Social Interaction of Children with Down Syndrome in Special Needs Nurseries (TASKA OKU): A Narrative Review

Abstract

This review aims to synthesize current research on the social interaction of children with Down syndrome (DS) in special needs nurseries (TASKA OKU). It seeks to identify common challenges, strengths, intervention strategies, and gaps in the literature, with the goal of informing practice and guiding future research. Children with DS often encounter distinctive challenges in social development, including delays in social cognition, peer exclusion, and vulnerability to bullying. At the same time, they show relative strengths such as affective empathy and attentiveness to others’ emotions. These mixed profiles create complex needs in nursery settings, where teacher attitudes, peer relationships, family support, and inclusive practices strongly shape outcomes. This narrative review draws upon 20 high-quality papers identified through systematic searches across databases such as Semantic Scholar and PubMed. Studies were screened for relevance, with preference given to systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and empirical studies focusing on early childhood settings. While delays in cognitive empathy and communication hinder peer relationships, affective empathy and emotional awareness can be strong assets. Social participation is often restricted by limited inclusive practices, low peer status, and heightened risks of social isolation. Interventions mediated by parents, teachers, and peers show small to moderate improvements in social and communication skills, though effects are not always sustained long-term. Environmental factors such as parental stress, socioeconomic conditions, and classroom inclusivity play a critical role in moderating outcomes. It underscores the importance of context sensitive, family and teacher mediated interventions, as well as supportive inclusive environments. Significant gaps remain in understanding long-term intervention effects, syndrome-specific mechanisms of empathy development, and culturally adapted practices. This review contributes by clarifying these gaps and pointing toward targeted strategies to enhance social participation for children with DS.