Hannah and her husband David have two children, 2-year-old Amy and Ethan, 4, who has Down syndrome.
So tell us about Ethan...
Ethan is a very sensitive and caring little boy. He loves playing with his sister Amy, she鈥檚 great for Ethan and he鈥檚 great for her. They鈥檙e a little team. He loves the outdoors 鈥 swimming, climbing trees and camping, in particular. David鈥檚 a scout leader so that helps! He鈥檚 suddenly really got into dinosaurs and enjoys doing dinosaur 鈥榬oars鈥. Games, singing and listening to music are a huge passion too. Music has rhythm and helps with Ethan鈥檚 memory, so it helps make learning fun. He has the same range of emotions as any child and like anyone, he can sometimes be grumpy, but Ethan is Ethan and he鈥檚 totally outstanding. We鈥檙e so lucky to have him.
Communicating with Makaton
Baby signing was something we were always planning to do when we had children. It鈥檚 a great way they can explain themselves and feel less frustrated.
And when we found out Ethan has Down syndrome, we were even more determined. We found and joined an amazing local , who introduced us to Makaton. We started watching Mr Tumble when Ethan was around 6 months old and also also found a great website and YouTube channel from , who are two mums who sing and sign in Makaton.
Ethan picked it up so quickly 鈥 he was signing basic signs from about 6 months 鈥 I had to go on a Makaton course with a charity called so we could keep up with him. I thought it would be hard because I wasn鈥檛 great at languages at school but it鈥檚 so logical. Amy now uses it too, as do our friends and family and teachers at Ethan鈥檚 mainstream school.
Makaton makes our home life very calm as we don't misunderstand each other
You have fewer temper tantrums because everyone can get across what needs to be said. It鈥檚 helping us all and we鈥檙e learning from each other. It鈥檚 also a beautiful thing to do together. Makaton gives Amy and Ethan a voice, but it鈥檚 also given me confidence. We were at a restaurant for Ethan鈥檚 birthday recently and I taught the waiting staff so they could join in with singing and signing happy birthday.
How we follow Ethan鈥檚 lead
Ethan is reaching his milestones at his own pace. We adapt the surroundings to suit him and help him reach his full potential, rather than trying to change him. For example, he might not want to sit at the table one day, so we鈥檒l sit on the floor together. We鈥檝e never said 鈥榙o this, do that鈥, that would make him do something that he doesn鈥檛 want to do.
All our learning happens through play and because he鈥檚 interested, he wants to do it.
Yes, it might take us a week to achieve something and we might have to repeat ourselves but he does it, he works it out. And when he does, it makes your heart sing. Take storyboards. At the beginning of one week, I started by drawing the pictures and writing the words for him and by Friday, he鈥檇 drawn the pictures himself and written the words himself, in his own way.
Music is so important in our house; singing and signing are a key part of our speech therapy. Although Ethan has mild hearing loss 鈥 he鈥檚 had hearing aids since he was 8 weeks old 鈥 he picks songs up very fast and can sign anything from a basic nursery rhyme up to the whole of the Greatest Showman. His favourite song at the moment is The Lion Sleeps Tonight and he鈥檚 really got into Nick Cope鈥檚 Popcast 鈥 although he doesn鈥檛 sign, the songs are slow and rhythmic so Ethan can pick them up and he can sing along.
Amy is a huge support for Ethan. She goes with Ethan everywhere, including hospital appointments and she鈥檚 there when I do speech therapy at home. You鈥檒l see her pick up a pen and draw something straightway, and then you鈥檒l see Ethan pick it up but not massively do anything. But then with her encouragement, he鈥檒l draw something.
Ethan surprises us every day.
Recently he鈥檚 been watching David turn on the hose every day to water the garden but we didn鈥檛 realise he knew how to do it. The other day he turned the tap on and sprayed us all. You can never underestimate him.
Finding a support network
Ethan鈥檚 changed our lives for the better. I鈥檝e always wanted to teach and because of Ethan, I鈥檓 now doing that.
I would always recommend finding support to other parents.
There is loads of online support available 鈥 we love , all about the ups and downs of having a child with Down syndrome. We鈥檝e also got an amazing group of friends through PSDS. No one judges or compares, they鈥檙e so supportive and they understand, which is amazing. We鈥檇 be lost without them.
One thing that鈥檚 really important to us is that you should never compare yourself or your child to others 鈥 it鈥檚 just not worth it.
And never give up on those days you think your child isn鈥檛 listening to you because you鈥檙e always helping and teaching them without you even realising. They will surprise you by what they can do.
The journey you are on with your child won鈥檛 always be straightforward but it鈥檚 the most rewarding trip you will ever take. Your child will always get there so don鈥檛 put pressure on yourself or them.
For more information on Makaton and to find a course near you, check out the .
