Teaching Children with Down Syndrome about Their Bodies, Boundaries, and Sexuality (Topics in Down Syndrome)

Pay with

About Teaching Children With Down Syndrome About Their

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. Also by Terri Couwenhoven: The Girls' Guide to Growing Up: Choices & Changes in the Tween Years The Boys' Guide to Growing Up: Choices & Changes during Puberty Review [A] wonderful resource for parents of all exceptional children who wish to explore such important issues as abuse prevention, respecting personal space, understanding privacy norms, showing appropriate levels of affection and explaining sexual relationships. --Exceptional Family, Winter 2007 This book has a parent feel--it is written in a non-clinical, easy to read style. It is recommended for parents and professionals who have or work with children and adults with Down syndrome. --National Association for Down Syndrome Newsletter The book is full of stories and real-life examples, which make the book easy-to-read. There's something that virtually everyone can relate to. --Down Syndrome News (Nat'l Down Syndrome Congress) This book has a parent feel--it is written in a non-clinical, easy to read style. It is recommended for parents and professionals who have or work with children and adults with Down syndrome. --National Association for Down Syndrome Newsletter The book is full of stories and real-life examples, which make the book easy-to-read. There's something that virtually everyone can relate to. --Down Syndrome News (Nat'l Down Syndrome Congress) This book has a parent feel--it is written in a non-clinical, easy to read style. It is recommended for parents and professionals who have or work with children and adults with Down syndrome. --National Association for Down Syndrome Newsletter The book is full of stories and real-life examples, which make the book easy-to-read. There's something that virtually everyone can relate to. --Down Syndrome News (Nat'l Down Syndrome Congress) About the Author Terri Couwenhoven, M.S., is an AASECT certified sexuality educator who specializes in working with people who have intellectual di