Pointing It Out

We went to an ice cream social this afternoon with our DS group and it was tons of fun. The sky was overcast, but the temperature was perfect and there was a huge, fenced in (I am a big fan of fences around playgrounds)...er...well...playground that the kids got a real kick out of. Not to mention...ICE CREAM! And, Georgia's new-found favorite (which she will shove a bowl of ice cream out of the way for) Gummi Bears! It wasn't a huge group, but a good group.

There is one family we are friends with and somewhat regularly see. They have two girls, their oldest is G's age and "typical" and their younger daughter is around R's age and has DS. The older daughter is coming to terms in a lot of ways with DS. What it means etc. She kept asking how old R is and how old G is. I am sure it is confusing to a little kid that R (who can speak pretty well and get around with a more sure foot, etc) is not only YOUNGER than G, but also, the SAME AGE as her little sister--both of whom are not talking much just yet, and still don't have quite the same coordination. She must have asked R about 10 times how old he was. At one point she said something about Georgia looking like another little girl at the social who has DS. "G looks like C," she said. And it's true! I said something like, "Yes, and they both have long hair." She said, "Yes. But also, their faces kind of look the same."

They do. G and C look like they could be twins.

Alex heard the little girl at one point saying to Georgia, "I bet you have Down syndrome."

It's so interesting! How a child thinks. WHAT they think. Kids are trying to come to terms with differences just like the rest of us. And sometimes, it seems, in a more honest or forthright way.

I notice little things now with Rainer. He knows Georgia needs a little extra help here and there. He says things to her like, "Georgia, say 'Firetruck.'" Or whatever it is he is hoping she will say. When she does something he is not expecting she will do he wil exclaim, "Georgia did it! Georgia did it, Mommy!"

He is clearly used to our routines and celebrations surrounding our attempts to get her to talk or do things.

I don't really have anything profound to say about it though. It just is what it is. And I wonder what this journey will look like as the kids get older.

Comments

[starrlife]

So true and interesting. Children will often ask re: how old Kayli is and I can see their little minds spinning. Sometimes they will ask about her speech or why she is in 4th grade and I usually just say everyone is different and special in their own way or something to that effect :)
I like it when they ask questions.

[tracy]

The most refreshing thing about kids noticing differences is that at first they don't see the differences as bad just different. I wish all adults could approch people with special needs in that same way.

[Alison]

Oddly, the differences most preschool kids seem to notice in Maybelle at this point are gender differences: "Why isn't she wearing a skirt?" I often get asked, or "Is she a boy or a girl?"

As for sibling encouragement, Michael Berube has a great description of this in his book--a description of how ecstatic Nick would get about Jamie's development, and how thrilling this was to Jamie and to the parents.

[krlr]

My two are starting to... not play, but interact more. Counter-intuitively because I've been asking my son to watch his sister for a few min here & there (to grab a load of laundry, or cooking dinner). His attn to her has started to spill over to the rest of the day - which I LOVE. Though I worry about putting too much on him. I guess I don't really expect them to play together given the 3 yr age diff. You're right - wondering how this'll all play out!

[hard plastic kiddie pool]

One of the importnat thinghs parents need to rebember, they should allow the childs to ask question. it will increase the learning ability. Some parents think their childern are stupid if they ask question.