How to Talk to a Child With Down Syndrome

Communication skills can be hard for children with Down Syndrome to master: speech delays and hearing problems may be factors, but these kids are often less likely to interact in ways that allow them to acquire the finer points of speech communication. Follow these steps when talking to a child with Down Syndrome. Read on to learn how active conversation can be of real benefit to these children.

Instructions

• 1

  Expect to be able to understand the child with whom you've begun a conversation, at least to the extent that you'd understand any child. Don't expect too little, but if you feel that the child wants to withdraw, try to change the subject.

• 2

  Wait long enough for the child to respond to you. The child may need a few moments to process what you've just said: a pause doesn't necessarily mean he's not going to respond, though he probably won't if you inundate him to quickly with another long stream of information.

• 3

  Form gestures or sounds the child makes into real words for her. If she's pointing to the swing at the park, say "swing" or "Would you like to swing?" Parents of children with Down Syndrome can become so accustomed to reading their child's sign language that they sometimes forget to talk. This is where someone outside the immediate family can really help.

• 4

  Help the child stay in the conversation long enough to have a meaningful interaction. Don't press him with dozens of questions; rather, comment on his new shoes, his cool backpack or baseball cap. This way, he's not pressured to come up with a "correct" answer and is more likely to engage you in conversation about something of real interest to him.