How well do children with Down syndrome do with mathematics?

Q: How well do children with Down syndrome do with mathematics?
A:
Children and adults with Down syndrome vary widely in their achievements and interest in number skills and mathematics. There is only a small amount of research in the area and little that provides guidance for effective teaching methods and materials. Typically, the achievements of individuals with Down syndrome in number are at a lower level than their achievements in literacy. However, there is a wide range of progress and while some children find number difficult, other children with Down syndrome enjoy mathematics

The games and activities for teaching children about numbers in their early years should be fun and encourage an interest in learning. Developing children's language understanding is an essential part of early maths learning and methods for promoting the development of language skills should be incorporated into pre-school maths activities. Maths activities will also promote children's more general language and cognitive development.

The children's visual learning strengths can be used to support learning about number and maths. Learning will also be influenced by daily activities and play with the support of their families and carers.

Developing an enjoyment of maths through play, visual and language learning games will help children to join in and progress when they go to school, as well as laying the foundations for understanding the system of number. Introducing the language, ideas and relevance of time and money in children's early years, together with more typical number and early maths concepts, may help children with Down syndrome to master these areas of abstract measurement and problem solving that are currently challenging for the majority of young people with Down syndrome.

http://www.down-syndrome.org/updates/2031/