How do you punish a kid with Down syndrome?

Answer 1

There is always a reason for problem behavior:

Children sometimes have trouble communicating, because they may not know the words to describe how they are feeling or what to do in a difficult situation. Thus children engage in challenging behavior to serve a purpose. That purpose may be getting someone's attention, stopping an activity, or gaining sensory pleasure -- but there is always a reason behind the behavior. There can be many reasons behind one specific behavior:

Children with challenging behavior are sending adults the message that something is not right or that their needs are not being met. There could be many reasons for a specific behavior, such as being hungry, scared, hurt, sad or angry. Some children have a particularly hard time knowing how to tell adults they are angry, so they act out in ways that get them into trouble. Other children may engage in behavior that seems destructive because they enjoy the physical sensation, for example punching things or pulling threads from clothing. Sometimes children feel unsafe or out of control, so they take inappropriate action over the things they do control, like being able to kick or hurt someone. A child who has tried several times to communicate to adults about what she needs, but whose needs remain unmet, will often use problem behavior as a way of sending a very loud message. Adults can learn to understand and interpret children's challenging behavior:

Since children often express what they need through behavior, many adults face the challenge of figuring out the meaning behind the child's behavior. All children, but especially those who display challenging behavior, need the consistency of a reliable and loving adult who will provide support and guidance, especially during difficult times. Just as it is important to find meaning in children's behavior, it is equally important for adults to be aware of the meaning in their own behavior. Children learn a lot through the messages that adults send everyday. Children's challenging behavior can be reduced with support, not punishment:

Once adults understand what children are communicating through their behavior, they can respond better. When children feel respected and have their needs met, there is no longer a reason to use challenging behavior to communicate. Yelling at or punishing a child for a behavior may stop the behavior for the moment, but it does not give the child support or provide alternate ways to act in difficult situations. When adults use punishment, they are sending the message that anger is a good way to solve problems. When adults help children find positive ways to communicate their needs to others, children learn important social and problem-solving skills that will help them throughout their life.

* Being a parent, you wouldn't punish any child, let alone a child who has Down syndrome. * Being a parent and grandparent, I beg to differ. If you never punish a child, how do you discipline them. If a child is misbehaving that child should be punished according to the infraction -- by that I don't mean you should beat or abuse a child. There are other ways to punish a child without causing harm. Time-outs, grounding, restricted TV and computer time -- these are just ways of teaching a child. I wouldn't care to meet a teenager who thinks that they can do whatever they want without any consequences. Come to think of it, I have met some of those kids and they are nothing more than spoiled juvenile delinquents.

A child with Down syndrome can learn to behave; you just have to be consistent in disciplining them and it does not have to be harsh. A simple time-out every time will eventually work.