Fine Motor Skills for Children With Down Syndrome. A Guide for Parents And Professionals Topics in Down Syndrome

Editorial Review
The popular book, Fine Motor Skills for Children with Down Syndrome is now available in an expanded new edition. Written by an occupational therapist who has worked extensively with children with Down syndrome, and is also the mother a teenager with Down syndrome, this book explains the best practices and procedures for helping children master daily living skills for home, school, and an independent future. The author presents a thorough overview of the building blocks of fine motor development and how the characteristics of Down syndrome can impact the acquisition and progression of fine motor skills. She also explains the building blocks of fine motor development: Stability Bilateral coordination Sensation Dexterity Early arm and hand control And important daily living skills for home and school: Dressing and grooming Eating and drinking Cutting Grasping a pencil Preprinting skills Drawing Printing Cursive handwriting There are instructions for dozens of easy home- and school-based activities, which help children gradually overcome delays and learn the fine motor skills mentioned above. The author suggests ways for parents to incorporate these exercises into as many day-to-day activities as possible, recognizing how impractical it is to constantly be in ?therapy? mode with a child. New material includes a chapter on problems with sensory processing for those who are over- or under-responsive to touch, or have unexpected reactions to sound, pain, or other sensations. Being aware of these sensitivities can open pathways to better behavior and responsiveness to therapy. Also new is information about a critical developmental step--determining when a child is ready for preprinting activities. These and many other additions make this the most up-to-date, comprehensive resource on fine motor development for children with Down syndrome.
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Customer Reviews

Great Practical Strategies from a Special Day Class Teacher

2007-10-27
I would recommend buying this book since it includes many practical strategies with working with children with low cognitive functioning. We, as teachers, need practical ideas based by "best practice" research that we can implement immediately after reading a book. This is a book by a seasoned special education teacher and I recommend it highly.

Great book!

2007-04-12
This is a great book for anyone working with or parenting children with down syndrome (and fascinating for anyone with children). It covers development based on stages rather than ages, so the focus can be on the child and not on a outwardly determined norm for development.

Great Helps!

2007-01-09
This book offers so much help for parents, grandparents, teachers, anyone working with children who have down Syndrome. It gives so much help, ideas, insights... well, the list just goes on.

Recommended for all teachers, parents, guardians, grandparents, caregivers and counselors for children with Down Syndrome

2006-06-04
The substantially revised and updated second edition of Fine Motor Skills For Children With Down Syndrome: A Guide For Parents And Professionals by pediatric occupational therapist Maryanne Bruni offers a thoroughly "user friendly" study detailing particular tactics and effective strategies for training the motor skills of children with Down Syndrome. Introducing readers to invaluable tips on determining when a child is ready for preprinting and printing activities, strategies for encouraging self-help skills for independent living, research on how children with Down Syndrome learn, expanded suggestions for useful toys, activities, equipment, and grandparent lists, useful information for computer use, and more, Fine Motor Skills For Children With Down Syndrome enables a thorough grasp of greatly helpful and very practical information for a more educated approach to aiding children with Down syndrome. For its concise and essential comprehension of dire information, Fine Motor Skills For Children With Down Syndrome is very strongly recommended for all teachers, parents, guardians, grandparents, caregivers and counselors for children with Down Syndrome.

Must have reference for pediatric occupational therapist

2000-02-29
Maryanne Bruni has taken the best of both worlds of knowledge-therapist and parent of Down syndrome child--and combined them when she wrote this terrific guide. Listing developmental sequences step by step for scissors and handwriting skills helps me explain to parents what to work on at home and what to expect next. This guide should be in every pediatric facility and early childhood program's library. It covers all the practical hands-on treatment ideas that get glossed over in OT school. Thanks, Maryanne.

Easy to read book for both parents and professionals.

2000-02-17
The popular book, Fine Motor Skills for Children with Down Syndrome is now available in an expanded new edition. Written by an occupational therapist who has worked extensively with children with Down syndrome, and is also the mother a teenager with Down syndrome, this book explains the best practices and procedures for helping children master daily living skills for home, school, and an independent future. The author presents a thorough overview of the building blocks of fine motor development and how the characteristics of Down syndrome can impact the acquisition and progression of fine motor skills. She also explains the building blocks of fine motor development: Stability Bilateral coordination Sensation Dexterity Early arm and hand control And important daily living skills for home and school: Dressing and grooming Eating and drinking Cutting Grasping a pencil Preprinting skills Drawing Printing Cursive handwriting There are instructions for dozens of easy home- and school-based activities, which help children gradually overcome delays and learn the fine motor skills mentioned above. The author suggests ways for parents to incorporate these exercises into as many day-to-day activities as possible, recognizing how impractical it is to constantly be in ?therapy? mode with a child. New material includes a chapter on problems with sensory processing for those who are over- or under-responsive to touch, or have unexpected reactions to sound, pain, or other sensations. Being aware of these sensitivities can open pathways to better behavior and responsiveness to therapy. Also new is information about a critical developmental step--determining when a child is ready for preprinting activities. These and many other additions make this the most up-to-date, comprehensive resource on fine motor development for children with Down syndrome.

An encouraging help for parents

2000-02-08
This is an excellent resource for parents of young children with Down syndrome. The author is encouraging and helpful, offering several activities for reaching each goal. Her explanation of the components of fine motor coordination are very helpful in allowing a more complete understanding of the reason why your child is doing each activity he/she does. I consult with this book regularly and it has given our OT some ideas as well!