Teaching Children with Down Syndrome about Their Bodies, Boundaries, and Sexuality

by Terri Couwenhoven

(2007 ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year 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
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,
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 Choices & Changes in the Tween Years
The Boys' Guide to Growing Choices & Changes during Puberty

Genres: Nonfiction

331 pages, Paperback

First published October 10, 2007

Reviews

[Angie Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a treasurehouse of helpful, practical information, although I must say that the author does not share our Biblical/moral/ethical perspective about sexuality, whether the child has Down Syndrome or not!

[MA]

i never dreamt 14 years ago that this would be on my reading list! DRy dry dry!!!