“MOON!!” 😁 Teaching Lydia to speak is one of the most rewarding aspects of our lives. She is incredibly smart and understands so much, but articulating words takes longer. We’ve found a few things that really help. #1 is experiences! Some of her first words were go, hat, car, and shoes because those are words associated with getting out—which she loves! I started teaching her animal sounds, but it wasn’t until we walked down the street to see some sheep that she really embraced and understood the sheep says “Baa!” We had similar experiences with ducks and cats. It’s so fun to watch her brain connect all the dots. #2 We sing all day long! 😆 You would not believe the number of times I have sung Itsy Bitsy Spider, Monkeys on the Bed, or any other kid song I ever learned 😅 And we do actions! Because she typically picks up signs before actual words. Daily time with Super Simple Songs on YouTube & Baby Signing Time are also part of our schedule. Finally, repetition. Every child learns by repetition, but kids with DS require many many many more exposures before they acquire/master a skill. This means that routines and regular phrases are a part of our lives & it’s actually enjoyable! Just recently Lydie’s speech has started to really improve. She tries to sing along to songs (!) and repeats more intelligibly words that we say. The other day I entered her room with a toy and she looked up and exclaimed “‘Olly!!!” (Dolly!) These moments are so fun and make my heart explode. She teaches me to be more intentional, to slow down, to really listen & seek to understand, and to celebrate BIG!! 💛 #misslydiefaith #theluckyfew #downsyndromeawareness
#am_nationalparks #mangosdoarches
