To help celebrate the boys and promote awareness with their classmates, here is the treat the boys are sending home this week (sorry it's turned the wrong way):
We also included this letter for parents:
Dear Parents,
As we settle into this school year, we would like to take the opportunity to give you a special introduction to our sons, Ben and Jonah, who are in Mrs. Egan's 1st grade class.
As we settle into this school year, we would like to take the opportunity to give you a special introduction to our sons, Ben and Jonah, who are in Mrs. Egan's 1st grade class.
The boys are very independent, active little
boys. They enjoy a wide variety of activities … playing with toys (blocks,
Rescue Heroes, cars, trucks etc), playing outside, swimming, using the IPAD,
and watching their favorite TV shows. They also just finished up playing baseball in
the Miracle League up in Manitowoc
Besides being very “typical” 1st graders, the boys also happen to have Down syndrome. Your child might come home wanting to know more about them and why they are a little different. Based on our past experiences, most questions from children this age are related to the boys' speech and their inability to communicate effectively.
"Children with DS have anatomical and physiological
differences in the mouth and throat region that affect feeding, swallowing, and
oral motor skills. They also often have hypotonia, or poor muscle tone in the mouth area." Because of these things, speech is often
delayed for children with Down syndrome and sometimes difficult to
understand.
One thing to remember though, even though Ben and Jonah may
have delays in speech, they understand what is being said to them. So please encourage your child to talk to the
boys- they love being part of the conversation!
Ben and Jonah work very hard in speech therapy
several hours per week to conquer their speech delays. Both have a long way to
go, but they have come so far and we are so proud of them! Sometimes to
help the boys communicate, they will use sign language.
Something
extra unique about Ben is we adopted him from the country of Lithuania
So
if your child is curious, they boys are not biological twins even though they
are both in 1st grade. Ben is actually 3
months older than Jonah.
Both boys are primarily visual learners and will imitate what they sees others doing. We encourage you to share what you feel is appropriate about the boys with your children so that they can understand how they are different, but more importantly how they are the same as they are. Encourage them to support them without babying them, and to talk to them like they would anyone else, perhaps giving them a bit more time to respond and a little more explanation if they don't understand right away. They can also remind them to stay with them if they see her heading away from the group.
Research has shown that children with Down syndrome benefit from placement in a regular education class, receiving their education alongside typically developing peers of their own age. Regular opportunities to learn and play alongside typically developing peers gives children with Down syndrome the role models they need to acquire new skills, encourage age-appropriate behavior, and develop independence and friendships.
Both boys are primarily visual learners and will imitate what they sees others doing. We encourage you to share what you feel is appropriate about the boys with your children so that they can understand how they are different, but more importantly how they are the same as they are. Encourage them to support them without babying them, and to talk to them like they would anyone else, perhaps giving them a bit more time to respond and a little more explanation if they don't understand right away. They can also remind them to stay with them if they see her heading away from the group.
Research has shown that children with Down syndrome benefit from placement in a regular education class, receiving their education alongside typically developing peers of their own age. Regular opportunities to learn and play alongside typically developing peers gives children with Down syndrome the role models they need to acquire new skills, encourage age-appropriate behavior, and develop independence and friendships.
Inclusive education benefits not only our children,
but studies have shown that inclusion has a great benefit to the other children
in the class. Inclusion facilitates greater understanding, tolerance, as well
as learning to be supportive of one another. Children also learn to value
diversity and to appreciate that everyone has something beneficial to bring to
the life of the school and the community.
We are grateful for your support and for the support that Ben and Jonah will have in Mrs. Egan's class. Ben and Jonah will have a team of people that will help support their learning needs and facilitate the inclusion support. We are also grateful for the opportunity to be in a learning community together and look forward to meeting you (if we haven’t already) and working together for a great school year.
If you have any questions about Ben and Jonah or Down syndrome, please feel free to contact us at mlavey@wi.rr.com or 920-668-8302. We are very open about our experience and in talking about what it means to have Down syndrome … no question is a silly question and we would rather share with you, than have you wonder. :)
Sincerely,
Andrew and Mary Lavey
We have put together a Q&A to help you field some questions that your child might have, or to help you in talking with your child about Ben and Jonah. We hope this is helpful to you. :)
What is Down syndrome?
Children born with Down syndrome have one extra chromosome in some or all of their cells. The chromosomes contain directions that tell your body how to grow. When a child has an extra chromosome it mixes up her body’s directions a little. That is why they may look a little different and have to try harder to learn.
Will Ben and Jonah always have Down syndrome?
Yes, it is something they will never outgrow.
Will Ben and Jonah be able to do things like me?
Yes, they will be able to do everything like you do, it may just take them a little longer to learn than most kids. They will learn to talk more clearly too, it’s just that learning to talk is often very hard, but just like anything, with a lot of hard work and practice they will get better over time. They boys also can do things you might not be able to do yet, like use sign language.
Are Ben and Jonah sad that she has Down syndrome?
No, right now Ben and Jonah are happy to be growing healthy little boys. They love to learn new things, just like you and me. You’re fortunate to be growing up in a world where people understand that everyone is unique, but that we all enjoy and want the same things, like having loving families and friends, going to school, and being accepted for who we are.
We are grateful for your support and for the support that Ben and Jonah will have in Mrs. Egan's class. Ben and Jonah will have a team of people that will help support their learning needs and facilitate the inclusion support. We are also grateful for the opportunity to be in a learning community together and look forward to meeting you (if we haven’t already) and working together for a great school year.
If you have any questions about Ben and Jonah or Down syndrome, please feel free to contact us at mlavey@wi.rr.com or 920-668-8302. We are very open about our experience and in talking about what it means to have Down syndrome … no question is a silly question and we would rather share with you, than have you wonder. :)
Sincerely,
Andrew and Mary Lavey
We have put together a Q&A to help you field some questions that your child might have, or to help you in talking with your child about Ben and Jonah. We hope this is helpful to you. :)
What is Down syndrome?
Children born with Down syndrome have one extra chromosome in some or all of their cells. The chromosomes contain directions that tell your body how to grow. When a child has an extra chromosome it mixes up her body’s directions a little. That is why they may look a little different and have to try harder to learn.
Will Ben and Jonah always have Down syndrome?
Yes, it is something they will never outgrow.
Will Ben and Jonah be able to do things like me?
Yes, they will be able to do everything like you do, it may just take them a little longer to learn than most kids. They will learn to talk more clearly too, it’s just that learning to talk is often very hard, but just like anything, with a lot of hard work and practice they will get better over time. They boys also can do things you might not be able to do yet, like use sign language.
Are Ben and Jonah sad that she has Down syndrome?
No, right now Ben and Jonah are happy to be growing healthy little boys. They love to learn new things, just like you and me. You’re fortunate to be growing up in a world where people understand that everyone is unique, but that we all enjoy and want the same things, like having loving families and friends, going to school, and being accepted for who we are.
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