February 12, 2009 9:59 PM
Encouraging kids to love their work
Rerunning this for new readers - or anyone who thought it was a good idea but never got around to doing it:
Daniel is #11 of our 12. I've told the story before of how we came to adopt him. For those new to this site, we have four boys with Down syndrome - one by birth and three by adoption. The cool thing about having four is that we truly understand how individual each individual is - and we have to be on the lookout for ways to encourage each one as he grows.As a Montessori teacher/mom, you all know I encourage you all to get your children involved in chores. Toddlers love to help and the time to start them is when they're willing. Use my personal sidebar Google to enter Montessori or toddlers or preschoolers to read more about how to nurture that inborn love of service in your children - or get a copy of The Mommy Manual.
Anyway, one of the heartbreaking things to me as Daniel was growing up was his complete lack of interest in helping around the house. Those of you who've nurtured the love of service in your young children will know what I mean when I say heartbreaking. It's not so much that we need their help as that they need to be helping to reach their full potential.
Daniel has some autistic behaviors and his personality is very different than Jonny's (our 14-year-old with DS). No matter what I did, I could not get him interested in any family chores.
Until last summer, when all of a sudden he just got excited about everything going on around him - the work it takes to keep a home. Now there is nothing he doesn't want to do. It's as though at 10 years old he hit that developmental stage of toddlerhood in wanting to be busy with the things of the real world.
Daniel is very gifted academically for a kid with DS. He can read hundreds of words, do simple addition problems, understands time and money - he's way beyond Jonny in those areas. It's funny, but these are the areas many, if not most, parents of kids with DS start out thinking are most important.
They're not. The most important thing is social and practical skills - being able to move comfortably through life and have relationship with people.
So I am REJOICING at Daniel's breakthrough. To celebrate, I made him this book:
Just wanted to share this because I know some of you have pictures you took for Mommy, Teach Me! If they didn't make it through my editor's cut, don't think they were a wasted effort. Gather them up and make your child a little book, too. I used Comic font because I wanted this to be a like an easy reader for Daniel so wanted to have the traditional printed letter shapes we teach pre-readers. Also for the friendly feel.
I laminated the pages because I want them to last. Remember, I've suggested getting a laminator before because laminating will protect any teaching materials you make for your children - especially if you have a large family. Believe me, it will pay for itself - but what you can do is go in with a group of mothers to split the cost and share it.
I hope you like this idea! I'm showing the book to you first. Today I'll put it together and give it to Daniel.
Posted in Montessori, Mothering, Preschoolers | Permalink
Comments
Thank you so much for sharing this. My 6 year old son is autistic spectrum, and he is much as your Daniel was when it comes to chores. The one exception is helping me to put away the clean dishes from the dishwasher. I am not sure why he likes that one chore other than the fact that it is not such a challenge to his poor coordination, and maybe just because he is such a Momma's boy. I try to get him to help with that as often as I can.
Reading Daniel's story gave me hope that he will develop more in that area over the next few years as we continue to encourage him.
Posted by: Sue | February 12, 2009 11:03 PM
Yes, I so understand the joy a breakthrough brings. I am so happy for you and Daniel. It's funny, but things parents of typical kids would find hardly worth a second thought, will have me floating on a cloud.
Posted by: Kelly | February 13, 2009 11:45 AM
