That feeling…you go to work, you go home. Or you go to school, work and then go home. Or you go to work, church and home. What’s that feeling? It’s what makes you pause and say “I have no social life” and it sucks. Do you really want that for your loved one who has DS? Let’s face it…everybody needs to socialize, it’s just plain healthy. We need the interaction, too much solitude (although it has its purpose) is not good.
What Does Your Loved One Gravitate To?
So, what should your loved one be doing? Well, what are their interests?
- Dancing…dance classes are fun!
- Art…painting, pottery, jewelry making, etc. And if they are doing well in this area, you can even start a business out of it and make some money…that’s always fun!
- Speaking of money…are you business minded? Well, start a business where every month you provide an activity for the teenagers and adults with DS in your area. They get to leave their homes (and their parents/sibling), feel independent and make friends; you get to make some money (you can charge like US$10 per person, depending on the location, cost of living, etc.) and you provide a cooking class, games night, a trip to the beach, movies, museum, a dance party, etc. It’s a win-win!
- Sports…check out the sporting activities available in your city or see if you can get involved in Special Olympics.
- Theatre Arts…are there any drama clubs nearby? What’s available down at the local theatre(s)?
Just Try It & See What Happens
Just remember that your loved one has to give their input, after all they will be the one doing the activity. Also, parents/siblings please stay home. Initially you may go with them to scope out the place and the people, BUT as soon as you realize that your loved one is in a safe space, please give them their space to meet friends and socialize and be without you. I know it’s hard, but you will not always be around and your loved one has to have other people in their lives and other relationships. When you do find some good people, thank God and dive right in!
Let’s hear from you. Please share some of your tips for helping our loved ones have a fun social life!
Living in solitary is a very bad thing as it gives an easy route to depression. However, there are times you need to be to alone to think and strategize, howbeit, it shouldn’t be often as it has the capacity to easily bring a person in harms way. Rather try means to socialize, it’s a healthy thing to do.
Indeed Ennymatics. We need to find balance in life to ensure our mental and physical wellness. Thanks for stopping by HappyDowns. Feel free to stop by any time and share your thoughts.
Take care!
Greetings Alicia,
Reading your article was fun. In my school life, during my strict routine I also used to think that “I have no social life”. No friends, no party, no gossips, nothing. That was nothing but a machinic life. But, I have not thought about it so deeply.
I hope I could have showed your post to my parents and my family back then. But, I will share your post with them now.
Thanks a lot for the post 🙂
Radeet
Hi Radeet,
Thank you so much for visiting HappyDowns and I am glad you could relate to this post. Thank you for sharing it with your family. I hope it will be helpful to them.
Cheers!
So so many useful tips and tricks all on one page! Wonderful! I bookmarked to look further. This is insightful and I must say it’s a lovely article.
I am a social person from the time I was a teenager and i don’t joke with my social life at all. Life is full of mixed feelings so we have to enjoy life when we can because tomorrow might be bad.
Thanks for sharing this lovely tip. It’s well appreciated.
Hello Ola,
I love your outgoing spirit and the fact that you ensure that you enjoy your life. I will take a page from your book. So happy you found the tips useful and so grateful you have bookmarked this site to return and see what we’re up to next. Can’t wait to hear from you at your next visit.
Take care!
Awesome information. What an incredible blog post!I really love the way you outlined the reviews on social life. Of course life can be so boring at times when it’s not beyond the cycle of going to school, work, home & church. One should have other things doing especially hobbies, engage in other things and get your lifestyle balanced.This is the most extensive article I have ever read. Thanks for your in depth analysis.
Hi Michael,
Thank you for visiting HappyDowns. Achieving balance in life is indeed important & hobbies are great for that. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Feel free to visit us anytime.
Cheers!
Thank you for writing and sharing this post about having DS and being social. It helped my wife and I come up with a lot of ideas for activities and safe places we can leave our children alone to socialize. My church has programs, but as the kids get old, they want to do stuff on their own. I think zoo trips, church carnivals, and puzzle nights are great. But my children want to do what the other children are doing; movies, mall shopping, over-night sleep-over. I’m babbling, thank you or sharing. LeNard -seconds2work
Hi LeNard,
Thank you so much for visiting HappyDowns and sharing your own life experiences. Indeed, as children get older they want that independence, which is understandable, and we as caregivers must find a way to balance that independence with them being safe…hard task but doable if we really try.
Feel free to visit us again and share your thoughts and experiences.
Take care!