Diagnosis & need
Au pair support for a child with Down's syndrome (trisomy 21)
Support for families with a child with Down's syndrome
Every child with Down's syndrome (trisomy 21) develops individually. Some children only need extra support in everyday family life now and again, while others need more time and support with daily routines, communication or independence.
At the same time, kindergarten or school, therapies, leisure activities, work, siblings and ordinary family life all have to be fitted together.
An au pair for a child with Down's syndrome can support families in daily life, create extra time and take pressure off parents with many everyday tasks.
At Besondere Sterne, we place au pairs specifically with families with children with and without a disability or additional needs – including families with children with trisomy 21.
Down's syndrome is not the same for every child
The diagnosis of trisomy 21 alone does not say how independent a child is or how much support they need.
Some children speak early and a lot, others need more time with language development or use additional forms of communication.
Some children are very independent physically, others need more support with certain activities.
Personality, temperament, interests, abilities and stage of development also differ from child to child.
This is why, at Besondere Sterne, we do not simply look for some generic "au pair for Down's syndrome".
We want to find a person who fits this particular child and their family.
How can an au pair support a child with Down's syndrome?
An au pair can be with a child in ordinary everyday family life and support parents with many everyday tasks.
Depending on age, stage of development and independence, an au pair can, for example:
- play, read, do crafts or be active outdoors together,
- accompany kindergarten or school runs,
- accompany the child to leisure activities or therapy appointments,
- support everyday routines,
- support getting dressed, tidying up or mealtimes,
- help carry familiar structures and daily routines,
- give the child enough time for independent activities,
- get to know the agreed forms of communication,
- shape afternoons and free time together,
- look after siblings,
- prepare simple meals for the children,
- take on light tasks around the children,
- take on babysitting within the agreed working hours.
Which tasks make sense always depends on the individual child and the family's everyday life.
More time for development and independence
Some everyday things simply need a bit more time.
Putting on a coat.
Doing up shoes.
Packing a bag.
Setting the table.
Tidying something away.
Making a decision.
Carrying out a familiar routine independently.
In the rush of everyday family life, adults sometimes quickly take over such tasks themselves.
An au pair can create extra time.
Time to try things out.
Time to repeat.
Time to manage the next step alone.
Because support does not mean taking as much as possible off a child's hands.
Support can also mean having the patience not to take something over straight away.
Communication at the child's own pace
Language development in children with Down's syndrome can vary a great deal.
Some children communicate mainly through spoken language. Others also use signs, pictures, symbols or other forms of augmentative and alternative communication.
An au pair does not need to already know these forms of communication.
Parents can show how their child communicates, which signs or aids they use, and how they express wishes and needs.
What matters is the willingness to get to know and take seriously the child's individual way of communicating.
Therapy is part of everyday life – but not every day has to be therapy
Physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy or other support programmes can be part of the weekly schedule of a child with trisomy 21.
An au pair can accompany a child to an appointment or look after siblings while parents attend one.
However, they do not replace a therapist and do not carry out independent therapeutic measures.
And just as important:
Not every free minute has to be about development or therapy.
The playground.
Swimming.
Meeting friends.
Listening to music.
Doing crafts.
Baking.
Being outside.
Watching a film.
Being silly.
A child with Down's syndrome is allowed to be, above all, a child.
When further health or developmental needs are also present
Some children with Down's syndrome also have additional health or developmental needs.
There may be a developmental delay, a physical or learning disability, a sensory disability or a chronic illness.
The effect these have on everyday life is individual.
This is why, at Besondere Sterne, we do not just look at the diagnosis of trisomy 21.
We want to know:
How does your child live? What can they do independently? How do they communicate? Where do they need support?
This information matters far more for finding a suitable au pair than a diagnosis alone.
An au pair is not a carer or a therapist
An au pair is not a qualified carer, medical professional, or therapist.
Medical care, professional nursing care and therapeutic measures are not part of an au pair's regular duties.
The au pair supports where family life happens every day:
Childcare. Accompanying. Playing. Taking on journeys. Helping carry routines. Shaping free time. Looking after siblings.
These everyday tasks in particular can bring a family a great deal of relief.
Which au pair suits a child with Down's syndrome?
There is no one answer that fits everyone.
Perhaps a calm and especially patient person suits your child.
Perhaps you would like an active au pair who enjoys being outdoors, does sport and does a lot with the children.
Perhaps it matters to you that the au pair already has experience with children with a disability or developmental delay.
Or perhaps the au pair's most important task is to be there for the siblings.
At Besondere Sterne, we therefore look at the whole family and at which personality and experience suit your individual everyday life.
Relief for siblings and parents
Therapies, medical appointments and a higher need for support can take up a great deal of time.
Especially in families with several children, an au pair can therefore also be a valuable additional person the siblings trust.
While parents attend an appointment with one child, the au pair can collect a sibling from kindergarten or school, take them to sport, or simply spend an ordinary afternoon with them.
This creates support for the whole family.
You are also in the right place with other genetic conditions
Down's syndrome, or trisomy 21, is only one of many genetic conditions that children and their families live with.
At Besondere Sterne, we also support families with children with other genetic conditions, genetic syndromes and rare conditions – for example Williams syndrome, Angelman syndrome, Rett syndrome or Prader-Willi syndrome.
Our page on genetic conditions and rare conditions has further information on how an au pair can support these families too.
Finding an au pair for a child with Down's syndrome (trisomy 21)
At Besondere Sterne, we support families with children with Down's syndrome in finding a suitable au pair.
In doing so, we look not only at the diagnosis but at your child, their stage of development, their personality and your everyday family life.
Together, we consider what support you need and which qualities and experience an au pair should bring for your family.
You can then get to know suitable au pairs and decide for yourself which person is right for your child and your family.
Getting to know each other
Looking for an au pair for a child with Down's syndrome (trisomy 21)?
Then get to know our au pairs and find support that fits your everyday family life.
Besondere Sterne is an au pair agency — not a special-education service and not an advice centre. For legal and specialist questions there is the EUTB: teilhabeberatung.de. Go to whichever advice centre you feel comfortable with.