Development of children with down syndrome from birth to six years old based on six areas of development

Abstract

The aim of this research is to provide a general idea of development during the period from birth to six years. This research covers specific aspects of development, such as gross and fine motor, language, cognitive, social and self help development. This research is intended to help parents, families, teachers and other practitioners who work with children of fewer than six years old. Parents wish to know what developmental progress to expect for a child with Down syndrome and how to help the child progress as fast as possible. In this research the researcher used a survey research design whereby the instrument is questionnaire and given to the respondents. The sample of this research only focuses on the children with Down syndrome from the organization and society in Malaysia and typically developing children from birth to six years old. The validity was verified by expert in the education for children with Down syndrome. Finding shows that gross motor development (f= 5.128, dF=17, p= 0.038), fine motor development (f= 1.228, dF=13, p= 0.290), cognitive (f= 0.144, dF=7, p= 0.717), language(f= 3.699, dF=9, p= 0.091), social skill (f= 2.813, dF=5, p= 0.169), and self-help (f= 6.201, dF=5, p= 0.067).The data can be interpreted by there is significant difference between children with Down syndrome and typically developing children across all the areas of development except for gross motor development. In conclusion, both children with Down syndrome and typically developing children will develop all the domains but at their own pace whereby the children with Down syndrome will delay their development.