Cognitive development and improving IQ

What was the first fear that crossed your mind when you learned that your baby has Down Syndrome?

Well, I have a confession to make - for the first few days after AngelicA was born, I couldn't get the R word out of my mind. That's all I could think about, day in and day out. I was very, very worried about my baby's cognitive development. I imagined the worst, mostly because the pediatrician at the hospital painted a very bleak picture of what her (and our) future would be - which included statements like her intelligence will, at best, be comparable to that of an 11 year old. In hindsight, I think I worried excessively and needlessly.

Angel is now a happy and healthy two year old. She is smart, curious and fiercely independent. She insists on feeding and dressing herself. She even puts on her own shoes. How different is that from a regular two year old? She manages to navigate a reasonably complex playground set up and can climb up a 10 feet tall slide all by herself. She is an amazing dancer and is on the floor the minute the music starts to play. She loves to read and she loves to learn. One of my closest friends, Freeda, never tires of telling me that she has yet to come across a two year old who is as much into books as my little Angel is.

We have no clue about her IQ and we have come to realize that it doesn't really matter. AngelicA's IQ will probably not be the sole determinant of her future well-being or happiness. Of course that doesn't mean we are going to sit back and just let life take its course. We do our bit toward enhancing her cognitive development. We try to provide a stimulating environment at home, we expose her to new things/situations/places and people on a regularly basis. We try to stretch her and challenge her, and we keep our expectations high.



Step back everyone. I can handle this



As AngelicA grows, I wonder if there's anything that we can do to further enhance her cognitive development. And I don't mean giving her any drugs. There's enough evidence to show that doing some simple things can go a long way. Here are some:

Play - In our pursuit, it seems like we completely underestimated the importance of play. Play is important to healthy brain development, says this article, emphasising that play allows children to use their creativity while developing their imagination, dexterity, and physical, cognitive, and emotional strength. "It is through play that children at a very early age engage and interact in the world around them. Play allows children to create and explore a world they can master... As they master their world, play helps children develop new competencies that lead to enhanced confidence and the resiliency they will need to face future challenges," say the authors of the article .

Music - Some studies (see here and here) indicate that music training can also improve cognitive development in kids.

Dance - Here is an article which suggests that dance may be helpful for children with special needs.

I will definitely consider music training at some point because Angel loves music. Any impact on her cognitive function as a result of it will only be an added bonus.

Here's some additional reading on the subject:
How to Improve Your Child's IQ: Learning the Basics
Exciting Advances in Down Syndrome Cognitive Research

Do you have any thoughts or suggestions on this subject? Please send your comments to downsyndromeparenting@gmail.com. I would love to hear from you.

Thanks for reading,
JD