Toddler queries | ExpatWoman.com
 

Toddler queries

594
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 15 March 2015 - 10:22

My son has just turned 2 yrs old this month. He still doesnt go to play school or nursery but will start from April. During his first day of initiation in to the class, whilst we sat watchin him for an hour there were things discussed by the nursery counsellor, which were a bit worrying so wanted to get all experienced Mum's views too.
My son didnt show any separation anxiety, he was hyper in the class of 8 todllers from 2-3 yrs of age. He didnt engage in sit down activities.
He also has speech delays, he hardly speaks for attention, and has 20 words in his vocabulary. He is from multi lingual background but speaks english words.
He also tip toes.
The counsellor says he engages in fleeting eye contact too!
So , as per her my son has 5% autism and speech delay which needs to be corrected. Has any one faced such a situation and has early intervention helped correct?

594
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 19 April 2015 - 11:24
Thanks all, my son went for 2 days and snce then was down with severe bacterial infection with high fever leading to convulsion. As of now, quarantined and wouldnt start nursery till next semester may be. Till then I will research more about assessments and get a proper assessment done to put myself at ease.
53
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 11 April 2015 - 12:54
I very might doubt that the counsellor hold the relevant medical qualifications to make a medical diagnosis of an Autistic spectrum disorder - although many nurseries and schools seem to think that they can based on reading a few articles. Many of these amateur diagnoses are incorrect as well. Many children are not ready for formal educational settings at 2 but only an expert can diagnose a particular issue What she says is rubbish as well - there is no such thing as "5% autism" either you have the triad of impairments or you don't. If you think that this may be an issue I thing you should go to a reputable medical establishment to have the full range of diagnostic testing. My daughter (now grown up) has an autstic spectrum disorder - diagnosed in Sweden - and the diagnostic process was not a quick observation but 20-30 hours of play-based testing and nursery observations with a multi-disciplinary team that included a paediatrician, psychologist, educational development specialist, speech and lanaguage therapist, physiotherapist and occupational therapist. It was only then that they would diagnose. I was very lucky that my daughter attended nursery in Sweden which was very play-based and informal (lots of running, climbing, out in the forests etc). She also received specialist speech and language support from a specialist that came to the nursery (the game and puzzle lady according to my daughter). Many children are not ready for formal activities at that age - I remember being thrown out of my own nursery's "cutting out and sticking" activity in 1965 for not doing it right - yet it did not hold me back and I hold a PhD! I think if you are concerned you should take your child for a full assessment at a child development centre
1381
Posts
EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 08 April 2015 - 22:24
bubble trouble looks like you have posted about my son who will soon turn 3 :) i have taken professional help after getting same advice from school. Doctor has said apart from mild speech delay there is nothing wrong with my son. He is completely fine..according to her i have put him in a wrong school when he is so active :) his nursery is more academic oriented rather then letting a child develop their imagination. I get complaints and advice on a regular basis to make him sit more and to teach him to do drawing. He is not interested in colouring despite me encouraging so i have stopped making him do. I do keep colors within his reach if he wants to. really apricot? scissor exam? mine doesn't know how to hold it :confused:
1987
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 29 March 2015 - 23:15
Hmm, I would take the nursery counselor's "advice" with a grain of salt. Personally I see it as very encouraging that your son didn't engage in sit down activities during his first exposure to nursery--this means he's excited about his new environment and is a healthy boy (most parenting books about raising boys will tell you that boys are less likely to engage in sit down activities than girls during the early schooling years). My DS2 is frequently singled out as being "in need of speech therapy/ motor skills development/ social skills" but he reaches those milestones within 4-5 months on his own. He started nursery at age 2 1/2, and he only spoke at nursery when he felt like it. He failed his KG1 entrance exam at a British Curriculum primary school because he couldn't cut a wavy line using scissors nor successfully draw a happy face, yet 14 months later, he has achieved those milestones at KG1 in a nursery. I have the advantage of access to another, more senior early childhood educator, who observes my DS2 in the nursery setting and also meets with the nursery counselor to discuss the counselor's concerns about my DS2. Interestingly, the early childhood educator concluded that the counselor is just trying to build up a list of private clients from the parents!! The only concern I have with your post is that you mention that your son tip-toes. That should be seen by a podiatrist in a hospital, if you haven't already arranged it.
 
 

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