Back in the Groove

In my last homeschooling update, I noted that Reagan was less than motivated to return to our regular homeschooling routine after an entire summer off. I’m happy to report that she is back in the groove of things. Reagan wakes each day excited to begin the day and her usual schooling routine.

Speaking of grooves, it is a well-known fact that people with Down syndrome thrive with something called ‘the groove.’

From Down Syndrome: Visions for the 21st Century, edited by Cohen, Nadel and Madnick, p. 228

"A groove is simply defined as a set pattern or routine in one’s actions or thoughts. In the general population, this tendency may be considered obsessive-compulsive disorder but in the individual with Down syndrome (Ds), it provides them with structure and order. The groove allows people with processing disorders (common in Ds) to have more control over their lives."

When I first discovered the presence and importance of grooves in my research about people with Down syndrome, I noted the fine art of the groove in my daughter’s life. The groove allows her and her very set routine to accomplish the activities of daily living, her school work and recreational time in a set order where she doesn’t have to think about it.

The groove is so common in individuals with Ds that a book, Mental Wellness in Adults with Down Syndrome: A Guide to Emotional and Behavioral Strengths and Challenges by Dennis McGuire and Brian Chicoine, has devoted a whole chapter to these characteristic behaviors. Do not wait until your child is older to get this very important book. It speaks to many issues common to children/teens/adults with Ds, such as challenging behaviors, autism, self-talk, memory issues and much more.