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October is Respect Life Month. It is also Down Syndrome Awareness Month—“a month to raise awareness and celebrate the many abilities of our loved ones with Down syndrome.” Respect for life and celebrating the abilities of those with DS go hand in hand.
When parents receive a Down syndrome diagnosis for their preborn baby or for their baby after he is born, they are usually instilled with fear and handed stats for all the things that their child will not be able to do. They are not told of all the wonderful things that child can do or of the love they will feel for him and of the lessons they will learn.
In America, “estimates of abortion of babies diagnosed with Down syndrome range from 60% to 90%. In Iceland, that number is nearly 100%, while in Denmark it’s 98%, and in Australia, it is about 90%.” These are sickening statistics. That’s why Down syndrome advocacy organizations, such as Team Iron Will, work every day to champion the abilities of kids with DS. And if we ever want to change our culture and eliminate the fear that comes with this diagnosis, we must teach the truth.
One of the ways parents can teach the truth is to talk to their kids and help them see the beauty of those with Down syndrome. This lesson booklet from the Culture of Life Studies Program for kids in kindergarten through second grade entitled All Shapes and Sizes can help with that.
Below are 7 reasons your kids will love this CLSP lesson.
This four-week lesson booklet addresses the following topics: the creation of every person in God’s image and likeness, Down syndrome, autism, and caring for sick and elderly persons. These lessons help children to grow in compassion and love for their fellow human beings.
This 104-page booklet breaks the topics down into four weeks of study, and each week accompanies the reading of a popular children’s book. As you explore Down syndrome, you will read The Prince Who Was Just Himself by Silke Schnee. It’s a charming story of a prince born with Down syndrome who saves the kingdom.
Kids need concrete illustrations of the fact that all human beings are created in the image of God and that every person has unique gifts and talents. This lesson helps kids discover their own talents and see the beauty in what others can do.
Not only do our questions help the child understand the reading, but they help the child think about the value of all people. CLSP even provides suggested answers to help parents know what to say.
Throughout the book, there are 19 butterflies depicted. Can you find them all? Kids love this hunting expedition!
The booklet provides the links to three short videos that explore the lives of people with Down syndrome and highlight their accomplishments. This helps children see that those with DS are very much like them.
After each day’s lesson, parents are encouraged to do the craft activity described. For this book, kids can make a snowflake, which illustrates the fact that we are all unique. They can make a castle or a crown. They can even make a butterfly snack with fruit!
All Shapes and Sizes is a fantastic way to teach valuable lessons to your kids. Download it today and explore the beauty of every human being.
Susan Lochner Ciancio has a BA in psychology and a BA in sociology from the University of Notre Dame and an MLS from Indiana University. She has worked as a writer and editor since 2003; nearly 17 of those years have been in the pro-life sector. Currently, she is the editor of American Life League’s Celebrate Life Magazine—the nation’s premier Catholic pro-life magazine. She is also the director and executive editor of ALL’s Culture of Life Studies Program—a pre-K-12 Catholic pro-life education organization. Susan has written hundreds of Catholic and secular articles and has edited nearly two dozen books.
