DownSyn Forum

3gifts

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1032600/Parents-fury-Downs-Syndrome-dolls-designed-help-children-deal-disability.html

I'm not really a fan of these dolls. They look like a stereotype, not beautiful and diverse like our kids. JMHO.

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Anna

DH & Daddy Scott

Evan (9), Izzie (4), Maddie (DS) 03/05/07 AVSD Repaired @ 3 months

kris10z · Posted: July 20 2008, 1:24 PM Post subject:

I liked the idea of the doll when I first heard of them years ago, but I really couldn't stand that all of them had their tongues hanging out. My son does not sit there with his tongue hanging out all the time- sometimes when his low tone gets the best of him it does, but not very often.

I don't think that the idea behind a "disabled" doll is malicious, I understand it. I know that St. Jude's Hospital has dolls with IV lines and such so that the patient has something to connect with. I'm fine with that. It helps the child. And, if a child with CP in a wheelchair is brought happiness because there is a doll out there just for them, then FABULOUS.

I just wish that the Ds dolls were not so- oh, how to say it? Out of date stereotypes??? Make sense?

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Kristen: Wife to Scott, Mama Bear to Ethan
(05/25/01, DS & ALL)
Taking the Step to a Healthier Self with Juice Plus+
www.fillthegap-juiceplus.com

kittycat3376 · Posted: July 20 2008, 5:24 PM Post subject:

You know what would be really awesome?...A special order DS doll. They could create an order form, where you provide info. on your child's hair color, eye color, skin tone, ang gender, then check boxes to indicate what DS features your child has. For the features your child doesn't have, they would simply use regular doll parts. Then they would truly have DS dolls that are as diverse as our kids.

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http://www.carepages.com/carepages/DavidLucas

klem · Posted: August 19 2008, 11:13 AM Post subject:

Geez, if they would have made the eyes straight, and I mean even, not level, it would help... LOL and why the tongue out? I know that this is a problem for some kids but it's not a descriptive that you'd expect to see on a doll. Oh well. They got the basic idea they just lack the real understanding.

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Kelley, Chris's wife
mom of Taylor 16, Daulton 12, Cameron 10 & Drake 7 (DS)

teddyjoe · Posted: August 19 2008, 11:42 AM Post subject:

That doll is very odd looking with that full head of hair and tongue! Yikes. The ones from Camp Venture are a little cuter, I think.

http://www.campventure.org/cv/home.nsf/fOrderForm

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Jennifer
Teddy Joe's very proud mommy.

Downmama · Posted: August 19 2008, 12:28 PM Post subject: I think it's the tongue

I think it's the tongue that messes this up for me.

Not all children with DS have their tongue protrude. It's a habit that if you catch them when they're little you can break. We used to poke Zach's tongue and say "Tongue in!"

He got out of it. I don't think everyone realizes that.

Zach had a doll when he was a baby that was made by adults with DS. It was a cloth doll with a cloth face. It had hair and stuff. It had the folds in the eyes. It did not have the tongue protrude.

I loved that doll and so did he.

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Annette52 · Posted: March 03 2010, 9:15 PM Post subject: DS doll

Maybe people don't like the doll because it's ugly. I bought my daughter a Cabbage Patch doll, many long years ago, because I thought that the Cabbage Patch dolls all looked like they had DS and she'd enjoy that - without me pointing it out.

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Annette

AliMama · Posted: March 05 2010, 10:18 PM Post subject:

Ugggh! I agree that it's a nice idea poorly executed.

_________________
Maresa,
Mom to Alisa (10-29-2008) DS, complete AV canal repair on 3-6-2009