Involving parents and family environment for enhancing the mathematics education of children with Down syndrome

Abstract

A research project involving 16 children with Down syndrome aged 4–14 approaching mathematics at home was developed during the COVID-19-lockdown in Spain. In the research project a series of 14 short mathematical challenges were designed and delivered in a WhatsApp group used as a communication and documentation tool with the participating families. Videos recorded by them were subsequently analyzed with the purpose of describing and analyzing: (a) the experience children live in contact with informal situations underlying the concepts of number and shape and (b) the engagement of families. The choice of these informal situations is based upon recent research that shows the need to consider the wide range of occasional experiences with mathematical ideas children have in their family prior to schooling. In order to design productive mathematical activities we drew on our past research for the choosing of crucial mathematical issues (whole numbers, plane geometry, and solids). We discuss the evolution in parents from practical help to deep engagement, and the fact that notwithstanding diversity in family contexts, engagement and an especially joyful approach to mathematics emerged. The use of videos opens up a path to the possibility to online learning for children with Down syndrome.