Encouraging and Supporting Age Appropriateness: Real-parent tips

Knowing what’s ‘age-appropriate’ isn’t always straightforward. Children develop at their own pace, and for parents of children with Down syndrome, there can be extra challenges in balancing independence, play, friendships and responsibilities. 

This week, we asked families in our community how they encourage age-appropriate activities while respecting their child’s unique needs and pace. Here’s what they shared, along with some extra suggestions from us.

1. Follow your child’s interests

One parent explained how leaning into what their daughter already enjoys makes trying new activities easier: 

“She loves music, so sometimes we encourage messy play while playing her favourite songs in the background. It doesn’t always last long – five minutes is often enough – but that feels like a win for us.” 

Using your child’s passions (music, movement, favourite toys or themes) can make unfamiliar or tricky activities feel less daunting.

2. Use role play and imagination

A parent shared how dolls and pretend play have helped: 

“She loves dolls, so we pretend the dolls are doing the activity first. She usually wants to copy after that.” 

Role play can take the pressure off and help children approach activities in a fun, low-stress way. 

3. Build on what works

Another parent described how trial and error has shaped their approach with their son, ‘L’ (aged nearly 2): 

“We’ve found over time that he really connects with music, rhyme and signing. So we build those into his learning as much as possible.” 

Finding the ‘hooks’ that spark your child’s attention can make everyday activities feel more engaging.

4. Celebrate every success

‘L’s parent also highlighted the power of encouragement: 

“He’s very, very fond of praise. If he can get 1-1 time with lots of positive feedback for achieving something, he absolutely loves it.” 

Praise and recognition can build confidence – even small celebrations can encourage children to keep trying. 

Additional tips for supporting age appropriateness: 

Alongside these parent insights, here are some extra strategies you might find useful: 

• Break activities into small steps – make tasks manageable and celebrate progress along the way. 
• Use visual cues or routines – timetables, picture prompts or social stories can help children know what to expect. 

Encourage independence in everyday life – simple jobs like putting away toys or helping set the table can be great opportunities to build age-appropriate responsibility. 

Stay flexible – remember that ‘age-appropriate’ doesn’t look the same for every child. Honour your child’s individuality while still opening doors to new experiences. 

You’re not alone 

Supporting age-appropriate activities can be a balancing act, and it’s reassuring to know that many families are working through the same questions. What matters most is finding the approaches that suit your child best, celebrating every little milestone, and remembering that progress looks different for everyone. 

We love hearing from our community of parents – your experiences and ideas bring so much value to others on a similar journey. If you’d like to share your own tip, join us for Top Tips Tuesday in our private Facebook groups. Your insight could be just what another parent needs to hear 💛