Teaching Children with Down Syndrome about Their Bodies, Boundaries, and Sexuality
- ISBN13: 9781890627331
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
Product Description
(2007 ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Award: Finalist, Parenting; 2008 NAPPA Honors Award)
Parents of children with Down syndrome and other intellectual disabilities are accustomed to paying close attention to their child’s physical, cognitive, and emotional development. This proactive approach should also include their child’s sexual development, which for many parents may not seem as obvious or urgent, especially to those with young children.
Drawing on her unique background as both a sexual educator and mother of a child with Down syndrome, the author blends factual information and practical ideas for teaching children with Down syndrome about their bodies, puberty, and sexuality. This book gives parents the confidence to speak comfortably about these sometimes difficult subjects.
In an easy-to-read, non-clinical style, the book covers relevant issues and concerns for children of all ages, such as:
Labeling & explaining private body parts;
Identifying & expressing emotions;
Respecting personal space;
Teaching self-care & hygiene;
Understanding norms of privacy;
Understanding gender identity;
Showing appropriate levels of affection.
It also covers later issues that affect teenagers and young adults, including:
Anticipating and understanding puberty;
Dealing with periods, bras for girls;
Experiencing erections, wet dreams for boys;
Relating to the opposite sex;
Sharing parental values about sexuality;
Explaining sexual relationships;
Preventing sexual abuse;
Understanding how Down syndrome affects puberty & fertility rates.
Each chapter highlights important points with key messages, teaching activities, parental pauses, and anecdotes, all of which prompt readers to stop and consider concepts or values associated with a particular topic. The final chapter covers the special concerns of parents who are now teaching teenaged or adult children about sexuality for the first time. It concludes with extensive appendices containing invaluable teaching materials and illustrations of body parts and functions.
Teaching Children with Down Syndrome about Their Bodies, Boundaries, and Sexuality
5 Responses to “Teaching Children with Down Syndrome about Their Bodies, Boundaries, and Sexuality”
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May 13th, 2010 at 8:26 am
Thank you for making it so easy for me to get the information I need to be the best parent I can be to my daughter who was born 15 years ago with Down Syndrome. Sometimes it feels like we are in a boat with no oars. When I find books like this that actually give me some insight it makes all the difference in the world. And right here on Amazon, I don’t have to go out searching and searching.
This book is very easy to navigate and find the info I need help with. Just another way to approach things helps tremendously.
Thank you
Rating: 5 / 5
May 13th, 2010 at 10:44 am
Excellent book.
Great pointers for parents of little ones with Down syndrome. As a parent of an adult with Down syndrome, I found the book to be excellent in discussing sexuality and body boundries.
Rating: 5 / 5
May 13th, 2010 at 12:07 pm
Terri Couwenhoven’s book is a terrific resource for parents and teachers of kids with Down syndrome and other disabilities (including autism). The book includes lessons to use when teaching kids about safe behavior and social relationships.
Rating: 5 / 5
May 13th, 2010 at 1:55 pm
I found this book to be helpful when working with a child who has Down syndrome.
Rating: 5 / 5
May 13th, 2010 at 4:32 pm
Excellent resource for parents, teenagers with all types of disabilities, as well as repite providers, and teachers.
Rating: 5 / 5