Publisher's Synopsis
Whether youre just getting started potty training your child with Down syndrome or have been at it for months or years, Potty Time for Kids with Down Syndrome: Lose the Diapers, Not Your Patience offers the specialized guidance needed for you and your child to be successful!Drawing on their years of experience working with and toilet training children with Down syndrome, authors Terry Katz and Lina Patel have created a customizable developmental-behavioral model based on a thorough understanding of how the behaviors of children with Down syndrome are affected by their neurodevelopment. For instance, the low muscle tone common in children with Down syndrome can affect bladder and bowel control. Or a child may be motivated to continue using a diaper because he enjoys the interaction while being changed. The books empathetic and encouraging tone coupled with its positive behavior-based strategies geared specifically to children with Down syndrome will help parents avoid typical challenges. It covers: medical & physical issues (constipation, celiac disease, UTI; behavioral & cognitive challenges (willfulness, sensory issues, etc.); collecting data to help you individualize your training plan; behavioral principles (ignoring undesired behavior, reinforcement, etc.); getting your bathroom ready; trip/schedule training; when to switch from diapers to underwear; proactive strategies to increase success; helpful supports (visual schedules, personalized stories, etc.); handling accidents and bedwetting; working with the school team; desensitization for children who are anxious; using public toilets; teaching bathroom skills (pulling pants up and down, wiping, handwashing); considerations for children who also have an autism spectrum disorder; special challenges (playing in the toilet, obsessively flushing). Plenty of appendices offer forms and logs to help parents plan and track their childrens progress at home and school, and examples of visual supports to use during training. A very useful resources section lists dozens of training products such as books and videos, diapers and specialized clothing, visual timers, and potty stools. With this book, parents and other caregivers in daycare and school settings will find the effective strategies and support they need to help children achieve this important milestone toward greater independence.
