Our Favorite Toys for Young Children with Down Syndrome

With Christmas around the corner, I know many of you are thinking what to get your kids for Christmas. So today I’m sharing with you some of our favorite toys with a focus on building problem solving skills, fine motor skills, and independent play. Helping our children develop problem solving skills and teaching them to persist at a task is so important. Many of our kids need extra practice with fine motor skills, and doing so in the context of play is always the most fun way! And finally sometimes we just need our kids to entertain themselves. Since I don’t give Junior any screen time at all, finding the right toys that will keep him independently occupied is such a big help.

So, here are some of our favorite toys for problem solving, fine motor skills, and independent play:

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12 Great Christmas Gifts for Preschoolers with Down Syndrome

“Oh well, I do nothing but shop all day.” This is a quote from St. Zelie Martin, the mother of St. Therese of Lisieux. I think any mother of a large family can relate… I certainly do! My kids are constantly outgrowing and outwearing everything. She goes on to write, “Your father says, amusingly, that it is a passion with me! It is no use explaining to him that I have no choice; he finds it hard to believe.” (Letter 143)

I find these words so consoling, especially nowadays when I feel I have stupendous amounts of Christmas shopping to do. A saint shopping all day… can you image? Shopping seems so materialistic, but we can find holiness even in shopping if we do it out of love for our family and friends.

So for those of you with littles, here are some Christmas gift ideas to make your shopping a little easier:

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12 Great Gifts for a Toddler with Down Syndrome

Hi, it’s me, Junior. Last time I hacked my mom’s computer, I told you about stuff for a baby shower. But now that I’m a big boy (I recently turned 2 1/2!) I’m here to tell you about my favorite things for a  toddler… with or without T21.

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12 Confirmation Gifts for Teens

Last spring my daughter recieved her Confirmation. It was a beautiful Mass and ceremony, and she was just glowing with joy. I also remember how I racked my poor brain trying to think of suitable gifts. Of course, in a teenager’s mind, cash is always a suitable gift. But if you want to give something that will help your confirmandi grow in his/her faith,  here is a list of 12 confirmation gifts:

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