IT’S OKAY TO TAKE A BREAK from TEACHING

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In Down Syndrome Parenting, Down Syndrome Reading, Education, Teaching Down syndrome
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???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????Sometimes it’s just all too much.

That goes for both kids and parents. It’s wisdom to teach our kids to read if no one else is doing a good job of it, and…

It’s also wisdom to just take a break and live a life that’s whole, satisfying, and meets everyone’s needs. Everyone’s needs.*

I had a student this week who, at age 7, was so exhausted from adjusting to a very long day at school and aftercare that he had just had it. His way of saying, “I’m mad as hell and I’m not gonna take it anymore!” was, of course, to act out.

So I had a very straight-talking conference with mom and dad while the child slept exhausted on his dad’s lap. I recommended that he and they take a break from reading lessons.

You did? That’s right, I did. I really did.

Finding The Balance

We all have our limits when we hit the wall and just can’t do any more. We are organic creatures, and we have to stay in balance or we head for a meltdown. Balance means that we’re paying attention to our gut, no matter what the crazy “Monkey Mind” is chattering at you (an acquaintance calls it the “neurotic roommate in your mind.”) You actually know what you need and what your child needs in order to bring harmony and balance into your lives.

So, “Just do it.” Have the courage to do what may not be politically correct, nor highly recommended by the “experts” who don’t live with your child.

Stop Teaching Now

So what did I recommend to this mom and dad? A couple of things:

  • Don’t teach him reading during the week when he’s in his long school days. Just don’t.
  • On Saturdays and Sundays, both days, teach him for five minutes twice a day. (I outlined a teaching plan for them which included both high interest materials and high-frequency words.) After an initial adjustment, he’ll come to expect it on Saturdays and Sundays.
  • Sketch out a Plan A, B, and C for times that might work for those 5 minutes. Ya gotta have two backup plans, because Plan A might flop. If you haven’t thought through some other options, you’ll be tempted to say, “Aw, forget it. This isn’t going to work.”
  • Plan for a Summertime resuming of reading lessons, and make sure his Summer School schedule is light.
  • Do snuggle and read aloud at bedtime.
  • That’s it.

The Happy Truth

The good news is this: even if you’re only teaching your child for those 4 times each weekend, you’re not dropping the ball. Frequency and perseverance rule when it comes to teaching reading to our kids with Down syndrome. Don’t worry about it. Just ramp it up when the time seems right.

And if you need a review of any reading “how to’s”, just search in the box to the right on this page. You’ll find what you need.

Now go take a nap.

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* See the chapter titled “Nurturing the Parent” in the book “Down Syndrome Parenting 101: Must-Have Advice for Making Your Life Easier”! Tip: head chapter quote is, “Ain’t Mama happy, ain’t nobody happy.”

 

 

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