learners. Making use of signs and symbols can be a really helpful way of building communication skills.
Consider creating picture/word cards so that children can “ask” for what they want. For example, you could create a few cards with pictures of various food and drink items, and use the cards at meal and snack time.
Be sure to always use words with your child in addition to the visuals. If your child shows you the card for juice, be sure to say “juice,” as you point to the card.
Using Visuals to Teach Concepts
This is a fun game that you can play using toys and various items around the house. Start by gathering like items and naming them. For example, use a basket and gather up several items of the same color. Let’s say you choose red, and you had a red toy car, a red wooden strawberry, a red rubber band, a red ball, and a red book. Sit with your child and pull out each item and say “red,” followed by item name.
Use eye contact as you do this and encourage your child’s attempts to copy your words. You can repeat this game to teach different concepts as well, not just color.
Repeating
Children with Down Syndrome typically need a 100-word vocabulary before beginning to put words together. Encourage your child’s speaking attempts by building on what your child says.
For example, if they say “car”, you can say “car, blue car.” Add simple descriptive words and encourage the use of two-word phrases. You can do this regularly with your child each time they initiate communication.
Matching Objects to Noises
This is a fun game to play that encourages the use of symbolic noises. One way that you can play this is with animals. Gather a small collection of toy animals, or use picture cards. Show your child the picture/item and then make the sound. Then hide the item behind your back.
Make the sound a few times, slowly, and then bring it back out. You can also lay the items out and make the noises, one at a time, while encouraging your child to choose the item that corresponds with the noise.
Try Pointing
Teach your child to point to the desired object. For example, if your child loves bubbles, try using a small container of bubbles. Hold the bubbles near your child and ensure that they can see them. As they reach for the container, help them to form their fingers so that they are pointing. Then say “Point bubbles.” Play this game throughout the day with different objects.
As your child becomes more confident in pointing to desired items, you can start giving them two choices and having them point to the item that they want.
BONUS TIP: Using sign language can be hugely beneficial for boosting language development in kids with Down Syndrome. You can pair the sign language with verbal language in all of your communications.
This can be helpful because even once kids with Down Syndrome begin speaking, it can be hard to understand them. Sign language can help clarify what they are trying to say and make it easier for them to communicate! A great resource for learning sign language is these flashcards from Carson-Dellosa.
Have you tried these tips, or do you have any other great suggestions for boosting language development in kids with Down Syndrome? If so, please join us in our FREE Facebook community to share! We would love to have you participate in our community.
As always, if you have concerns about your child’s development and would like to set up a free consultation to discuss your concerns, please reach out! I would love to help you determine your child’s individual needs. We are here to support you as you help your child blossom!
If you enjoyed reading 5 Tips to Boost Language Development in Kids with Down Syndrome, you might also enjoy reading:
5 Ways to Help Build Postural Control in Kids
Preschool Routines: Set Your Child Up For Success
