Caregiver-child interaction and the expression of pride in children with Down syndrome

This study describes children's behaviors associated with pride on achievement-related tasks and examines caregiver behaviors in the facilitation of pride in children with Down syndrome. Twenty children with Down syndrome ages four to eight years and their caregivers were compared to twenty typically-developing children ages two and one-half to four years and their caregivers. Children with Down syndrome showed greater positive affect, social orientation and task outcome behaviors reflective of pride than the typically developing group of children. Caregivers of children with Down syndrome did not provide more directive or responsive types of assistance than caregivers of typical children, but they did provide a greater frequency of praise.