What we do

• Development group
• Speech and language
• Early education
• Developing social interaction
• Music therapy
• After School Activities
• Other activities
• Resources

Development Group

digbies was set up as a natural progression to the monthly support group run by families who have a child with Down syndrome in Surrey and the surrounding areas. The monthly meetings have proved very successful and worthwhile, supporting all members of the families involved.

There evolved, from these meetings, a desire to provide more support for the children with Down syndrome, especially in the area of speech and language and early learning interventions. From this desire came digbies!

digbies takes place each Friday in term time with a morning and an afternoon session. The morning session is for children aged 18 months to 3 years and the afternoon session for children 3 years to entry into full time school. The idea behind the sessions is to provide both structured and unstructured activities  with the emphasis on learning through play. Parents and carers take part in all activities with the children, hopefully taking away a range of fun and exciting  things to try out at home.

The group is run by a great team of people who work very hard to ensure the children learn and develop whilst having a great deal of fun. Children are encouraged to take part in all activities aimed at developing  communication, social, emotional, physical and educational skills. They are encouraged to be independent in a safe and secure environment where they experience success.

If your child (aged 18 months or over) is not already attending digbies and you are interested in discussing a place for them please email Jenny@digbies.com or committee@psds.info

Speech and language

Each week children have a speech and language therapy session with Jo our excellent and very experienced speech and language therapist. This session is in addition to the speech therapy all children receive from the NHS. Jo liaises with the NHS therapists to ensure consistency and continuity that enables the children to meet their overall targets. Jo has attended a course on “talk tools” which she has now introduced into her sessions.

Early Education

Early reading, writing and number activities are introduced by Jenny, an experienced teacher, following on from the great work done with the children in their portage home visits and early development groups. This is a short session where the parents and carers help their children with activities and take away ideas to try out and practise at home.

The early education work is supported through a variety of play activities. This is to encourage children’s learning through play. Clear objectives are set for all these play situations and the aim is to consolidate work being done by the rest of the team.

Music therapy

Also available to the children each week is a session with Victoria who is a talented musician and is training to be a music therapist. The children love the  music Victoria plays on a variety of instruments.

Music therapy can offer a wide range of benefits for children and adults of all ages and abilities.  You do not need to be able to ‘play’ an instrument to benefit from music therapy, every aspect of life involves musical elements such as; rhythm (breathing, walking), melody (speech intonation) etc.  Listening to and playing music involves most areas of the brain and can stimulate communication between each area facilitating and strengthening development.   For children with Down syndrome and developmental delays, music therapy can offer a motivating and encompassing form of multi-sensory stimulation. 

• Elements of turn taking, anticipation, social interaction, and communication are involved in music making - offering grounding for development of conversational and relationship skills.
• Playing instruments and singing requires fine/gross motor skills and coordination, which can aid physical strength and self-awareness.   
• Cognitive skills involved in making music can be facilitated further by singing about colours, numbers, shapes etc - in music therapy these educational elements are not a ‘goal’ to increase intelligence, but to help aid social interaction in the child’s natural environment.
• Music is also highly emotive, and can offer some understanding of basic emotions, and allow a form of expression, while in a supportive context. 

Music therapy can work on many levels, outwardly offering a motivational activity while intricately offering a chance for physical, emotional and cognitive development.

For more information on music therapy please visit the Association for Professional Music Therapists at: www.apmt.org 

Developing social interaction

At the beginning and end of each Friday the children have time for singing and signing led by Jo and Victoria. A great way for both children and adults to pick up a few signs!

The group is also supported each week by Fran and Pat who come along to help look after younger siblings, which enables parents to concentrate on their child with Down syndrome. They also help with children’s snack time and general clearing away duties!

After School Activities

Once children move on to attending school they can take part in our weekly after school drama club which takes place on Wednesdays during term time at St. Matthews Church in Redhill (4.15-5.15pm). The purpose of the drama club is two-fold - it provides a unique opportunity for children with Down syndrome to socialise and network with a group of their peers who also have Down syndrome and, in addition, it is also a great opportunity for individual development. Poems, stories, songs and music are used in the weekly sessions to great effect - the children love these activities and enjoy joining in both physically and verbally.

Other activities

Each term a new activity is featured in the afternoon group - we have had yoga sessions and sessions run by Socatots. The children who attend the afternoon digbies group are currently enjoying drama activities led by Mini P's.

Resources

We have a cupboard full of wonderful resources at Lloyd Hall in Outwood that can be borrowed at any time – including reference books of Makaton signs; sing and sign CD’s and books; Something Special DVD’s; educational games and learning resources such as downsed international lotto sets and computer games; not to mention a whole host of other useful bits and pieces!

Check out what’s available when you come along to the next psds or digbies meeting and email the committee (committee@psds.info) if you have suggestions of other resources you feel we should add to our rapidly expanding cupboard! Please feel free to also suggest any fundraising ideas that will help us to keep our resources updated!

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