More Alike Than Different

Kiddos with Down syndrome are more like their typical peers than they are different.  The do almost all the things that typical kids do but it just takes them a little longer.  Often they work twice as hard and twice as long to accomplish something that a typical kid does without much thought or effort.  But they will do it.  I have to remind my self of this on the occasion but so far it has been true:)
Will got this ball game for Christmas last year.  For several months I would show him how to do it and then watch in frustration as he would take the balls and throw them and use the hammer to hit the balls across the floor.  So I put the toy away:(  Then a couple of weeks ago when Ava and Jonas were at our house, Jonas found the game and started playing with it the correct way.  When he got bored and put it down, Will crawled right over to it, pounded on the balls then put them back and started over!  I just shook my head in disbelief.  The influence of Ava and Jonas is priceless.  They are my little built in typical peer models which is a term used in special education for typically developing kids that serve as role models for delayed kiddos.  Will is so lucky to have them!