Tag: Gross Motor Skills and Down syndrome

Posted in Down syndrome, Down Syndrome Awareness, Dual Diagnosis Down syndrome and autism, Education and Special Needs, Resources for Special Needs

Blog #255~Down Syndrome Awareness Month:Extra Good Reads

Posted on by Teresa Unnerstall

Blog #255~Down Syndrome Awareness Month: Extra Good Reads

October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month. My son Nick is 29 years old and has a dual diagnosis of DS-ASD. I’ve been writing this blog since 2012, to help educate and inspire families and professionals.

Last week, in blog #254, I put the spotlight on many DS owned businesses check it out here: https://nickspecialneeds.com/2023/10/16/blog254down-syndrome-awareness-monthsupporting-down-syndrome-businesses/

This week I want to highlight some good reads related to Down syndrome. There are many books on Amazon available with a variety of topics related to Down syndrome. Here are a few books that I highly recommend, that will both educate and inspire you.

Extra Good Reads about Down Syndrome:

A New Course: A Mother’s Journey Navigating Down Syndrome and Autism by Teresa Unnerstall order here: https://amzn.to/2W3Un6X

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The Essential Guide for Families with Down Syndrome: Plan and Actions for Independence at Every Stage of Life by Steve Friedman Order your copy here: https://a.co/d/gMxuiU3

The Essential Guide for Families with Down Syndrome: Plans and Actions for Independence at Every Stage of Life

A Parent’s Guide to Down Syndrome, Advice, Information and Support to Raising Your Child from Diagnosis to Adulthood by Jen Jacob and Marda Sikora. Order here: https://a.co/d/5CRwU6R

Supporting Positive Behavior in Children and Teens with Down Syndrome, Revised Edition, The Respond, Don’t React Method by Dr. David Stein, Psy.D. Order here: https://a.co/d/8rlEeJG

Down Syndrome Parenting 101: Must Have Advice for Making Your Life Easier by Natalie Hale order here: https://a.co/d/7LebF7H

Babies with Down Syndrome: A New Parent’s Guide, Edited by Susan J. Skallerup order here: https://a.co/d/bU6CyTv

Scoot Over and Make Some Room: Creating a Space Where Everyone Belongs by Heather Avis order here: https://a.co/d/3QMtl0w

Teaching Children with Down Syndrome about Their Bodies, Boundaries and Sexuality by Terri Couwenhoven, M.S. order here: https://a.co/d/gARb2kE

Fine Motor Skills for Children with Down Syndrome, A Guide for Parents and Professionals (third edition) by Maryanne Bruni, BScOT (Reg) order here: https://a.co/d/8au2far

Gross Motor Skills in Children with Down Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals by Patricia C. Winders, P.T. order here: https://a.co/d/9F4DUV4

Gifts: Mother’s Reflect on How Children with Down Syndrome Enriched Their Lives, Edited by Kathryn Lynard, order here: https://a.co/d/fJ4ZgAj

Gifts 2: How People with Down Syndrome Enrich the World, Edited by Kathryn Lynard Soper, order here: https://a.co/d/5ltSrSH

Mental Wellness in Adults with Down Syndrome: A Guide to Emotional and Behavioral Strengths and Challenges by Dennis McGuire, Ph.D. and Brian Chicoine, M.D. order here: https://a.co/d/cbOhBLC

Different A Great Thing to Be by Heather Avis and Sarah Mensinga, order: https://a.co/d/3VL4z16

You Are Enough: A Book About Inclusion by Margaret O’Hair and inspired by Sophia Sanchez order: https://a.co/d/hRsKJAu

My Friend Has Down Syndrome by Jennifer Moore-Mallinos, order here: https://a.co/d/aSRCijS

These Down syndrome good reads are excellent resources for parents, families and professionals. Keep them in mind as gifts for the upcoming holiday season. In addition, many local Down syndrome support groups across the country provide lending libraries with these resources for families. Thank you for sharing and supporting us as we raise awareness and acceptance to celebrate Down Syndrome Awareness Month.

That’s what is in my noggin this week.

Teresa 🙂

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Posted in Down syndrome, Physical Therapy and Special Needs

Blog #72~Down Syndrome and Low Muscle Tone

Posted on by Teresa Unnerstall

Blog #72~Down Syndrome and Low Muscle Tone

October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month.  In Blog #26, located in the October 2012 archives, there is a complete overview about Down syndrome.

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This week I want to put a lens on one of the physical traits of having Down syndrome.  Hypotonia, or low muscle tone is common in almost all babies with Down syndrome.  The appearance is floppy and the muscles are flaccid. As soon as I touched my son Nick after he was born, I could feel this.  He felt like a rag doll.

The good news is that hypotonia generally improves over time with early intervention and physical therapy.   Within eight weeks, we met with the early infant intervention team and began the work to confront his low muscle tone.  Right away, we were instructed to roll up blankets and stuff them on either side of Nick when he was sitting in his carrier.  Since the muscles are so floppy, there is a tendency for the limbs to dangle open.  We then started from the top and worked down.  The first step was to get the neck strong.  We incorporated a lot of tummy time providing lots of bright, colorful, and contrasting toys that would be stimulating.  His brother Hank helped out by pushing the buttons on musical toys so that Nick would lift his head up.  This would help develop more alertness as under arousal is typical for babies having Down syndrome.

Everything is ready for tummy time, look at that scrawny baby 🙂 …….

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Once he was able to support his head, the early infant team began to work on building strength in his trunk.  At first he had to be held at the shoulders while sitting on a play ball.  The facilitator would lead the group with songs and blowing bubbles.  The babies would both track the bubbles and try to pop them with their fingers.  Gradually, the therapist was able to hold Nick at the chest, and after several months hold his waist while he worked on the ball. The physical therapist told us that Nick would not be able to pull up to stand or walk until his core was strong.  This meant when he could sit on the ball supported with her hands down on his hips. This took a very long time for Nick.

We propped up pillows in his high chair so he would flop over to the side. His brother Hank, keeping him entertained…….

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A special chair was provided by the early infant intervention program.  Nick’s trunk was still weak and he had a lot of trouble sitting upright…….

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Take a look at the average gross motor milestones:

Sitting alone-

Typical age 5-9 months

Down syndrome 6-30 months

Nick 22 months

Crawling-

Typical age 6-12 months

Down syndrome 8-22 months

Nick 28 months

Walking-

Typical age 9-18 months

Down syndrome 1-4 years old

Nick 3 ½ years old

As you can see, Nick’s low muscle tone affected his development in all of these gross motor areas.  After his first birthday, the physical therapist suggested we try doing horseback riding therapy with Nick. He was the youngest person they had ever tried at this facility.   We made the trek out to Tomball, Texas for these sessions for over a year.  Nick gained a lot of trunk strength during this time.  Keep in mind, not only were the muscles weak but also had less endurance.  Doing the sessions on the horse helped with increasing his endurance and the sensory input was very stimulating.

Giddy up Nick……

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After a year of hard work, he finally sat on his own!  Nick with his cousin, Austin

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Once Nick was able to sit up and crawl we began to find creative ways to get him up on his feet.  Hank would often dangle his favorite musical toy at the top of the bean bag chair.  As the music blared and lights flashed, Nick would climb up the makeshift mountain to reach the toy.  Around this time, I also began redecorating the living room.  I mounted several musical toys above the fire place so if he wanted to get to them, he had to pull up to stand.  His brother also enticed him, bouncing ping pong balls on the coffee table.  He would crawl over, pull up, play and laugh with Hank.

It was a long, slow rode to get him up and walking.  Nick had to work a lot harder to build his strength, endurance, alertness to defy the effects of low muscle tone and under arousal.  Hard work always pays off, and gets you to the top of the podium!

Nick in Middle School, brings home the gold 🙂

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That’s what is in my noggin this week!

~Teresa